The Dimensions of Language

1294 Words6 Pages
Stephanie Charles Writing 303 Professor Amiama October 10, 2012 The Dimensions of Language Communication comes in many forms. There is touch, signing with the hands, and even dance, among many others. However, for our human race, the most efficient one of them all is through spoken language. Although they vary among the different cultures, all language is used to communicate feelings and thoughts to the next person. Oftentimes, the language that we use gives off the type of person that we are. It gives off the perception that we can be seen as a reliable source of comfort or entertainment and pure foolishness. It can be seen as a problem if we use our words in the wrong context. It can also be seen as a clutch for power if we let our knowledge get in the way of communicating well with others. However, it all boils down to the purpose that it is used for and that purpose may not always be to communicate. Both George Orwell (1946), in his essay “Politics and the English Language”, and William Lutz (1996), in his book The New Doublespeak, elaborate how the purpose of communication can be a problem and a confusion of power for the parties involved. The Perceptions of Language Language, whether used formally or informally, can make a person to look either honest or to be a fraud. Orwell (1946) states, “It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts” (p1, para.2). At times, people say things without first thinking their statements through. They are known to have “no filter” or in some cases, seen as uneducated. When people say certain things to the next person, it is to communicate but not always understood as doing such. One may ask why that person would be so knowledgeable but yet speak in such an unexpected manner. Lutz (1996) contends, “thus we
Open Document