The Value Of Language

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Language is power The ability to use, understand and communicate effectively through language is phenomenal. A proficient use of language allows us to clearly communicate an exact idea from one person to another person or a group of people. An important link between language and power is persuasion. The power of persuasion is so strong it allows certain individuals to influence, and therefore, control thousands, even millions, of people and binds them together in search of one common cause. Chinua Achebe and Toni Morrison are both prestigious and eminent writers who really touched some astounding issues on language. They are both critical on language and both believe that language is “power” and vital to everyday life. Both Chinua Achebe and Toni Morrison gave a lot of thoughts to leave the readers to question the use of language, but they came to very different conclusions. Chinua Achebe believes that language itself is a “primary agent of social cohesion”(achebe, 506) meaning like a bond that brings people together in a society. He also states that people often abuse language and use language for corruption. Toni Morrison on the other hand believes that the use of language lies in people’s hands and they should use language with care. Achebe and Morrison have a certain logical differences about the concept of language but their view on the importance of language is nearly the same. In the “Language and destiny of Man”, Chinua Achebe reveals that if language was never created, violence would likely occur and we would probably be extinct because people would not understand each other, and be able comprehend the other person’s intentions. This type of situation can be resolved in a more civilized manner. In “Nobel Lecture, Toni Morrison states that language can do more than stand for of violence, it is

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