Video - The IT Crowd - Season 3 Episode 5 , by Cynthia Wilkinson
Find this and other movies exercises in English Exercises .org
Find this and other movies exercises in English Exercises .org
Crocodile Dundee and Australian clichés, by Tanagotchi
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Find this and other movies exercises in English Exercises .org
The Significance of Science in Society. (Author -Bouabdellah), by Bouabdellah
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Find this and other Other printables exercises in English Exercises .org
use of paraphrase/ idiom exercise
12:43 AM
Paraphrasing/ Rewriting Idioms Activity , by julianablino
Find this and other idioms exercises in English Exercises .org
Find this and other idioms exercises in English Exercises .org
Supplementary reading on slanted language,biased and loaded language used as tools of persuasion and propaganda in the media
11:08 PM
DEFINITION
Loaded Language – diction that carries with it a heavy emotional charge.
Loaded language usually contains words with strong positive or negative connotations that unfairly frame words into limited or biased contexts. The words you choose should clarify the truth of a situation, not misdirect your audience by unfairly describing or biasing the audience’s interpretations.
EXAMPLE 1
1. Fair Language: “You have asked for my views on the man named Mr. Smithers. He has been a valued employee here for years. If you can find a position for him in the management sector of your company, I will be pleased.”
Loaded Language: “You have asked for my views on that creature named Smithers. He has been a clinging nuisance here for ages. If you can find a crevice for him in the woodwork of your sweatshop, I will be relieved.”
Using words like “crevice” and “relieved” imply meanings that might otherwise not be evoked with more fair language. A person may despise his opponent’s views, but he still has the responsibility to communicate the opponent’s points fairly. After all, if everybody argued using lies and misrepresentations, we would not get very far, now would we?
Generalizations
One kind of generalization that can be hard to identify, interpret, or test is the reification. To reify means to treat a vague general term as if it were a CONCRETE, even living, thing. Reifications tend to obscure important questions about RESPONSIBILITY ,COST AND BENEFIT. In addition, they are frequently used to demean or demonize entire groups of people. We encounter reifications every day. Here are a few headlines from a major metropolitan newspaper. See if you can identify some generalizations.
• Drug Company did not act on AIDS Virus Warning
• City and Union Extend Strike Deadline
• Chinese Police Detain Wife of Political Prisoner
• Clinton Calls on UN to Cut Back on Waste
These are story headlines, and, in most cases, in the body of the story, we learn who in the drug company failed to act, which city and union officials extended the strike deadline, and so forth. Sometimes, however, these vital details never emerge.
Consider a column we found on the commentary page of a local newspaper with the headline: "UN should clean up its act." The columnist charges that "... the UN's bureaucracy has long ago forsaken its commitment to Article 100 of the [UN] Charter." (Article 100 forbids UN staffers from seeking or receiving instructions from any government.) He denounces "UN apparatchiks [who] have tried to cover their trail . . ." and charges that "The UN bureaucracy . . . inhabits a culture of paranoia, fearful always that a powerful member country or a powerful block of countries is looking over their shoulder." [Emphasis added.] There are over 20,000 UN employees working worldwide at many different jobs, but the reader is encouraged to lump them all together as "apparatchiks" (a derisive term for Soviet-era bureaucrats) and "the UN bureaucracy." Some UN employees may well deserve such labels; but most must surely be worthy and do admirable work. Consider, as an example, those who sacrificed their lives attempting to bring food and medicine to besieged Bosnians. Do they deserve such labels?
Name Calling
Many people would not directly insult those who disagree with them. Such people often pride themselves on either their civility or objectivity. Nonetheless, they often subtly insult their opponents not by focusing on the argument but by questioning their opponents' character or motives. In evaluating competing sides of a controversial issue, look for terms that delegitimate interests (rob them of their legitimacy). Whose interests they invalidate can be quite revealing. For example, in "The Tilt to the News: How American Journalism Has Swerved from the Ideal of Objectivity," The World and I (December 1993), H. Joachim Maitre denounces the alleged liberality of National Public Radio (NPR). He cites as an example NPR's correspondent at the Supreme Court, Nina Totenberg, for her "stubborn effort to prevent Clarence Thomas from being confirmed as a justice of the Court." He might have said "intensive," "tireless," or "persistent" effort. "Stubborn" delegitimates her actions without giving reasons as to why he thinks she was wrong.
Emotions And Persuasion
However irrelevant they might be when it comes to factual claims or the logic of an argument, feelings still play a particularly crucial role in persuasion. In fact, Aristotle classified emotional appeals (pathos) as one of the most effective means of influencing others.
Some appeals to emotion are uncalculated, coming from disputants who are emotionally wrapped up in the issue themselves. But others emanate from practiced publicists or cunning propagandists who play on emotions as skillfully as a virtuoso plays the piano. We should be wary of this. Some classic appeals to emotion that you should watch out for follow.
Appeals to Envy
Envy, we are told, is one of the seven cardinal sins. And it is all too common. A Danish proverb asserts, "If envy were a fever, all the world would be ill." Perhaps this is why appeals to envy are so seductive. Essentially, a disputant appealing to envy will try to manipulate you into accepting an argument because of jealousy of the other person. Loaded language is a key indicator that an appeal to envy is being made. In analyzing controversies, be alert for loaded words or phrases that might be used to trigger and exploit envy.
The table below contains a sample of loaded words that appeal to envy. Compare the terms that capitalize on envy in the left column with their more neutral alternatives in the right column.
Loaded Words That Play on Envy / Alternative, More Neutral Words
------------------------------ -------------------------------
fat cat / wealthy
favored / prosperous
haughty / cultured
snobbish / educated
conceited, stuck-up / self-confident
pushy / assertive
aggressive / in control
power mad / masterful
Appeals to Fear
Fear as a self-protective response is perfectly reasonable. But this same emotion can cloud judgment. And, as in the case of envy, fear can be played upon. Some possible indicators that fear is being appealed to are terms like those in the left-column below rather than those in the right-column.
