How does language shape us?

2006-12-11T08:48:00.000-08:00

Here's another two sided argument. Where do you stand and why?

2006-12-07T11:49:00.000-08:00

Holy fun games, Batman! Play around with this site and experiment with the games. We've talked about learning languages and using different aspects of language at different stages of life...Are these games helpful for their intended age group? Are they entertaining? How good do you think these sites would be for a child just learning English?

2006-12-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

This post doesn't involve a link, but rather pictures from my Thanksgiving trip to Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Mexico. Nogales is a border town that literally sits in both countries. My family and I parked in Arizona and walked across the border to Mexico.

I would like you to notice are these signs. We have talked about putting up signs in both languages and what that would be like...Well, this is what it's like. You can tell which signs are in America and which are in Mexico based on which language comes first.

Does this appear jarring or disturbing at all to you? Does it make a difference knowing that this is in a town on the border? And that there are bilingual signs on both sides of the border?

2006-12-05T08:16:00.000-08:00

Many of you either say things like "That's gay" or know people who do. Well, as sketchy as Wikipedia is, this little clip says it better than I can - and this is one part of Wikipedia that isn't fabricated out of nowhere.

2006-12-04T08:06:00.000-08:00

We've discussed "soccermom" and "bling" being added to the dictionary, but "google" and "spyware"? Are the dictionary acquisition folks going too far? Or are they just keeping up with the times?

2006-11-30T15:10:00.000-08:00

Remember the hit classic TV show Seinfeld? Well, Michael Richards, who played the quirky, off-the-wall neighbor Kramer, was in the news last week. After you read the article, make sure to watch the video - it's toward the end on the left. There's a second video there too - Richards' post-oops statement.

What do you think? Racist? Or just anger? And if you think it was just anger, do you think it was justified? Explain.

2006-11-28T15:22:00.000-08:00

What is a conversation about gender and language without a mention of communication in marriage? After reading this article, what are your thoughts on the subject? I'm leaving this forum quite open, because it's an interesting topic that I bet will generate plenty of conversation on its own.

2006-11-27T09:37:00.000-08:00

After watching this video, I would like to hear your comments on the idea of the gender spectrum. I'd like to note that what this person says is not new - the theory of multiple genders and ambiguous genders has been around for some time and is hardly disputed among people who honestly consider the notion. Think about it: if you're a girl, do you enjoy sports? Have you ever appreciated a car for being a tremendous piece of machinery? Do you sometimes refuse to communicate openly or cry in front of others? If you're a boy, do you care that your clothes are ironed and look nice when you put them on? Do you like children? Do you put some sort of product into your hair in the morning? These are things we consider along the gender path, but don't usually think of ourselves as "mixed up" along gender lines.

If you decide you would like to comment on jessanastasia's blog, as he offers, click here.

2006-11-22T08:50:00.000-08:00

Because we in America tend to think we're doing so well with gender equality since we were kind of the forerunners of the women's lib movement, here's a study to suggest that that may not exactly be the case. Do you think that's what it says?

And as a side note, because we have often talked about minorities' education levels and opportunities: Financial aid falls short for minority, low-income college students.

2006-11-15T18:33:00.000-08:00

OK, it's not very well done, but I can't help that. I found a humorous Woman's Guide to Men's Language that should amuse you at least a little. Consider, if you will, the differences between what we say and what we mean - and whether it's different for men and women.

2006-11-14T14:22:00.000-08:00

"This page deals with language and gender. This is different from "sexism" which is a form of prejudice. Discussing gender we appreciate that men and women use language differently; sexist language uses language as a weapon for separating men and women and most often as a means of diminishing women."

What are the differences between sexist language and gendered language? What instances of this do you think about in your own life?

2006-11-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

Since we've discussed viable internet sites, I want you to first investigate this website about the first pregnant human male and tell us what you think. Be sure to check out the sonogram and the videos of the subject doing things around town. Is this real? How do you know?

