Page
This page is a collection of articles about the English language, discussing very different things. The page contains articles discussing serious matters such as the empowerment of women and gay marriage, but also (slightly) less important topics such as "where to stick your apostrophe". Overall, the writers on The Guardian are discussing the uses and abuses of language.
Type "Illegal" into Google, Chances are it will Autocomplete to "immigration"
The article is focussing on colloquial language, the fact that "certain words just go. They tessellate. They interdigitate. Like harmonic notes and complementary colours and best friends at school, certain words sit nicely together" - but particularly the associations formed between "migrant", "immigrant" and "illegal". When a child was playing a word association game, they happened to be given the word "illegal", to which they quickly responded with "immigrant". The power of colloquial words is evident in the fact that after being autocomplete, and read on social media so may times it seems that even in our brains we autocomplete "immigrant" and "illegal", permanently taking the innocence.
Gay or straight, let's embrace the language of marriage equality
"Gay marriage" is discussed in this article as a term that is quite peculiar. Much like the opening sentence - "Today I got out of my gay bed, kissed my gay boyfriend goodbye, went to the gym with my gay neighbour and then cycled my gay bike to my gay job", it seems ridiculous that this is how same-sex relationships are discussed. It seems that the fact that marriage is a religious ceremony (which is becoming less common in the 21st century), this type of marriage must be labelled as being almost 'unnatural' and 'wrong' compared to what a lot of people see as 'normal' marriage. The article suggests that this term could be changed to "same-sex marriage" as it seems less loaded than "gay". Although I do agree that the term itself seems superfluous, I can't see why "gay marriage" has to be labelled - it's just the marriage of two people after all.
Monday, 15 February 2016
Eight words that reveal the sexism at the heart of the English language
Article
This is an article that highlights the sexist remarks inside the Oxford English Dictionary. It mentions things such as marked forms, as well as derogative terms that are aimed at women. The article begins with discussing the sexist comments about women used to describe certain words, and what we associate with them. The word "rabid" being followed by "feminist" in the dictionary, suggests that being a feminist is a negative thing and maybe that it can be seen as a derogative form. Again, words such as "nagging" are followed by "wife", as well as "grating" and "shrill" being used to describe women's voices but not the men's. This all talks about women in a negative way, constantly putting them down and being insulting rather than using more positive terms such as "strong" which may have been associated with men.
It is mentioned that The Oxford Dictionary publishers have noted that these things are not their own views, but from things we would likely hear in general English conversation, thus suggesting that the problem is with English Speakers, and not this dictionary itself. As the article continues, it mentions and explains certain words that are now found in the dictionary which are a derogative to women, a marked form or just politically incorrect. Words such as "hussy" and "governess" are discussed, which are used in a way to put women down and insult them. This article shows how social conditions have left their mark on our language, and how it is still evolving and changing. Hopefully, our language will evolve and grow in a way that allows it to not be sexist, but for now there is a problem at the heart of the English language.
This is an article that highlights the sexist remarks inside the Oxford English Dictionary. It mentions things such as marked forms, as well as derogative terms that are aimed at women. The article begins with discussing the sexist comments about women used to describe certain words, and what we associate with them. The word "rabid" being followed by "feminist" in the dictionary, suggests that being a feminist is a negative thing and maybe that it can be seen as a derogative form. Again, words such as "nagging" are followed by "wife", as well as "grating" and "shrill" being used to describe women's voices but not the men's. This all talks about women in a negative way, constantly putting them down and being insulting rather than using more positive terms such as "strong" which may have been associated with men.
It is mentioned that The Oxford Dictionary publishers have noted that these things are not their own views, but from things we would likely hear in general English conversation, thus suggesting that the problem is with English Speakers, and not this dictionary itself. As the article continues, it mentions and explains certain words that are now found in the dictionary which are a derogative to women, a marked form or just politically incorrect. Words such as "hussy" and "governess" are discussed, which are used in a way to put women down and insult them. This article shows how social conditions have left their mark on our language, and how it is still evolving and changing. Hopefully, our language will evolve and grow in a way that allows it to not be sexist, but for now there is a problem at the heart of the English language.