Loaded Words Appealing to Fear / Alternative, More Neutral Words
------------------------------ -------------------------------
bully / assertive
aggressive/ self-confident
sneaky / cautious
underhanded / circumspect
secret / discreet
surreptitious / watchful
out-of-control / spontaneous
impulsive / freewheeling
rash / instinctive
reckless / carefree
The point is that the same essential trait or behavior can be referred to in a way that plays on our feelings-in this case, fear.
Appeals to Hatred
Hatred is strangely seductive, and zealots of every stripe seem to need a devil. Hitler, for instance, demonized the Jews, and it served Stalin's murderous purposes to incite hatred for "wreckers" (of the revolution) and so-called enemies of the people.
Loaded language is particularly effective in triggering hate. For example, there seems to be a nearly endless supply of nasty words that promote and exploit hatred for particular racial, ethnic, or religious groups. These are all too commonly known, and we omit a chart of examples for the sake of good taste. Bear in mind, however, that there are subtler loaded words that also play on hatred.
Here are some code words used to trigger revulsion: welfare queen, bleeding heart, fascist, extremist, international banker, one-worlder, tree-hugger, union buster, puritan, bureaucrat, shyster, and draft dodger. Of course, there are many, many more.
Appeals to Pride
Pride is another of the so-called seven deadly sins-the one, we are told, that most surely separates a sinner from the grace of God. Often we can spot appeals to pride by looking for characteristic indicator phrases like the following:
• Any educated (or intelligent, upstanding, healthy) person knows that...
• A person with your background (education, breeding) can't help but see that...
• You will be proud to know that. . .
An inverse appeal to pride plays on our fear of seeming stupid. Persuasion professionals are well aware of this and cleverly use it to their advantage. To make you feel alone and stupid in your opinions, for instance, they might commission a poll with loaded questions; then release the findings to the press. Essentially they are saying "Look at all the people who agree with us. You must be wrong." Be alert for such maneuvers.
Slogans
Slogans are vague statements that typically are used to express positions or goals. They characteristically conceal potential conflict while promoting broad but only shallow consensus. Because of their vagueness, they are easy to agree with; but we often later find that others interpret them in ways we find objectionable.
Slogans are not so vague as to be meaningless. On the contrary, slogans are powerful persuaders precisely because they do mean something. Crucially, however, what that something is differs dramatically from person to person.
Consider the following:
• Statements difficult to disagree with: "Take a bite out of crime!"; "Support our troops!"; "Preserve the environment!"; "Say 'No!' to drugs!"
• Key terms with multiple interpretations: "law" in "The law is too soft on criminals" and "peace" in "peace-keeping force" or "peace-loving nations."
• Statements commonly used at political rallies: the "New Deal," "Contract with America," or "with liberty and justice for all."
• Statements used by the media: "The Trial of the Century," "Deficit Reduction," "Liberals," and "Conservatives."
Pseudo Solutions
When a real solution to an urgent problem is not forthcoming, many arguers offer pseudo solutions, vague generalizations that sound convincing and incite people to a cause but say little more than "Let's solve this problem by doing something that will solve this problem." That's pretty safe advice, but with these solutions, arguers are really avoiding the possibility of failure, evading details, and neglecting to talk about who will shoulder the cost. Real-solution proposals, on the other hand, require the risk of failure, saying exactly what is to be done, and, often as not, wrestling with issues of cost.
To distinguish pseudo solutions from potentially workable ones, use the "Can it fail?" Rule. This involves asking, Can the solution fail? "No" identifies pseudo solutions. "Yes" identifies real possibilities.
Consider the following problems and paired "solutions." The "a" items are pseudo solutions. The "b" items are real proposals. Can you see why?
PROBLEM /SOLUTION
------- --------
1. That party is too noisy. / a. Quiet it down.
b. Call the cops.
2. Kids aren't doing homework. /a. Motivate them.
b. Assign lunch detentions.
3. Trains are seldom on time. / a. Improve on-time performance.
b. Purchase more locomotives.
4. Government is wasting money. /a. Improve fiscal efficiency.
b. Decentralize purchasing.
5. Too many are using illegal drugs. /a. Teach them to say "No!" to
drugs.
b. Spend 10 percent more on
drug education.
Presuppositions
Controversies may rest not on deliberate misinformation but on the incorrect assumption that the fundamental sources of knowledge that we depend on are functioning well. It is this presupposition of their trustworthiness that supports our arguments. For instance, consider the following presupposition shared by disputants on either side of the controversy "Should Marijuana Be Legalized as a Medication" from Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues on Drugs and Society, Second edition (Guilford, CT: Dushkin, 1996, pp. 135-143). Professor Lester Grinspoon argues that marijuana has proven beneficial to patients suffering from various medical problems. He feels that the federal government is unjustifiably prohibiting its use. Eric Voth, a medical professional, counters that marijuana has no real medical benefits and its use should be prohibited. Underlying both of their arguments is the presupposition that adults cannot be permitted to treat their own bodies as they choose. A libertarian who worries about governmental restrictions on personal liberty would immediately recognize this deep assumption and challenge it. The point here is that controversies rest on presuppositions that may in themselves be challenged.
Loaded Language – diction that carries with it a heavy emotional charge.
Loaded language usually contains words with strong positive or negative connotations that unfairly frame words into limited or biased contexts. The words you choose should clarify the truth of a situation, not misdirect your audience by unfairly describing or biasing the audience’s interpretations.
EXAMPLE 1
1. Fair Language: “You have asked for my views on the man named Mr. Smithers. He has been a valued employee here for years. If you can find a position for him in the management sector of your company, I will be pleased.”
Loaded Language: “You have asked for my views on that creature named Smithers. He has been a clinging nuisance here for ages. If you can find a crevice for him in the woodwork of your sweatshop, I will be relieved.”