And next, I would like you to practice procreating. No, not like that. I found a site where you can make a baby and even select specific traits for your future child, ensuring that your child is not born with mental retardation or manic depressive disorder. Be careful! This is not a cheap process! Tell us about your experiences making a baby...What would it be like if we could actually sit down with a doctor and decide these things? Are some of the choices we can make for our babies (on this website) trivial? Or are they decisions that will actually shape the rest of the child's life? Sticks and stones may break my bones, but will being born with a personality disorder kill me? Is it just a label? How much should we worry about creating the perfect baby?

P.S. My baby cost just more than $116,000.

2006-11-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

Here is another great site for you to explore this idea of gendered communication. I expect that you'll read at the minimum the front page; for more learning, use the links the page offers. I would like to hear how you see this topic - and specifically the things the author mentions - as relating to your life. This page is more theory-based, so it may be a little more difficult than other readings, but give it a solid, open-minded chance...It has the potential to open some doors and eyes if you allow it.

2006-11-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

Explore the Ladies Room website and tell us what you find of interest. Use the links to gather some cool information on this subject of gender and language.

2006-11-06T09:04:00.000-08:00

It's even coming up in local politics, although it doesn't sound like it's being brought up responsibly. I thought I would post this here since tomorrow is election day and all - with the reminder to go vote Tuesday. When you read this article, think about the implications of this argument on our local government. Is Grant right - is this just a diversion tactic on Sali's part? And towards the end, Sali says that "he's heard" that a six-week course will do the trick. That doesn't sound like hard facts or research to me.

Sali speaks out for English: Official language issue called a 'diversion'
BOISE, Sep. 13, 2006 (McClatchy-Tribune Business News delivered by Newstex) --
Congressional candidate Bill Sali called Tuesday for declaring English the official language of the United States, while his opponents dismissed the move as a "diversion" from real issues.

"Those who know English tend to land better jobs, earn more money, and have less dependence on government resources," Sali, a Republican, said at a press conference on the state Capitol steps. "With English as our official language, everyone will have an equal opportunity to rise up and improve their condition."

Sali said if elected to Idaho's open 1st District congressional seat, he'd sign as a co-sponsor of H.R. 997 by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, which would declare English the official language, require "official functions of the government to be conducted in English," and require all new citizens to pass English tests.

Sali, a longtime state lawmaker and former chairman of the House Health and Welfare Committee, said he hoped brochures and materials handed out for health and welfare programs wouldn't need to be offered in any language but English in the future.

"The first step is to teach people English," he said. "If this plays out correctly, we shouldn't have a need to distribute literature in other languages."

Sali said his ancestors learned English when they came to this country.

Candidate Larry Grant, a Democrat, said, "I think we have more important problems to solve in this country than this kind of thing. I think we need to be talking about how do we get control of spending, how do we get control of corruption, how to end the war in Iraq. This is a diversion so they don't have to talk about the real problems."

Grant, former vice president of Micron Technology (NYSE:MU) Corp., recalled growing up in Fruitland, Idaho, in an area with a substantial Japanese-American population.

"Half the grandparents couldn't speak English, and that didn't make them bad people, didn't make them bad Americans," he said.

Andy Hedden-Nicely, the United/Natural Law party candidate for the seat, said, "We'll be happy to respond, in English, to anything Bill says about the real issues in this race: Congressional term limits, health care coverage, high gas prices, decent wages, protecting our borders, improving our schools and the war in Iraq."

He added, "Bill's up to his usual trick of trying to bait the hook with red-meat, emotional issues while totally ignoring the fundamental challenges facing our country. He thinks he can win using the standard Republican rhetoric, but we know 1st District voters are concerned about things that really impact their lives."

Independent Dave Olson, of St. Maries, who also is running for the seat, couldn't be reached for comment, nor could Constitution Party candidate Paul Smith, of Letha.

Sali said he didn't know the details of how the congressional legislation would work, but picked the bill because he said it's getting widespread support. According to congressional records, the bill was introduced March 1, 2005, and referred to a House subcommittee a month later. It has 161 co-sponsors, including both Idaho GOP representatives, Mike Simpson and Butch Otter.

Sali said he's heard it takes only a six-week course to bring non-English speakers to a "conversational level."

"We're not talking about a huge commitment," he said. "We're just talking about a willingness to participate."

Grant chuckled at that. "I had a year and a half of French and I still can't speak French," he said.

