Language Is Power: An Analysis of Language Ideology

A prevailing and recurring theme is the power of one’s voice.  One way of understanding this concept is the use of language to delicately but purposefully to enact changes one wishes to see in the world.  Having the ability to speak provides one power in communicating individual thoughts and feelings, which is complemented by knowing what is just the right thing to say versus the most inappropriate thing to say.  Language is very powerful in that respect, but it is also influential in other ways.  Previously on the blog the concept of language dialect usage and how that can affect an individual was addressed, and today’s blog post will continue on this vein of language, power, and perception as we continue to explore these concepts.  In this blog post how and what one says will be addressed in how it can help or hinder one’s status in life.

As discussed earlier dialect has a huge effect on how one perceives you.  There are high (or culturally preferred) and low (or culturally not preferred) dialects, but one’s dialect is not the only means of privileging an individual.  How words are said, particularly in regards to pronunciation, is a key element of identifying an individual’s educational level and, in turn, sociocultural level (Figure 1).  This may not always be the case as some of the most intelligent people can make mistakes or sound “less smart” (e.g. former Presidents), but there is definitely a perception that by speaking the “lazy” way of a language means that the speaker was not taught well enough and therefore is not capable for more advanced tasks and occupations.  The same goes for word fillers, such as “ummm” and “like”, that are used to break up silence within sentences and allow a speaker to think of the specific word or words that should be spoken.  Unfortunately, these fillers add a distraction to the speaker’s message and detract from the speaker’s perception.  Case in point a drinking game was once created that involved counting the number of filler words a presenter would use in an academic conference presentation.  The presenters who used the most filler words was considered the biggest loser despite the importance of their talk, although these were typically never remembered due to the word filler distractions.  This is one of the main reasons why filler words are purposefully taught out of speech classes.

Figure 1: Language has an affect on perceptions of socioeconomic status as demonstrated here

 

But it’s not just how you say but also what you say that is important.  There are certain words that are considered taboo to say, and if they are spoken they really change the perception one has of you.  For example, women who curse are typically seen as less lady-like as cursing goes against the ideal concept of femininity.  If you use the incorrect terminology in the workplace you may be seen as less capable and looked down on by your peers.  These are relevant and important examples, but what you say goes beyond that, as well.  Sometimes what we say encourages dominant and unfair norms and privileges in our society.  For example, the terms boyfriend or girlfriend encourage the heteronormative ideal that puts forward that the best relationship is heterosexual, which diminishes homosexual relationships that exist in many societies and cultures (and are just as valuable as any other relationship!).  Therefore, being mindful of what is said can really open up inclusivity within language.  So instead of saying “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” say “partner”.  It allows for more openness in identifying who you are seeing, and in this author’s personal opinion is actually more accurate of what your significant other and your relationship should represent. 

Language and power is incredibly important.  As Pierre Bourdieu identified language is one means of symbolic capital, the immaterial aspects of culture that allows any individual to be privileged or appear better than they may or not be in reality.  As language is also a key element of culture it is also an important aspect of symbolic capital, as well as changing cultural ideals.  Next time you are involved in an interaction be sure to take a step back and watch how and what is said and how that affects the social interactions.  You may be surprised at what you learn.