Using words like “crevice” and “relieved” imply meanings that might otherwise not be evoked with more fair language. A person may despise his opponent’s views, but he still has the responsibility to communicate the opponent’s points fairly. After all, if everybody argued using lies and misrepresentations, we would not get very far, now would we?
Generalizations
One kind of generalization that can be hard to identify, interpret, or test is the reification. To reify means to treat a vague general term as if it were a CONCRETE, even living, thing. Reifications tend to obscure important questions about RESPONSIBILITY ,COST AND BENEFIT. In addition, they are frequently used to demean or demonize entire groups of people. We encounter reifications every day. Here are a few headlines from a major metropolitan newspaper. See if you can identify some generalizations.
• Drug Company did not act on AIDS Virus Warning
• City and Union Extend Strike Deadline
• Chinese Police Detain Wife of Political Prisoner
• Clinton Calls on UN to Cut Back on Waste
These are story headlines, and, in most cases, in the body of the story, we learn who in the drug company failed to act, which city and union officials extended the strike deadline, and so forth. Sometimes, however, these vital details never emerge.
Consider a column we found on the commentary page of a local newspaper with the headline: "UN should clean up its act." The columnist charges that "... the UN's bureaucracy has long ago forsaken its commitment to Article 100 of the [UN] Charter." (Article 100 forbids UN staffers from seeking or receiving instructions from any government.) He denounces "UN apparatchiks [who] have tried to cover their trail . . ." and charges that "The UN bureaucracy . . . inhabits a culture of paranoia, fearful always that a powerful member country or a powerful block of countries is looking over their shoulder." [Emphasis added.] There are over 20,000 UN employees working worldwide at many different jobs, but the reader is encouraged to lump them all together as "apparatchiks" (a derisive term for Soviet-era bureaucrats) and "the UN bureaucracy." Some UN employees may well deserve such labels; but most must surely be worthy and do admirable work. Consider, as an example, those who sacrificed their lives attempting to bring food and medicine to besieged Bosnians. Do they deserve such labels?
Name Calling
Many people would not directly insult those who disagree with them. Such people often pride themselves on either their civility or objectivity. Nonetheless, they often subtly insult their opponents not by focusing on the argument but by questioning their opponents' character or motives. In evaluating competing sides of a controversial issue, look for terms that delegitimate interests (rob them of their legitimacy). Whose interests they invalidate can be quite revealing. For example, in "The Tilt to the News: How American Journalism Has Swerved from the Ideal of Objectivity," The World and I (December 1993), H. Joachim Maitre denounces the alleged liberality of National Public Radio (NPR). He cites as an example NPR's correspondent at the Supreme Court, Nina Totenberg, for her "stubborn effort to prevent Clarence Thomas from being confirmed as a justice of the Court." He might have said "intensive," "tireless," or "persistent" effort. "Stubborn" delegitimates her actions without giving reasons as to why he thinks she was wrong.
Emotions And Persuasion
However irrelevant they might be when it comes to factual claims or the logic of an argument, feelings still play a particularly crucial role in persuasion. In fact, Aristotle classified emotional appeals (pathos) as one of the most effective means of influencing others.
Some appeals to emotion are uncalculated, coming from disputants who are emotionally wrapped up in the issue themselves. But others emanate from practiced publicists or cunning propagandists who play on emotions as skillfully as a virtuoso plays the piano. We should be wary of this. Some classic appeals to emotion that you should watch out for follow.
Appeals to Envy
Envy, we are told, is one of the seven cardinal sins. And it is all too common. A Danish proverb asserts, "If envy were a fever, all the world would be ill." Perhaps this is why appeals to envy are so seductive. Essentially, a disputant appealing to envy will try to manipulate you into accepting an argument because of jealousy of the other person. Loaded language is a key indicator that an appeal to envy is being made. In analyzing controversies, be alert for loaded words or phrases that might be used to trigger and exploit envy.
The table below contains a sample of loaded words that appeal to envy. Compare the terms that capitalize on envy in the left column with their more neutral alternatives in the right column.
Loaded Words That Play on Envy / Alternative, More Neutral Words
------------------------------ -------------------------------
fat cat / wealthy
favored / prosperous
haughty / cultured
snobbish / educated
conceited, stuck-up / self-confident
pushy / assertive
aggressive / in control
power mad / masterful
Appeals to Fear
Fear as a self-protective response is perfectly reasonable. But this same emotion can cloud judgment. And, as in the case of envy, fear can be played upon. Some possible indicators that fear is being appealed to are terms like those in the left-column below rather than those in the right-column.
Loaded Words Appealing to Fear / Alternative, More Neutral Words
------------------------------ -------------------------------
bully / assertive
aggressive/ self-confident
sneaky / cautious
underhanded / circumspect
secret / discreet
surreptitious / watchful
out-of-control / spontaneous
impulsive / freewheeling
rash / instinctive
reckless / carefree
The point is that the same essential trait or behavior can be referred to in a way that plays on our feelings-in this case, fear.
Appeals to Hatred
Hatred is strangely seductive, and zealots of every stripe seem to need a devil. Hitler, for instance, demonized the Jews, and it served Stalin's murderous purposes to incite hatred for "wreckers" (of the revolution) and so-called enemies of the people.
Loaded language is particularly effective in triggering hate. For example, there seems to be a nearly endless supply of nasty words that promote and exploit hatred for particular racial, ethnic, or religious groups. These are all too commonly known, and we omit a chart of examples for the sake of good taste. Bear in mind, however, that there are subtler loaded words that also play on hatred.
Here are some code words used to trigger revulsion: welfare queen, bleeding heart, fascist, extremist, international banker, one-worlder, tree-hugger, union buster, puritan, bureaucrat, shyster, and draft dodger. Of course, there are many, many more.
