reappropriation is when a word is used in a negative connotation in relation to a minority. These disparaging words have been labelled informally as slurs. A slur is defined as “an insulting or disparaging remark or innuendo.” (Merriam-Webster,. n.d.) A minority party becomes oppressed through the use of these slurs because they often cause observers, not of that group, to view the minority differently often in a negative way. The view of outside parties coupled with the use of the word cause the oppressed
but words can never hurt me.” Unfortunately, this old phrase isn’t entirely true—it doesn’t define which words are hurtful, the context they are used in, or its historical context. In fact, words can be powerful. There are a number of words in language, that are both negative and offensive, that have been used to oppress a specific group. Their history has produced such a negative symbolic power and creates such a stigma, that they possess the ability to harm or injure. “Cunt” is such a word.
author, Robin Brontsema explores the reclamation of the word “queer” and other related “hateful speech intended to disable its target” from three different perspectives that are based on three identifiable goals: “neutralization” of the word, its “value reversal,” and “stigma exploitation” (46, 52). According to the first perspective, the “pejoration” or hate is “inseparable” from the detestable word, which implies that reclaiming the word
Carolyn Ashley Kizer was born on December 10, 1925. Her father was a lawyer and her mother a labor organizer in the Pacific Northwest, although she held a doctorate in biology. Her parents were older than the parents of her friends, but filled the house with a rich intellectual atmosphere that surely influenced the young Kizer (McFarland). Throughout her childhood her parents would read her the works of Whitman and Keats before bed (Schumock), but it wasn’t until she was middle aged that she devoted
clearly drunk, intoxicated beyond belief but the words hit me with the force of a punch. I continue to ignore him, ignoring the words he's shouting at my friend and I. The vile taste of seething anger fills my mouth and I try to focus on the pavement ahead of me and get away as fast as possible. The words and insults float into a common swirl of hatred, but the single word stays in my mind. A woman across the street shoots us a sympathetic look. The word could not be any clearer or more direct. It is
powerful poem, although expressed with very few words. To me, this poem describes the bottom line of the well known “ghetto life”. It describes the desperate and what they need, other than the usual what they want, money. Without actually telling us all about the seven young men, it does tell us about them. The poem tells of the men’s fears, their ambitions, and who they think they are, versus who they really are. The poem begins with the word “We”, which is the only line in the poem that begins
language has a lot of trashiness to it. She also says TV tabloids do not mature the mind, they mutate it. In the article, Bradford doesn’t make the mistake on using too big of words. She uses words that everyone can understand, not just her colleagues. For instance, she uses the word “bigwigs,” basically everyone knows what that word means. She also uses the phrase “Joe six-pack.” A lot of what has to do with articles are the race of a person their attractive ness and their sexual orientation. The truth
consumers by using language devices such as alliterations, '…sheer strength…' as both words begin with s it make the text read with a flow and it is catchy, also the alliteration gives the impression that the polo is a well-built car. The alliteration 'Improved rigidity doesn't just make it safer, it also means better road holding and responsiveness' allow for better flow as the repetition of words beginning with r creates a rhythm. '…speed-sensitive…' is another alliteration which
At this point in time I don’t think that there is a more important project. It is extremely clear that we need to help our coworkers learn how to communicate more effectively. As unfair as it may seem, we are judged by the way we communicate, the words that we use, and the way we use them. I plan on breaking the workshop into three main categories; Content in Context, Back to Basics, and Making the Most of Your Tools. These categories will be able to give each person a very strong foundation in
submit at the University, it is an even greater relief. And so I think it's time for me to "give back" as the kids say. I had a 24 hour take home (distance course, so "keep home"?) final exam. Students had to submit it in text and most submitted it in Word. In the exam, I noted that "I expect everyone to behave honorably," and noted that receiving assistance from others or plagiarizing work was a bad idea. I would prefer that students don't cheat. Yes, they really are mostly cheating themselves, so
“I looked at Ras on his horse and at their handful of guns …” With only thirteen words, a minefield of images from the narrator’s voice tells of an underlying story. “I.” This pronoun speaks volumes of who’s words and who’s voice will lead us through the, apparently, important story that is to follow. The scene that is painted for the readers in the very beginning is that of post-medieval violence. “Guns” do not invoke carefree, cheerful images, but those of terror and death; adrenaline. The “I”
syntax to convey that society has lost its voice of conviction. Figurative language, which includes tone, metaphor, irony, etc., plays a huge role in the translation of the text. It allows us to decipher a deeper meaning behind the literal meaning of words, whether or not they are in a phrase. The tone of the poem is authoritative, yet jokingly interrogative. Though he uses punctuation and diction to display an interrogative point of view, he states things in a way that shows us, very clearly, that he
For centuries, American literature has served as indication on the power of words to articulate encouragement for change by creating a call to action. Indeed, literature “the art that expresses life in words” (Tanvir, Para. 4) has the ability to transform the comprehensive human race. Consequently, literature serves as a record of all the dreams that made such change a possibility throughout history. Each successive era, literature begins and ends with great writers communicating their own message
and Birk explore the many processes that automatically and often unintentionally, take place during the gathering of knowledge and expression through words. In their book Birk and Birk break the usage of words into sections: Selection, Slanting by the use of emphasis, slanting by selection of facts, and slanting by the use of charged words. When words are used this way they reveal naturally occurring bias of the writer. Upon reviewing the selection from Birk and Birk’s book Understanding and Using
Six Traits of the Writing Process: Which one works? Introduction Conn McQuinn from Puget Sound ESD in Burien, Washington guides teachers and students alike through a writing process with the analogy of creating a "Magnifique" pizza and Six Trait Writing Links. Pamela Arlov wrote a book titled Wordsmith: A guide to college writing, which explains the writing process. We are going to compare the six traits of writing by Conn McQuinn and the writing process by Pamela Arlov and determine which seems
to be verb + subject. Not only is that uncommon but also automatically means that it would have great significance as to why it is the way that it is. It can also be looked at, as there are many grieving and bitterness in the country. Because the words are put in such an odd way one can never be to sure what the book is about but the tone and background can be assumed on the novel before even reading it. The way the title it put together as shows that there is great importance put into it and it
own thoughts. I would like to start the trek through history with John F. Genung. Genung thought that good use had a standard which every writer should follow. The standard is only one word. The word is "PURITY." As Genung states "the writer must see to it he keeps the mother tongue unsullied." The use of one word to describe "good writing" is crazy. It takes more than just 'PURITY' to have good writing, sure it may help, but there has to be more to it than just that one thing. My reasoning for this
attempted to display a general understanding of how the word court arrived in the English language and suggest reasons for its evolution. Much of the challenge has been determining what of the information I could present. Length restrictions and the condition set out, to use The Norton Anthology of English Literature as the only source to show the synchronic use of the word, have forced me to take a more narrow approach. Since court is a polysemic word I decided that rather then dwelling on the changes
similarities in the time and place in which they take place. Hemingway is a writer that is very methodical in his word choices. When reading these two stories a second time the reader finds considerable differences in the writing style the author uses in each story. To demonstrate, three sentences from each story will be compared and contrasted to show the differences in word usage, word connotation, and to find which story is written better. The initial pair of these sentences to be looked at are
but of the audience’s interest. Her audience is perhaps mature but may have some people that English may not be a language the understand, therefore by emphasizing very drastically on the important words in her essay by saying them frequently. It is a psychological tact that the more times you repeat a word the better the chance there is of the audience remembering it. In paragraph 4, Franklin uses repetition to emphasize sound and its sources. She uses “s” sounds throughout the whole passage to imbed