To What Extent Can Control of Written Language Create or Reinforce Power Essay Example

To What Extent Can Control of Written Language Create or Reinforce Power? Essay To what extent can control of written language create or reinforce power? Written language is intended to influence both our thoughts and behavior. Today, we depend on written language as our sense of thought. It is often questioned that if it weren’t for written language, would individual thoughts ever be able to exist? However, it is evident that thoughts cannot exist without written language, ultimately inferring that written language is a tool used to both create as well as reinforce power. Today, written language plays a key role in society; to some, it is considered as the world’s universal discipline and is identified as the mold for our world today. Written language exerts a sort of hidden power. In regards to the role of written language, and its relationship towards authority, it is evident that it creates and reinforces power over societies of today. Powerful figures often use specific terminology within certain texts in order to create and reinforce power, especially over those who are inferior to them. For example, the Weekly Standard has myriads of articles that are financially supported by Rupert Murdock who owns Fox News. Fox News is well known for its biased and manipulative information. Like Fox News, the Weekly Standard also specific written language in order to manipulate its readers; in addition, Weekly Standard is able to create and reinforce power, as the majority of its readers are unable to pinpoint the biased information being portrayed. For example, the Weekly Standard often includes biased information with regards to America’s government, and to those who are in power or who have been in power, such as President Bush. We will write a custom essay sample on To What Extent Can Control of Written Language Create or Reinforce Power? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on To What Extent Can Control of Written Language Create or Reinforce Power? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on To What Extent Can Control of Written Language Create or Reinforce Power? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Clearly, based on the example above, it is evident that without written language, the majority of the world’s different civilizations wouldn’t be able to express such powerful accusations over the world and the societies confined within it. As a result, without such biased news sources, and specific manipulative terminology used by superior figures, the people of the world wouldn’t be defined by: its classes, ethnicities and genders. In order to justify such a statement, we can infer that written language can vary with regards to relationships with authority. It is significant to distinguish the difference between informal and formal writing, with regards to whom it is addressed to. A more personal example would be the way I write to inferiors and superiors. It is notable that when I communicate with superior figures, a formal type of written language is used as opposed to the use of informal written language when I communicate with someone who is inferior or equally inferior to me. For example, when writing my personal, it was primarily composed of formal written language. For example, â€Å"Personally, I believe that psychology is a world of so many unanswered questions. Day to day, I find myself trying to understand and question the role of our mental functions, our social behavior, as well as other psychological processes. † However, when writing a text message to a close friend, I use informal written language such as, â€Å"Hey, sup? I hv gtg now, so ttyl. † The implications here are that, written language can ultimately vary from person to person depending on their role in society. Therefore, written language can be used to both create as well as reinforce power as written language can vary depending on your level in society, and to those who you are addressing. However, written language is not evident in every language. Today, the world is composed of thousands of languages that are not written, which brings about the question of who has the power if written power isn’t there to create and reinforce it? For example, there has been a recent discovery of an endangered language known as Koro. Koro is only spoken by about 800 people in northeast India, and is unwritten and only transmitted orally. Therefore, due to the lack of a written language within the Koro language, it is evident that written language cannot always create and reinforce power. Written language is a controlling tool, which creates and reinforces power; it is often used to limit ones knowledge of written language in order to maintain control over what they are able to and unable to understand. One interpretation of such control is academic vocabulary, and the effect of knowing versus not knowing them would have. For instance, last week I was assigned a vocabulary list that was composed of words such as, â€Å"wily†, and â€Å"microcosm†. If I didn’t know the definitions of these words, then it would be difficult to fill in the blanks on the test. This example indicates the type of control written language can have over a person. It is evident that I am only limited to words that I know, and so not knowing the definition of certain words can hinder your chances of understanding someone or misinterpret what is being stated. Another examples is seen in warfare, where the military reports to the press about their overall progress. The military may use terminology that the general public is unable to understand. For example, the U. S. military referred to the bombing and invasion of Iraq as, â€Å"Operation Iraqi Freedom†. In a way, the military uses such terminology to maintain control over the public’s understanding about the overall reality and truth of war. Written language is also evident in everyday life such as, on traffic signs, food product labels, advertisements, practically everywhere. For instance, on a packet of organic jumbo oats, it states the nutritional value, the guideline daily amount, its ingredients, and also a list of instructions on how to make porridge. Nowadays, the majority of the world’s citizens rely on such signs and written language in order to get by day by day. The reliance on such written language demonstrates how it can generally create and reinforce power. This is because it directly aims at the public in a way that they can either â€Å"persuade† or â€Å"manipulate† an individual into buying their product, or simply to direct them to the nearest store. The implications here are that written language possesses direct control over our actions, and as a result, it is notably easier to maintain control as well as create and reinforce power to the controller’s advantage. However, this also brings about the question of illiteracy and how that affects the control and reinforcing of power. According to 2002 UNESCO, it is estimated that more than 867 million adults are illiterate. Therefore, if one is unable to comprehend written language, then written language is obviously unable to control and reinforce power over someone who is illiterate. In conclusion, written language to a certain extent can create and reinforce power. In a way, written language exerts a sort of hidden power. It has the ability to cause the division in society, between those who are inferior and superior to one another, and it also has the ability to limit a person’s knowledge of something. However, written language cannot always be used to create and reinforce power, as not every language is based on written language, and also a lot of people within the world of today are illiterate. With the lack of written language in certain language and a great deal of illiteracy, written language cannot always create and reinforce power. Word Count: 1200 