Appeals to Pride
Pride is another of the so-called seven deadly sins-the one, we are told, that most surely separates a sinner from the grace of God. Often we can spot appeals to pride by looking for characteristic indicator phrases like the following:
• Any educated (or intelligent, upstanding, healthy) person knows that...
• A person with your background (education, breeding) can't help but see that...
• You will be proud to know that. . .
An inverse appeal to pride plays on our fear of seeming stupid. Persuasion professionals are well aware of this and cleverly use it to their advantage. To make you feel alone and stupid in your opinions, for instance, they might commission a poll with loaded questions; then release the findings to the press. Essentially they are saying "Look at all the people who agree with us. You must be wrong." Be alert for such maneuvers.
Slogans
Slogans are vague statements that typically are used to express positions or goals. They characteristically conceal potential conflict while promoting broad but only shallow consensus. Because of their vagueness, they are easy to agree with; but we often later find that others interpret them in ways we find objectionable.
Slogans are not so vague as to be meaningless. On the contrary, slogans are powerful persuaders precisely because they do mean something. Crucially, however, what that something is differs dramatically from person to person.
Consider the following:
• Statements difficult to disagree with: "Take a bite out of crime!"; "Support our troops!"; "Preserve the environment!"; "Say 'No!' to drugs!"
• Key terms with multiple interpretations: "law" in "The law is too soft on criminals" and "peace" in "peace-keeping force" or "peace-loving nations."
• Statements commonly used at political rallies: the "New Deal," "Contract with America," or "with liberty and justice for all."
• Statements used by the media: "The Trial of the Century," "Deficit Reduction," "Liberals," and "Conservatives."
Pseudo Solutions
When a real solution to an urgent problem is not forthcoming, many arguers offer pseudo solutions, vague generalizations that sound convincing and incite people to a cause but say little more than "Let's solve this problem by doing something that will solve this problem." That's pretty safe advice, but with these solutions, arguers are really avoiding the possibility of failure, evading details, and neglecting to talk about who will shoulder the cost. Real-solution proposals, on the other hand, require the risk of failure, saying exactly what is to be done, and, often as not, wrestling with issues of cost.
To distinguish pseudo solutions from potentially workable ones, use the "Can it fail?" Rule. This involves asking, Can the solution fail? "No" identifies pseudo solutions. "Yes" identifies real possibilities.
Consider the following problems and paired "solutions." The "a" items are pseudo solutions. The "b" items are real proposals. Can you see why?
PROBLEM /SOLUTION
------- --------
1. That party is too noisy. / a. Quiet it down.
b. Call the cops.
2. Kids aren't doing homework. /a. Motivate them.
b. Assign lunch detentions.
3. Trains are seldom on time. / a. Improve on-time performance.
b. Purchase more locomotives.
4. Government is wasting money. /a. Improve fiscal efficiency.
b. Decentralize purchasing.
5. Too many are using illegal drugs. /a. Teach them to say "No!" to
drugs.
b. Spend 10 percent more on
drug education.
Presuppositions
Controversies may rest not on deliberate misinformation but on the incorrect assumption that the fundamental sources of knowledge that we depend on are functioning well. It is this presupposition of their trustworthiness that supports our arguments. For instance, consider the following presupposition shared by disputants on either side of the controversy "Should Marijuana Be Legalized as a Medication" from Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues on Drugs and Society, Second edition (Guilford, CT: Dushkin, 1996, pp. 135-143). Professor Lester Grinspoon argues that marijuana has proven beneficial to patients suffering from various medical problems. He feels that the federal government is unjustifiably prohibiting its use. Eric Voth, a medical professional, counters that marijuana has no real medical benefits and its use should be prohibited. Underlying both of their arguments is the presupposition that adults cannot be permitted to treat their own bodies as they choose. A libertarian who worries about governmental restrictions on personal liberty would immediately recognize this deep assumption and challenge it. The point here is that controversies rest on presuppositions that may in themselves be challenged.
Role of language in media bias
Mass media, despite its ability to project worldwide, is limited in its cross-ethnic compatibility by one simple attribute -- language. Ethnicity, being largely developed by a divergence in geography, language, culture, genes and similarly, point of view, has the potential to be countered by a common source of information. Therefore, language, in the absence of translation, comprises a barrier to a worldwide community of debate and opinion, although it is also true that media within any given society may be split along class, political or regional lines.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Language may also be seen as a political factor in mass media, particularly in instances where a society is characterized by a large number of languages spoken by its populace. The choice of language of mass media may represent a bias towards the group most likely to speak that language, and can limit the public participation by those who do not speak the language. On the other hand, there have also been attempts to use a common-language mass media to reach out to a large, geographically dispersed population, such as in the use of Arabic language by news channel Al Jazeera.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Many media theorists concerned with language and media bias point towards the media of the United States, a large country where English is spoken by the vast majority of the population. Some theorists argue that the common language is not homogenizing; and that there still remain strong differences expressed within the mass media. This viewpoint asserts that moderate views are bolstered by drawing influences from the extremes of the political spectrum. In the United States, the national news therefore contributes to a sense of cohesion within the society, proceeding from a similarly informed population. According to this model, most views within society are freely expressed, and the mass media is accountable to the people and tends to reflect the spectrum of opinion.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Language may also be a more subtle form of bias. Use of a word with positive or negative connotations rather than a more neutral synonym can form in the audience's mind a biased picture. An extreme example would be idea using the phrase "freedom fighters" instead of "insurgents." The former phrase creates an image of a noble struggle, while the latter conveys the idea of violent terrorists. A more value neutral term might be "soldiers", but even that word carries its own connotations.
