In The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, the power of language is very important. Starr, the main character realizes that her silence is not productive and if she wants to make a change, she needs to speak out in Khalil’s defense because language is very influential. Starr finding her voice was part of her overall finding her identity. Throughout the book, Starr moved between her two different worlds, Williamson and Garden Heights. She was often ashamed of Garden Heights and liked to keep her two words separate. Kenya, who Starr shares a brother with, finds fault with Starr’s silence, and recognizes how that is tied to the shame of being associated with a drug dealer. Eventually, Starr speaks out for Khalil, which lets go of that shame and acknowledges …show more content…
Tonight, they shot me, too, more than once, and killed a part of me. Unfortunately for them, it’s the part that felt any hesitation about speaking out” (Thomas 247). This shows that after all the pain and suffering she has endured throughout the book, she is finally determined to speak out for Khalil, which also shows her character growth. This quote also displays Starr’s new refusal to be silenced and intimidated by the trauma that has been inflicted on her throughout the book. Starr’s voice gives her the strength to take social action. All of Starr’s anger and determination throughout the book eventually gave her the courage to speak out during a protest. Starr’s attorney, Ms Ofrah, asks her “‘Who says talking isn;t doing something?’ she says. It’s more productive than silence. Remember what I told you about your voice?’” (Thomas 410). Starr goes on to say that Ms Ofrah had told her that her voice was her biggest weapon. Starr standing on top of the patrol car and speaking out is a big moment for her, as she is taking social action for Khalil, and it represents the power of language. Starr's words about how Khalil’s life mattered and how he lived asserts her action and shows that she will not be silenced by
The characters throughout the novel get impacted tremendously by negative comments. Most of the main characters in the book get torn down one way or another by a hurtful comment. However, words aren’t always used negatively. They have the power to teach new things which can increase one’s intellect. Liesel, throughout the book, was impacted the most by words because she started out knowing nothing and eventually she became very smart. The last positive thing words can do is make a person's dreams become reality. Max’s stories were beneficial to both him and his friend Liesel. They were an inspiration to them and allowed them to follow their aspirations. Words, and how we speak to one another can be very impactful. The Book Thief provides numerous examples as to how important it is to have a positive command of language, and we see how rhetoric has shaped the lives of many key characters throughout this
“There was a sinking feeling in my stomach and I felt as if the world had turned itself upside down with me in it” (Page 129, Taylor). The author, Mildred Taylor, of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry has triumphed on writing the book while delivering the painful message of how African Americans were treated in the times of the Great Depression. Cassie has encountered many difficulties when having to accept the way she was treated outdoors along with all the other African-Americans in her society. In the opening, Cassie, along with her siblings, has to collaborate with the complications the bus has caused, and fearing the night men afterward for discovering what they have done. As greed, selfishness, and racism caused misfortune to the Logan family and their land, they stand strong with pride and dignity, willing to do whatever it takes to keep what is most important to their eyes. However, matters only get more and more complex when a lynch mob is determined to lynch Mr. David Logan, Mr. Morrison, and Mr. Jamison along with T.J. the night of the immense incident. Since the story is told through the eyes of a little girl, Cassie reveals all her pain as well as her perspective and point of view of life. As one can see, Mildred Taylor applied the conflict to the story ever so professionally. She did a phenomenal job using a variety of techniques to make many themes fit perfectly within the story; she additionally applied the theme to the conflicts. In addition, the story was recounted through the eyes of the main character, Cassie, which will soon lose her innocence. Cassie’s point of view had a great impact on the marvelous story.
The power of words is immeasurable. Words help people to voice their opinions and express their thoughts and feelings. Our everyday lives are shaped by communication and in general language. A persons language can often influence success and happiness. America is viewed as a melting pot for numerous different people and their respective languages. Language is so vital in our society that a person of diverse ethnic background can face many tribulations throughout their everyday life.
The mighty river flows through the mountains with liquidity and nurture providing life for all those who wish to take a sip from it. Yet the river is powerful in its own force destroying even the largest rocks, crumbling them into small pieces. People may be able to stop the river for a short time or even dry it up but the water always comes back in one form or another, every dam is bound to fail. Some people have been able to harness the power of the river, redirecting the mighty water making it flow in constructive ways. Similar to the river, language is influential. Its true power is not seen by the naked eye but by those who study it, those who use it as their ally in a war of linguistics. In Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter, Birmingham City Jail he is able to use all three rhetorical appeals to prove that demonstrations lead to negotiations and benefit for both sides of an argument.