To What Extent Can Control of Written Language Create or Reinforce Power Essay Example To What Extent Can Control of Written Language Create or Reinforce Power? Essay To what extent can control of written language create or reinforce power? Written language is intended to influence both our thoughts and behavior. Today, we depend on written language as our sense of thought. It is often questioned that if it weren’t for written language, would individual thoughts ever be able to exist? However, it is evident that thoughts cannot exist without written language, ultimately inferring that written language is a tool used to both create as well as reinforce power. Today, written language plays a key role in society; to some, it is considered as the world’s universal discipline and is identified as the mold for our world today. Written language exerts a sort of hidden power. In regards to the role of written language, and its relationship towards authority, it is evident that it creates and reinforces power over societies of today. Powerful figures often use specific terminology within certain texts in order to create and reinforce power, especially over those who are inferior to them. For example, the Weekly Standard has myriads of articles that are financially supported by Rupert Murdock who owns Fox News. Fox News is well known for its biased and manipulative information. Like Fox News, the Weekly Standard also specific written language in order to manipulate its readers; in addition, Weekly Standard is able to create and reinforce power, as the majority of its readers are unable to pinpoint the biased information being portrayed. For example, the Weekly Standard often includes biased information with regards to America’s government, and to those who are in power or who have been in power, such as President Bush. We will write a custom essay sample on To What Extent Can Control of Written Language Create or Reinforce Power? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on To What Extent Can Control of Written Language Create or Reinforce Power? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on To What Extent Can Control of Written Language Create or Reinforce Power? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Clearly, based on the example above, it is evident that without written language, the majority of the world’s different civilizations wouldn’t be able to express such powerful accusations over the world and the societies confined within it. As a result, without such biased news sources, and specific manipulative terminology used by superior figures, the people of the world wouldn’t be defined by: its classes, ethnicities and genders. In order to justify such a statement, we can infer that written language can vary with regards to relationships with authority. It is significant to distinguish the difference between informal and formal writing, with regards to whom it is addressed to. A more personal example would be the way I write to inferiors and superiors. It is notable that when I communicate with superior figures, a formal type of written language is used as opposed to the use of informal written language when I communicate with someone who is inferior or equally inferior to me. For example, when writing my personal, it was primarily composed of formal written language. For example, â€Å"Personally, I believe that psychology is a world of so many unanswered questions. Day to day, I find myself trying to understand and question the role of our mental functions, our social behavior, as well as other psychological processes. † However, when writing a text message to a close friend, I use informal written language such as, â€Å"Hey, sup? I hv gtg now, so ttyl. † The implications here are that, written language can ultimately vary from person to person depending on their role in society. Therefore, written language can be used to both create as well as reinforce power as written language can vary depending on your level in society, and to those who you are addressing. However, written language is not evident in every language. Today, the world is composed of thousands of languages that are not written, which brings about the question of who has the power if written power isn’t there to create and reinforce it? For example, there has been a recent discovery of an endangered language known as Koro. Koro is only spoken by about 800 people in northeast India, and is unwritten and only transmitted orally. Therefore, due to the lack of a written language within the Koro language, it is evident that written language cannot always create and reinforce power. Written language is a controlling tool, which creates and reinforces power; it is often used to limit ones knowledge of written language in order to maintain control over what they are able to and unable to understand. One interpretation of such control is academic vocabulary, and the effect of knowing versus not knowing them would have. For instance, last week I was assigned a vocabulary list that was composed of words such as, â€Å"wily†, and â€Å"microcosm†. If I didn’t know the definitions of these words, then it would be difficult to fill in the blanks on the test. This example indicates the type of control written language can have over a person. It is evident that I am only limited to words that I know, and so not knowing the definition of certain words can hinder your chances of understanding someone or misinterpret what is being stated. Another examples is seen in warfare, where the military reports to the press about their overall progress. The military may use terminology that the general public is unable to understand. For example, the U. S. military referred to the bombing and invasion of Iraq as, â€Å"Operation Iraqi Freedom†. In a way, the military uses such terminology to maintain control over the public’s understanding about the overall reality and truth of war. Written language is also evident in everyday life such as, on traffic signs, food product labels, advertisements, practically everywhere. For instance, on a packet of organic jumbo oats, it states the nutritional value, the guideline daily amount, its ingredients, and also a list of instructions on how to make porridge. Nowadays, the majority of the world’s citizens rely on such signs and written language in order to get by day by day. The reliance on such written language demonstrates how it can generally create and reinforce power. This is because it directly aims at the public in a way that they can either â€Å"persuade† or â€Å"manipulate† an individual into buying their product, or simply to direct them to the nearest store. The implications here are that written language possesses direct control over our actions, and as a result, it is notably easier to maintain control as well as create and reinforce power to the controller’s advantage. However, this also brings about the question of illiteracy and how that affects the control and reinforcing of power. According to 2002 UNESCO, it is estimated that more than 867 million adults are illiterate. Therefore, if one is unable to comprehend written language, then written language is obviously unable to control and reinforce power over someone who is illiterate. In conclusion, written language to a certain extent can create and reinforce power. In a way, written language exerts a sort of hidden power. It has the ability to cause the division in society, between those who are inferior and superior to one another, and it also has the ability to limit a person’s knowledge of something. However, written language cannot always be used to create and reinforce power, as not every language is based on written language, and also a lot of people within the world of today are illiterate. With the lack of written language in certain language and a great deal of illiteracy, written language cannot always create and reinforce power. Word Count: 1200