Use of loaded language
Here's an example, from fair.org (fairness and accuracy in reporting), from Newt Gingrich, who was a prominent conservative and critic of Bill Clinton in the 1990s. He's writing about the use of language to persuade and influence public opinion, essentially this was a memo to Republican candidates, an instruction book for politicians and political candidates about how to attack democrats and their policies in the press, or fend off attacks:
"As you know, one of the key points in the GOPAC (a Republican Party committee to support and raise money for GOP, or Republican candidates [GOP stands for 'Grand Old Party') tapes is that "language matters." In the video "We Are a Majority," Language is listed as a key mechanism of control used by a majority party, along with Agenda, Rules, Attitude and Learning. As the tapes have been used in training sessions across the country and mailed to candidates, we have heard a plaintive plea: "I wish I could speak like Newt."
That takes years of practice. But we believe that you could have a significant impact on your campaign and the way you communicate if we help a little. That is why we have created this list of words and phrases.
This list is prepared so that you might have a directory of words to use in writing literature and mail, in preparing speeches, and in producing electronic media. The words and phrases are powerful. Read them. Memorize as many as possible. And remember that, like any tool, these words will not help if they are not used....
Contrasting Words
Often we search hard for words to help us define our opponents. Sometimes we are hesitant to use contrast. Remember that creating a difference helps you. These are powerful words that can create a clear and easily understood contrast. Apply these to the opponent, their record, proposals and their party.
decay... failure (fail)... collapse(ing)... deeper... crisis... urgent(cy)... destructive... destroy... sick... pathetic... lie... liberal... they/them... unionized bureaucracy... "compassion" is not enough... betray... consequences... limit(s)... shallow... traitors... sensationalists... endanger... coercion... hypocrisy... radical... threaten... devour... waste... corruption... incompetent... permissive attitudes... destructive... impose... self-serving... greed... ideological... insecure... anti-(issue): flag, family, child, jobs... pessimistic... excuses... intolerant...
stagnation... welfare... corrupt... selfish... insensitive... status quo... mandate(s)... taxes... spend(ing)... shame... disgrace... punish (poor...)... bizarre... cynicism... cheat... steal... abuse of power... machine... bosses... obsolete... criminal rights... red tape... patronage
(Okay, here are the 'good' words):
Use the list below to help define your campaign and your vision of public service. These words can help give extra power to your message. In addition, these words help develop the positive side of the contrast you should create with your opponent, giving your community something to vote for!
share... change... opportunity... legacy... challenge... control... truth... moral... courage... reform... prosperity... crusade... movement... children... family... debate... compete... active(ly)... we/us/our... candid(ly)... humane... pristine... provide... liberty... commitment... principle(d)... unique... duty... precious... premise... care(ing)... tough... listen... learn... help... lead... vision... success... empower(ment)... citizen... activist... mobilize... conflict... light... dream... freedom... peace... rights... pioneer... proud/pride... building... preserve... pro-(issue): flag, children, environment... reform... workfare... eliminate good-time in prison... strength... choice/choose... fair... protect... confident... incentive... hard work... initiative... common sense... passionate
So, next time you listen to a politician's speech, listen and see how many of these words pop up. It doesn't matter whether they're true characterizations or not, or whether they unfairly smear the opponent--what matters is the ability to influence the public and win elections. Remember the third propaganda statagem--appeal to emotion. Scare 'em to death, and then offer them warm fuzzies in the form of your own solution to a problem!
The quote was from Hermann Goering, said during the Nuremburg trials after World War II. Goering was Adolph Hitler's Reichsmarschall in Nazi Germany. Actually, there was some controversy over whether Goering ever said this. There is an excellent website, www.snopes.com, that discusses this quote--it is an excellent site for debunking many of those bad emails you get that sound fishy.
Want to put together your own phony grassroots campaign? Arianna Huffington, author of Pigs at the Trough (a look at corporate welfare and public corruption), has provided a handy table for you (I've added a few things). Just mix and match, and make your own!
Center for economic fairness
Coalition for reasonable solutions
Citizens in favor of sensible resolution
Consumers demanding sound justice
The Society for equitable equality
Americans for just accountability
Oregonians for fair economy
Mothers for spirited alternatives
top of page
________________________________________
Media and deception
Deception is possible in all forms of communication--language allows lying, for instance. On the Internet, a 14 yr-old can pose as a supermodel in a chat room, or 45 yr-old pedophile as a 14 yr-old. TV relies on deception, unreality . . . reality TV may be the worst of this--they are as slickly produced as any TV show, and usually the age range of the actors is what, 22-25? Isn't that what reality is all about? Stranding extremely attractive men and women on an island, filming the bejeebers out of them, and watching them scheme and connive their way down to a million-dollar winner? What kind of viewership would one expect from a 'Survivor' show where families living below the poverty line discuss their strategies for living on fixed incomes while losing their rent subsidies and having to re-certify for food stamps and Medicaid?? What about radio? What are we getting? Do we know much about the voices at the other end? And newspapers? In some cases, stories that appear are actually press releases sent out by a company (promoting a new product, for instance), but they are presented as news.
Mass media, despite its ability to project worldwide, is limited in its cross-ethnic compatibility by one simple attribute -- language. Ethnicity, being largely developed by a divergence in geography, language, culture, genes and similarly, point of view, has the potential to be countered by a common source of information. Therefore, language, in the absence of translation, comprises a barrier to a worldwide community of debate and opinion, although it is also true that media within any given society may be split along class, political or regional lines.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Language may also be seen as a political factor in mass media, particularly in instances where a society is characterized by a large number of languages spoken by its populace. The choice of language of mass media may represent a bias towards the group most likely to speak that language, and can limit the public participation by those who do not speak the language. On the other hand, there have also been attempts to use a common-language mass media to reach out to a large, geographically dispersed population, such as in the use of Arabic language by news channel Al Jazeera.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Many media theorists concerned with language and media bias point towards the media of the United States, a large country where English is spoken by the vast majority of the population. Some theorists argue that the common language is not homogenizing; and that there still remain strong differences expressed within the mass media. This viewpoint asserts that moderate views are bolstered by drawing influences from the extremes of the political spectrum. In the United States, the national news therefore contributes to a sense of cohesion within the society, proceeding from a similarly informed population. According to this model, most views within society are freely expressed, and the mass media is accountable to the people and tends to reflect the spectrum of opinion.