Tuesday, 2 February 2016
Tuesday, 15 December 2015
The Guardian - The conversation
Article
'The conversation' is a collection of descriptions of conversations, from 'The conversation that changed my life' to 'The conversation i didn't expect'. There are eight different conversation sin this article, each as moving and emotive as the last. I believe that the article was made to show people the real power of face-to-face conversation, since we are beginning to lose it to texts. The article includes conversations that have stuck with the writer's for many years, and show something that is not possible through texting. I think the aim of this was to show people that they need to put down their phone once in a while in order for things such as these to happen - you need to be in the real world to have such moving and memorable conversations. It shows the true power of conversation.
'The conversation' is a collection of descriptions of conversations, from 'The conversation that changed my life' to 'The conversation i didn't expect'. There are eight different conversation sin this article, each as moving and emotive as the last. I believe that the article was made to show people the real power of face-to-face conversation, since we are beginning to lose it to texts. The article includes conversations that have stuck with the writer's for many years, and show something that is not possible through texting. I think the aim of this was to show people that they need to put down their phone once in a while in order for things such as these to happen - you need to be in the real world to have such moving and memorable conversations. It shows the true power of conversation.
The Guardian - How to talk to anyone: The experts guide.
Article
This article is a collection of interviews by Rosie Ifould, in which they discuss the 'How to's' of creating conversation which several different kinds of people (from parents to doctors). In the interviews, the interviewees give tips on how to create a good and positive conversation with a certain kind of person - and how to create a good relationship with them. It seems to me that this article is put together to also highlight the affect technology has had on our ability to communicate with others - the fact that they have highlighted very basic and straight forward things shows me this, and it could also be seen as being quite humorous. The 'secrets' this panel shares seem to have become secrets because of the uprising of technology, almost saying that nobody knows how to communicate anymore.
This article is a collection of interviews by Rosie Ifould, in which they discuss the 'How to's' of creating conversation which several different kinds of people (from parents to doctors). In the interviews, the interviewees give tips on how to create a good and positive conversation with a certain kind of person - and how to create a good relationship with them. It seems to me that this article is put together to also highlight the affect technology has had on our ability to communicate with others - the fact that they have highlighted very basic and straight forward things shows me this, and it could also be seen as being quite humorous. The 'secrets' this panel shares seem to have become secrets because of the uprising of technology, almost saying that nobody knows how to communicate anymore.
The Guardian - Step away from your phone: The new rules of conversation
Article
In this article, Oliver Burkeman discusses texting in today's society - and how it has become the most used way of communication. Burkeman mentions the fact that people are beginning to text each other even when they are fact-to-face. He suggests that we are even beginning to lose our sense of empathy and feeling when we are having a face-to-face conversation and that today's society don't even know how to communicate in ways other than texting. To sum up Burkeman's ideas, 'why speak face-to-face when you can put it all in a text?'. Burkeman says that he finds it rude when people are texting when in the company of others, and mentions the games some people play when they're out for dinner to ensure that there is real time conversation. People who enjoy and take part in face-to-face conversation are becoming the minority, according to Oliver Burkeman, and he suggests that we are going to lose our real time communication completely if texting to this degree continues.
In this article, Oliver Burkeman discusses texting in today's society - and how it has become the most used way of communication. Burkeman mentions the fact that people are beginning to text each other even when they are fact-to-face. He suggests that we are even beginning to lose our sense of empathy and feeling when we are having a face-to-face conversation and that today's society don't even know how to communicate in ways other than texting. To sum up Burkeman's ideas, 'why speak face-to-face when you can put it all in a text?'. Burkeman says that he finds it rude when people are texting when in the company of others, and mentions the games some people play when they're out for dinner to ensure that there is real time conversation. People who enjoy and take part in face-to-face conversation are becoming the minority, according to Oliver Burkeman, and he suggests that we are going to lose our real time communication completely if texting to this degree continues.
Friday, 27 November 2015
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