The Power of Language - Essay Sample

Introduction

Language is the prime instrument of a human being conceptual expression and it what a person can be classified as a consequence o their thinking. By using words, human beings can express their thoughts. According to Susanne K. Langer, language helps give form to ideas, make them clear to the listener and make them what they are. The author regards language as an achievement of the symbolist human mind (Innis 62). She also elaborates that language comes in different forms, i.e., vocal, visual or tactual but in all these forms, it has to be denotative. In "The Language of Oppression" by Haig A. Bosmajian says that Language is powerful, a change-creating force that needs to be used very carefully.

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Haig A. Bosmajian describes language as an essential tool used to communicate. The writer says that language was one of the most powerful tools used by God and the people who acted as if they were Gods. In the Hebrew Bible, they portrayed language as an active entity. Language became something that showed power in words in writing, and many individuals obeyed these words and readings. Therefore, these books expressed language as power. In the Hebrew Bible, language was extremely known for power, especially by God. In the book of Genesis, God revealed the power of language. Everything that God said happened. For example, God said that there would be light and there was light. He said let the earth grow grass, and it did. Therefore, this proves that the words of the Lord were powerful and so whatever He said it happened. When God created Adam, He gave him the power to name every living creature, and that became their name thereof.

Similarly, the Bible prohibits in strong terms the use of language to blaspheme the name of God. There are situations in the Bible that depict the power of language whereby God has used language to either bless of curse his people. Language can be used to dehumanize human beings as well as justify their suppression and extermination (Bosmajian 53). Haig A. Bosmajian says that for a very long time, the language of white racism has been in practice as a way to oppress the black people and show them as inferior human being. He further explains that the language of sexist has been used by men to define what a woman is and what he must always remain to be. As such, he concludes that language is what gives a person self-perception, self-awareness, self-identity, and self-esteem (Bosmajian 55). Language affects the follow of thoughts, actions, and behaviors. According to Edward Sapair, human beings are at the mercy of a particular language which is usually used as a medium of expression.

According to Aldous Huxley, "Propaganda under a Dictatorship," in the years of Adolf Hitler, propaganda was widely spread as influences on the evil of Jews. Propaganda was used in art, music, films, books, education materials, and the press to promote violence against Jews, amongst other advertisements. The language of Nazi propaganda influenced how Jews should be perceived. Jews were to be distinguished as Hitler himself saw them. Effective propaganda helped to encourage the stoicism and acceptance of such harsh rules against Jews. With the use of persuasive language and effective verbal messages, Nazi Germany pushed for a universal view of Jews based on the thoughts of Hitler (Huxley 64).

Throughout the years of Hitler's reign, propaganda was used in several controversial ways. Concentration camps used posters, amongst other types of propaganda, to cover up atrocities and mass murder. Films disseminated racial anti-Semitism, the dominance of the German military, and the inherent corruption of German-perceived enemies. A famous German newspaper called Der Sturmer published cartoons that promoted anti-Semitism and depicted Jews. For example, on the front page of the Der Sturmer, a cartoon was published of a group of Hitler Youth marching forth to drive Jews from the land. Under the cartoon, the caption reads: "We youth step happily forward facing the sun... With our faith,, we drive the devil from the land" (Huxley 71). This cartoon presents the image that even young children are encouraged to view Jews as 'the devil.' By considering such propaganda at a young age, children are more susceptible to model after an anti-Semitic leader like Hitler. The language of this type of propaganda shows the willingness of young children to participate in such hateful actions without any proper knowledge and reasoning.

Nazi Germany aimed to promote their point of view: the abomination of Jews. Promoters including Goebbels and Hitler led speeches to heighten the thoughts of citizens and to determine how Jews should be perceived. Nazis incorporated their philosophy into speeches to convince crowds of the dangers and wariness of Jews. The speeches could include anything from the topic of war to the appearance of Jewish people. The way in which the speech was presented played a crucial role in thought developments of the listeners. According to the Aldous Huxley discovering the meaning of what a person is trying to communicate lies on the person as well as the words. For example, a concentration camp will have a different meaning through the eyes of Jews than through the eyes of Hitler. Speeches would be given to present an "intentional orientation; the tendency to view people, objects, and events regarding how they are talked about or labeled rather than concerning how they exist" (Huxley 66). By giving an intentional orientation, a listener would base his or her opinion on how others view the topic. By speaking publically about Jews, Nazis presented a set impression of how an ordinary citizen should view a Jewish person; therefore, advertising their ideas in hopes of gaining a universal opinion against Jews.

The language used to present these events proved to be extremely useful, as leaders became stronger by the power of the language in each message. The influence of Nazi propaganda incited Hitler's motives for genocide. Speeches given helped to inform and convince the audience of Hitler's idea of a "complete health" country. With the spread of his ideas, Hitler gained power and, therefore, gained some success to create a "master race."

Robin Lakoff, "The Two Faces of Language," states that language should be used carefully as it can be good or cause harm. He gives an example of language when used in magic words and what it can cause. When words are misplaced or slip, they can cause a significant impact. In the early roman laws, the parties to a contract had to pronounce certain words to make the law bidding to the parties. Nowadays, for agreements to be enforceable, they have to be written in specific and procedural legal rules otherwise they can be broken. When language is misunderstood, disaster is likely to happen. Politically, language has been used to undermine other people's view with the aim of appealing to masses. What gives language power is when words are used as tools, e.g., like a gun which needs to be used by a human being to good effect or bad ones. Language is symbolism, as like symbols have tremendous potency, so do a language as so many volatile emotions are attached to it (Lakoff 59).

Conclusion

Conclusively, language is a very critical aspect that cannot be overlooked. Language is more than the intellectual level as it gives more to our experiences. First, it can be considered a powerful political instrument through which the lives of some people can be determined (Roszak 43). Secondly, it can be used in training and transforming the society and most importantly empowering them to stand up for themselves through a sense of identity and belonging. And lastly, as a way of expressing oneself which forms the essence of human lives.

Works Cited

Bosmajian, Haig A. The Language of Oppression. UP of America, 1983.

Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World Revisited. HarperPerennial, 2006.

Innis, Robert E. Susanne Langer in Focus: The Symbolic Mind. Indiana UP, 2009.

Lakoff, Robin T. Talking Power: The Politics of Language in Our Lives. Basic Books, 1990.

Roszak, Theodore. The Making of a Counter Culture: Reflections on the Technocratic Society and Its Youthful Opposition. U of California P, 1995.