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Language may also be a more subtle form of bias. Use of a word with positive or negative connotations rather than a more neutral synonym can form in the audience's mind a biased picture. An extreme example would be idea using the phrase "freedom fighters" instead of "insurgents." The former phrase creates an image of a noble struggle, while the latter conveys the idea of violent terrorists. A more value neutral term might be "soldiers", but even that word carries its own connotations.
Use of loaded language
Here's an example, from fair.org (fairness and accuracy in reporting), from Newt Gingrich, who was a prominent conservative and critic of Bill Clinton in the 1990s. He's writing about the use of language to persuade and influence public opinion, essentially this was a memo to Republican candidates, an instruction book for politicians and political candidates about how to attack democrats and their policies in the press, or fend off attacks:
"As you know, one of the key points in the GOPAC (a Republican Party committee to support and raise money for GOP, or Republican candidates [GOP stands for 'Grand Old Party') tapes is that "language matters." In the video "We Are a Majority," Language is listed as a key mechanism of control used by a majority party, along with Agenda, Rules, Attitude and Learning. As the tapes have been used in training sessions across the country and mailed to candidates, we have heard a plaintive plea: "I wish I could speak like Newt."
That takes years of practice. But we believe that you could have a significant impact on your campaign and the way you communicate if we help a little. That is why we have created this list of words and phrases.
This list is prepared so that you might have a directory of words to use in writing literature and mail, in preparing speeches, and in producing electronic media. The words and phrases are powerful. Read them. Memorize as many as possible. And remember that, like any tool, these words will not help if they are not used....
Contrasting Words
Often we search hard for words to help us define our opponents. Sometimes we are hesitant to use contrast. Remember that creating a difference helps you. These are powerful words that can create a clear and easily understood contrast. Apply these to the opponent, their record, proposals and their party.
decay... failure (fail)... collapse(ing)... deeper... crisis... urgent(cy)... destructive... destroy... sick... pathetic... lie... liberal... they/them... unionized bureaucracy... "compassion" is not enough... betray... consequences... limit(s)... shallow... traitors... sensationalists... endanger... coercion... hypocrisy... radical... threaten... devour... waste... corruption... incompetent... permissive attitudes... destructive... impose... self-serving... greed... ideological... insecure... anti-(issue): flag, family, child, jobs... pessimistic... excuses... intolerant...
stagnation... welfare... corrupt... selfish... insensitive... status quo... mandate(s)... taxes... spend(ing)... shame... disgrace... punish (poor...)... bizarre... cynicism... cheat... steal... abuse of power... machine... bosses... obsolete... criminal rights... red tape... patronage
(Okay, here are the 'good' words):
Use the list below to help define your campaign and your vision of public service. These words can help give extra power to your message. In addition, these words help develop the positive side of the contrast you should create with your opponent, giving your community something to vote for!
share... change... opportunity... legacy... challenge... control... truth... moral... courage... reform... prosperity... crusade... movement... children... family... debate... compete... active(ly)... we/us/our... candid(ly)... humane... pristine... provide... liberty... commitment... principle(d)... unique... duty... precious... premise... care(ing)... tough... listen... learn... help... lead... vision... success... empower(ment)... citizen... activist... mobilize... conflict... light... dream... freedom... peace... rights... pioneer... proud/pride... building... preserve... pro-(issue): flag, children, environment... reform... workfare... eliminate good-time in prison... strength... choice/choose... fair... protect... confident... incentive... hard work... initiative... common sense... passionate
So, next time you listen to a politician's speech, listen and see how many of these words pop up. It doesn't matter whether they're true characterizations or not, or whether they unfairly smear the opponent--what matters is the ability to influence the public and win elections. Remember the third propaganda statagem--appeal to emotion. Scare 'em to death, and then offer them warm fuzzies in the form of your own solution to a problem!
The quote was from Hermann Goering, said during the Nuremburg trials after World War II. Goering was Adolph Hitler's Reichsmarschall in Nazi Germany. Actually, there was some controversy over whether Goering ever said this. There is an excellent website, www.snopes.com, that discusses this quote--it is an excellent site for debunking many of those bad emails you get that sound fishy.
Want to put together your own phony grassroots campaign? Arianna Huffington, author of Pigs at the Trough (a look at corporate welfare and public corruption), has provided a handy table for you (I've added a few things). Just mix and match, and make your own!
Center for economic fairness
Coalition for reasonable solutions
Citizens in favor of sensible resolution
Consumers demanding sound justice
The Society for equitable equality
Americans for just accountability
Oregonians for fair economy
Mothers for spirited alternatives
top of page
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Media and deception
Deception is possible in all forms of communication--language allows lying, for instance. On the Internet, a 14 yr-old can pose as a supermodel in a chat room, or 45 yr-old pedophile as a 14 yr-old. TV relies on deception, unreality . . . reality TV may be the worst of this--they are as slickly produced as any TV show, and usually the age range of the actors is what, 22-25? Isn't that what reality is all about? Stranding extremely attractive men and women on an island, filming the bejeebers out of them, and watching them scheme and connive their way down to a million-dollar winner? What kind of viewership would one expect from a 'Survivor' show where families living below the poverty line discuss their strategies for living on fixed incomes while losing their rent subsidies and having to re-certify for food stamps and Medicaid?? What about radio? What are we getting? Do we know much about the voices at the other end? And newspapers? In some cases, stories that appear are actually press releases sent out by a company (promoting a new product, for instance), but they are presented as news.
Important announcement
12:52 AM
ALL CLASSES (EALD)
NOTICE
Because the oral EALD exam has been brought forward by 1 week (end of Sept-early Oct) and the 2 public hols on 27/8 and 31/8,Mr Derick and I have set 2 lectures to cover the topic of literary analysis of Boy(tales of childhood).
