Language and Culture
Ore discusses how language shapes thought and how language can transmit culture. This transmission is through terminology, symbolism, politics, ethnocentrism, and context. The terminology used in the English language with “black� and “white� words perpetuates our inherently racial society. “Black� words are commonly synonyms to being hostile, harmful, evil and undesirable, where “white� words are associated with honesty, purity, moral, upright and free from imperfection. This color symbolism is visible through entertainment such as using white clothed wizards as good and black clothed wizards as bad. Our perspectives on historical events are shaped through their context. Ore used the example of the master-slave relationship, noting how our society naming this concept in an ethnocentric way changes our mental frame of reference and legitimizes the relationship and associated abuse. Using passive voice detaches the role groups of people played in a negative historical reference. Another way language transmits culture is when it is removed and replaced by another language. By Americans not accepting the Spanish language as an appropriate means of communication, we are removing part of their identity and force oppression.
I think the identity of a culture through its language is an interesting topic to study. The other forms in which language transmits culture are more visible to me on a daily basis and I find myself being more aware of negative connotations that are common within the English language, and how the media perpetuates and confirms the symbolism. I was more aware of the implied hierarchy within the various Spanish languages when I was studying in Spain and was repeatedly reminded of how many official Spanish languages there are, and of course which were developed first. I am interested in the acceptance of different Spanish languages within cultures in America.
1. How are the various Spanish languages transmitted in American culture? Are there some languages which are transmitted and some which are oppressed?
2. Is acceptance of the various Spanish languages within Chicano cultures the same as the acceptance of the Spanish languages within the general American culture?
Comments
In response to question two, I believe that the acceptance of the chicano culture into spanish culture versus american culture is much different. In the chicano culture it is more a matter of proving oneself as a fluent speaker in all the chicano languages, and yet speaking english at the same time. As stated in the reading, chicana women are afraid of their own language, almost embarrassed by it because of how it is frowned upon by americans and formal spanish speakers. As for how they are accepted into the american culture and schooling system they are taught to forget their language and forget their identity altogether, to take speach classes.
Posted by: Anna | February 21, 2007 11:57 PM
The way in which chicanos are accepted into american culture is very different from the way in which the formal spanish language is accepted. This is obviously stated by the fact the spain's spanish is considered formal and proper, where as the dialects of chicano's spanish is considered muddled and unacceptable. The chicano language is not accepted into american society as stated by the article.
Posted by: Anna | February 22, 2007 12:04 AM