After reading “People First Language” by Kathie Snow, the first thing that came to my mind was the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I have never agreed with this saying because words can inflict pain just like sticks and stones. Words really do matter.
Words have the power to affect people in many ways from empowerment or to taking upon action. Words are able to make huge changes in the lives of many and can make good or bad changes. In history, people used words in both good and bad function from making a promise to a nation or even manipulating multitudes of people within a nation. Words definitely have the ability to take situations a far distance but despite the fact that evil can manipulate the majority of people, individuals too can realize the true actions and evil buried inside the perpetrator. People can be both ugly and beautiful at sometimes with weapons along their sides. A novel called The Book Thief illustrates the power of words in a multitude of ways, showing the potential
Do you know language defines our identity? Language defines the type of person we are and it has an effect on the choice we have made as well as our way of living. According to Amin Malouf, “What makes me myself rather than anyone else is the very fact that I am between two countries, three languages, and several cultures. It is precisely this that defines my identity. Would I more authentically if I cut one part of myself.” this quote explains a lot about Tan and me. The power of language in Amy Tan’s life has both similarities and differences to my life experience.
Words have quite a powerful impact on an individual’s emotions which therefore affects how that individual views the world around them and themselves. Natasha Rodriguez explains this in her well-written article “Who Are You Calling Underprivileged?” The article explains how Rodriguez received a pamphlet from the college, she had applied for. This pamphlet was given to Rodriguez providing her with vital information about “Help for Underprivileged Students.” The college she was applying for was not aware of what Natasha Rodriguez financial situation was at the time because she had not sent any information to them about it yet which is the main reason why she wrote the article “Who Are You Calling Underprivileged?” She had received this information
“The pen is mightier than the sword” (Bulwer-Lytton 1839). Hence, iconic political figures have used language to force individuals to think and act on important issues that encompass society. Activists like Malcolm X and Helen Keller exemplify this power and perspective of language in the realms of approach and progress.
Language is like a blooming flower in adversity – they are the most rare and beautiful of them all as it struggles to express itself. It blooms and flourishes in strength, awe, and passion as the riches of thought is imbibed from the seed and into a finished beauty. For others, a non-native person speaking in a language that they are not familiar with sprouts out like a weed – the way its thorns can puncture sympathy and comprehensibility. Amy Tan, however, addresses the nature of talk as being unique under its own conditions. In Tan's “Mother Tongue”, she discusses how her mother's incoherent language is “broken” and “limited” as compared to other native English speakers. When focusing on Amy Tan, she grows noticeably embarrassed with her mother's lack of acuteness in the language, which then influences Tan to “prove her mastery over the English language.” However, she soon learns from herself and -- most importantly -- her mother that a language's purpose is to capture a person's “intent, passion, imagery, and rhythm of speech and nature of thought.” With such an enticing elegance...
Tan has proven herself a master of rhetorical appeals as well as proving her point, that language can have drastic affects on the users. She has judged and been judged by her language, and has seen her mother disrespected because of how she speaks. Speech is important, as it is used as a tool to determine the limitations of your thoughts.
After a pick-up basketball game with her friends, Hailey and Maya, against Chris and his friends, Starr gets emotional about all that's going on in life, such as the racism from Hailey and the misunderstandings between Chris and Khalil's death. This makes Chris antsy and eager to find out what is wrong with his girlfriend! Chris asks Starr what is happening with her; she gets emotional afterward. After this moment, they had prom together, and Starr was very silent towards Chris. This leaves Chris in the dark about what is making Starr so troubled.
At the beginning, Starr feels as if there are two parts of her that can never intersect. One part is Williamson Starr, where she attends school with the majority of the population being white. Then, the other part, is Garden Heights Starr, where people associate her with her father, Maverick. She does everything she can to fit in both worlds but has to struggle to show her true self for fear of being rejected in either world. In fact, her mother made her realize that she is always following another’s path rather than following her own. This is seen in the way she always seemed to follow what her friend Hailey said because it was expected of her. However, she soon realizes that Hailey has different ways of seeing the world that do not coincide
Words have the power to oppress and portray a person or a group of people. Depending on how words are passed down it can affect the generation in a positive or negative
Today, language is used for critiques, wars, and most of all humiliation of someone. Language is the source for the expressions in one’s face because words that are spoken determines where our emotions part ways or stays. For example, when someone tells a gay that he/she is a freak because of this gender identity then that individual fell into depression or in worst case scenario commit suicide. This case language spoken by that person did not only fail but was responsible for the death of that individual. This shows that language is so powerful that what it can do to person is unthinkable.