Friday 20.8.10
Venue: ( LT5)
Time:2.30-3.30
Saturday 21.8.10
Venue:LT5
Time: 9-11.30
( Sample questions will be answered so please bring along your novel,the notes, a dictionary and one laptop per group of 6).
This will be the last face to face lecture that will mark the completion of Unit 3B.
The following week will be the practice sessions for the oral exams.
Thank you.
Regards
Ms. Chan
NOTICE
Because the oral EALD exam has been brought forward by 1 week (end of Sept-early Oct) and the 2 public hols on 27/8 and 31/8,Mr Derick and I have set 2 lectures to cover the topic of literary analysis of Boy(tales of childhood).
Friday 20.8.10
Venue: ( LT5)
Time:2.30-3.30
Saturday 21.8.10
Venue:LT5
Time: 9-11.30
( Sample questions will be answered so please bring along your novel,the notes, a dictionary and one laptop per group of 6).
This will be the last face to face lecture that will mark the completion of Unit 3B.
The following week will be the practice sessions for the oral exams.
Thank you.
Regards
Ms. Chan
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
The mock oral exam for EALD Unit 3B has been fixed as follows
Starts on 2/9/10 (Thursday) and ends on 8/9/10 (Wed).
Those who have bought flight tickets have to see Mr. Derick personally to see if they have an exam scheduled .
They must show the evidence such as the actual copies of flight tickets.
The actual oral exam for EALD is fixed on 30/9/10 and 1/10/10. No CHANGES will be entertained.
Regards
Ms. Chan and Mr Derick
The mock oral exam for EALD Unit 3B has been fixed as follows
Starts on 2/9/10 (Thursday) and ends on 8/9/10 (Wed).
Those who have bought flight tickets have to see Mr. Derick personally to see if they have an exam scheduled .
They must show the evidence such as the actual copies of flight tickets.
The actual oral exam for EALD is fixed on 30/9/10 and 1/10/10. No CHANGES will be entertained.
Regards
Ms. Chan and Mr Derick
Supplementary Reading
11:01 PM
Advantages of multilingualism/Linguistic diversity
1. children have exposure to another culture so rather than thinking there's only one way to everything,learners stay open to everything,learners stay open to possibilities as they know from the start that different peopple do things differently.And that it's alright.It's not a better way of doing things,it's not worse.It's just different.
2.multilingual learners build bridges to new relationships because they have the capability,they can talk to diverse people,they build different sorts of relationships and they can be the bridge between two people who can't talk and understand each other-they can actually translate and help out.
3.They have economic advantages-they are more in demand in a globalized working environment where languages are the only barriers when geographic barriers are no longer barriers to doing business.
4.more flexible and divergent thinking.Kids who grow up with several languages think differently.They know from the start there could be more than one word to one concept.so their minds stay more flexible
5. boosts the self esteem and self identity of a child.The child sees himself or herself as a language or culture bridge.
Disadvantages
1.a bilingual child starts speaking 3-6 months later than a monolingual child
2.a temporary moxing of languages as the child mix up different words ferom different languages into one sentence.this is normal until 4 years old.
3. extra academic workload-extra effort
Multilingualism in cyberspace
1. language -foundation of communication between people and is part of their cultural heritage.Language has far reaching emotive and cultural associations and values rooted in their literary,historical,philosophical and educational heritage.so the users language should not be an obstacle to accessing the multicultural heritage available in cyberspace.The harmonious development of the information society is only possible if availability of multilingual and multicultural information is encouraged.
2.In 2000,more than 50% of internet users were not English speaking.This % has not stopped growing.In March 2003,over 60% of users had a home language other than English.
Cyber surfers are categorized aacording to their mother tongue.Spanish speakers include users in Spain,Latin America,those in the US or Morrocco but the dominance of English as the main language of international exchange is unlikely to change.
3.It is suggested that local communities on the Web should first use their own language to circulate information but if they wish to make it vailable to the global community,the information can be translated into English.This linguistic diversity is important to freedom of thought and the survival of Modern Man.
Language is a part of culture and culture is a part of language. Presentation of an argument in a way that sounds fluent and elegant in one culture may sound clumsy and circular by members of a different culture.Language involves more than knowledge of grammar and lexis but also features of the culture such as tone of voice,appropriate topic of conversation and non verbal language.
It's not only what you say but when you say it and how you say it.
1. children have exposure to another culture so rather than thinking there's only one way to everything,learners stay open to everything,learners stay open to possibilities as they know from the start that different peopple do things differently.And that it's alright.It's not a better way of doing things,it's not worse.It's just different.
2.multilingual learners build bridges to new relationships because they have the capability,they can talk to diverse people,they build different sorts of relationships and they can be the bridge between two people who can't talk and understand each other-they can actually translate and help out.
3.They have economic advantages-they are more in demand in a globalized working environment where languages are the only barriers when geographic barriers are no longer barriers to doing business.
4.more flexible and divergent thinking.Kids who grow up with several languages think differently.They know from the start there could be more than one word to one concept.so their minds stay more flexible
5. boosts the self esteem and self identity of a child.The child sees himself or herself as a language or culture bridge.
Disadvantages
1.a bilingual child starts speaking 3-6 months later than a monolingual child
2.a temporary moxing of languages as the child mix up different words ferom different languages into one sentence.this is normal until 4 years old.
3. extra academic workload-extra effort
Multilingualism in cyberspace
1. language -foundation of communication between people and is part of their cultural heritage.Language has far reaching emotive and cultural associations and values rooted in their literary,historical,philosophical and educational heritage.so the users language should not be an obstacle to accessing the multicultural heritage available in cyberspace.The harmonious development of the information society is only possible if availability of multilingual and multicultural information is encouraged.
2.In 2000,more than 50% of internet users were not English speaking.This % has not stopped growing.In March 2003,over 60% of users had a home language other than English.
