PAS 247

Language, Protest and Identity - D1, SB

Sociolinguists see language as more than a question of people talking to each other. Language not only communicates ideas, but also communicates our identities in a society. It identifies us as we see ourselves and it identifies us, as others perceive us. Embodied in the act of human communication is a complex set of rules for how to send a message and another set of rules for how to interpret that message. Beyond these rules, socially constructed preconceptions, such as issues of race, class, and gender, can have an influence on the way people choose to communicate with others and on how that communication is understood by others. Much of this operates subtly and below our consciousness, such as when we say one thing, but our kinesics (body language) displays a different attitude. However, there are some, particularly those working in politics or advertising, who have developed a keen ability to manipulate or otherwise channel messages for a special effect. Recognizing how these various factors work, and their effect on the ability of people to understand one another, is particularly important in the current era. Societies have become more complex and diverse populations are now faced with the challenges of sharing the same living and working space. (Humanities)

Units: 3.0