Cyber surfers are categorized aacording to their mother tongue.Spanish speakers include users in Spain,Latin America,those in the US or Morrocco but the dominance of English as the main language of international exchange is unlikely to change.
3.It is suggested that local communities on the Web should first use their own language to circulate information but if they wish to make it vailable to the global community,the information can be translated into English.This linguistic diversity is important to freedom of thought and the survival of Modern Man.
Language is a part of culture and culture is a part of language. Presentation of an argument in a way that sounds fluent and elegant in one culture may sound clumsy and circular by members of a different culture.Language involves more than knowledge of grammar and lexis but also features of the culture such as tone of voice,appropriate topic of conversation and non verbal language.
It's not only what you say but when you say it and how you say it.
Write the outline for the essay questions.
1. Is the UN Declaration of human rights universal meaning that it is equal or the same for all nations,cultures,religions and class or is it a subjective concept dependent on the values,beliefs and assumptions of a particular nation,culture,or the power of a dominant culture. Discuss .
2. How does a language reflect our differences with others or can it be a tool for global unity?
Discuss.
Your answer can be based on printed and non printed texts,and your own observations.
Refer to intercultural communication in "The Japanese Story",""Water", "The Forgotten Woman","Australia", "The Rabbit Proof Fence", "Provoked","Until Death Us do Part"
Novels like " Falling leaves", " Waris Dirie-Desert Flower","Boy-Tales of Childhood"
Textbook-Pg 130 -becoming a critical reader,Pg 204 -Minority languages ,International language,Pg 213 -Universal second language education,Pg 233 -Cross-cultural communication
1. Is the UN Declaration of human rights universal meaning that it is equal or the same for all nations,cultures,religions and class or is it a subjective concept dependent on the values,beliefs and assumptions of a particular nation,culture,or the power of a dominant culture. Discuss .
2. How does a language reflect our differences with others or can it be a tool for global unity?
Discuss.
Your answer can be based on printed and non printed texts,and your own observations.
Refer to intercultural communication in "The Japanese Story",""Water", "The Forgotten Woman","Australia", "The Rabbit Proof Fence", "Provoked","Until Death Us do Part"
Novels like " Falling leaves", " Waris Dirie-Desert Flower","Boy-Tales of Childhood"
Textbook-Pg 130 -becoming a critical reader,Pg 204 -Minority languages ,International language,Pg 213 -Universal second language education,Pg 233 -Cross-cultural communication
Assessment 6
6:49 PM
Assessment Task 6
Task 6 :Persuasive Speech
Assessment type: Production (written) and (oral)
Outcomes : : Outcome 4:writing
Outcome 1:speaking
Context : Contemporary issue
Task Duration :40 mins. (drafting and writing) (to be completed during class time) (dictionaries can be used but do not bring in any extra notes)
5 mins. (presentation of persuasive speech)
Marks : 100marks
Weighting :20%
Task
Read and view text on the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the consequences of its violation to all parties involved. Pick ONE of the articles of the Declaration and write a persuasive speech
Instruction:
1. Make notes to reflect the key points
2. Spend 10 minutes on drafting a mind map or outline of the speech.
3. Write a persuasive speech on a single page A4 size paper. (do not write on both sides of the paper-we will deduct marks for those exceeding the word limit)
4.Your speech should persuade the audience of the need for attitudinal change on the issue of human rights.
5. You should present a sophisticated,coherent and well-organised speech.
6. You should employ a wide variety of rhetorical devices effectively.
7.The speech demonstrates considerable accuracy in a wide variety of grammatical forms and punctuation.
8.Use an extensive and appropriate lexical resource,including idiomatic expressions, and an appropriate register.
9. Submit the speech (to be written during class time)and keep the copy of the outline/mind map and be prepared to make the speech based solely on the outline/mind map.
10. Caution: Practise reading out the speech to make sure that the delivery time does not exceed 5 minutes.You will be penalised for exceeding the time limit.
Save your best for last. End the speech with a memorable quote.
Task 6 :Persuasive Speech
Assessment type: Production (written) and (oral)
Outcomes : : Outcome 4:writing
Outcome 1:speaking
Context : Contemporary issue
Task Duration :40 mins. (drafting and writing) (to be completed during class time) (dictionaries can be used but do not bring in any extra notes)
5 mins. (presentation of persuasive speech)
Marks : 100marks
Weighting :20%
Task
Read and view text on the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the consequences of its violation to all parties involved. Pick ONE of the articles of the Declaration and write a persuasive speech
Instruction:
1. Make notes to reflect the key points
2. Spend 10 minutes on drafting a mind map or outline of the speech.
3. Write a persuasive speech on a single page A4 size paper. (do not write on both sides of the paper-we will deduct marks for those exceeding the word limit)
4.Your speech should persuade the audience of the need for attitudinal change on the issue of human rights.
5. You should present a sophisticated,coherent and well-organised speech.
6. You should employ a wide variety of rhetorical devices effectively.
7.The speech demonstrates considerable accuracy in a wide variety of grammatical forms and punctuation.
8.Use an extensive and appropriate lexical resource,including idiomatic expressions, and an appropriate register.
9. Submit the speech (to be written during class time)and keep the copy of the outline/mind map and be prepared to make the speech based solely on the outline/mind map.
10. Caution: Practise reading out the speech to make sure that the delivery time does not exceed 5 minutes.You will be penalised for exceeding the time limit.
Save your best for last. End the speech with a memorable quote.
what's your line?
10:56 PM
Light up the Bishop's nose
The break up of the Hot Metal
object as accessories
Plush ,blush brush
or Bristles n pipe
The break up of the Hot Metal
object as accessories
Plush ,blush brush
or Bristles n pipe
Here is something to blow your mind.
Create a montage that mixes everyday objects with natural objects.Use Photoshop to do the mix and match or just take pix and digitally alter them to create a new way of looking at the same old,same old stuff.