2006-11-01T16:43:00.000-08:00

This is about a decade old, but the statements, thoughts and sentiments resemble some of what is still being said in America. How do these statements fit in with what we've been discussing thus far in the semester?

2006-10-30T15:23:00.000-08:00

The topic of individual states deciding on their own official language came up in class the other day (although I cannot remember which class that was in).

Huh. It looks like that's already the case. In class, students said that was a bad idea. Is it? Does it change your mind to see this?

2006-10-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

Making sure to provide both sides of the topic, here are some sites for people who support the idea of making English the official national language:

U.S. English
ProEnglish

Now take a look at this article on the PBS website from linguist Betty Bimer. This article touches on a subject that has arisen multiple times in classroom discussions.

And finally, read here for some good historical information on the topic.

Taking all this into consideration, I hope you're at least beginning to see the complexity of the issue - that it is not just black-and-white, "Why can't they just do this?" For your response, I would like to hear your considerations about the complexity of the issue - or do you still see it as a simple problem with a simple solution? And, as always, justify your reasons.

2006-10-25T20:33:00.000-07:00

This topic has come up before, but we're just now visiting it here: English as the official national language.

Listen to this NPR report on the issue. The linguist featured in this article, Geoff Nunberg, isn't sure this is a good idea.

What are the issues Nunberg brings up? Why are these issues important ones to consider when addressing this issue?

Please remember, I'm not asking whether or not you agree with him; I'm asking why he brings up the issues he does.

2006-10-22T18:01:00.000-07:00

First, some information on AAVE.

And here's an intro to slang - much of it you're probably familiar with and you probably use often, but it's fun to read about with the different variations and meanings.

For your response, discuss what you're learning about AAVE. Do you think it's different from slang?

2006-10-19T22:26:00.000-07:00

Here is a linguist's look at this issue of AAVE.

And voila! A counter argument to the information I have already presented you...because a good education was never obtained without appropriate levels of dissent.

Ebonics is defective speech and a handicap for black children
Leon W. Todd, Jr.
Education, Winter 1997

The controversy over ebonics, a word derived from the combination of ebony and phonics, raises serious questions about the place of proper speech, dialogue, and discourse. It involves information economy where standard English determines one's career success and failure. Let us face it, ebonics is a fancy political cover for abnormal, defective, or dysfunctional speech. Students and their families who use these unfortunate speech patterns often are in need of a speech therapist to help treat their group reinforced speech pathology if they are to function effectively in the usual mainstream society.

Not a Legitimate African Language Some researchers are far too quick to suggest that the appropriate language tests used in our schools to detect faulty communication problems too often misdiagnose Black children who speak a Tiegitimate Afranized dialect. Unfortunately, some attempts to legitimize such poor language habits as being a culturally legitimate African or English language do more harm than good to students who need to recognize that their poor language habits learned on the streets, will simply not serve them very well in later life. Also, language habits often tend to be permanently disabling in the classroom if not corrected immediately.

Standard English Needed

American public education is based on standard English, and the commerce of the information society is based on standard English. For teachers to dupe AfricanAmerican youngsters into believing that their inappropriate speech can be expected to deliver a good career is to show disrespect and to mislead the child and an entire race of African-American people. Public schools are failing today largely because they have lost respect for standard English, and instead post respect and approval for street language in the name of culture or diversity.

Alternate Language Forms

Alternate language forms become disorders when a child can not recognize proper speech and when the dialect becomes a dysfunctional speech pattern. Some argue that these children with ebonics, who are victims of a poverty class or dysfunctional family language environment, are appropriately thought to have language disorders and often with learning disabilities. Such erroneous arguments spring largely from a grievous misinterpretation of such child speech problems. It is not so much a misinterpretation of the child's dialect that is the problem, but the inappropriate speech pattern that becomes an inhibition to learning.

Dysfunctional Ghetto Family

It matters little if the inappropriate speech pattern derives from poverty, rap music, hip hop culture, a dysfunctional ghetto family, or historical speech variations from Africa or the plantation, the problem still needs to be diagnosed as a major language disorder and/or a learning disability so the child can receive the help needed to correct the situation. Ebonics needs to be recognized early in the school experience as a language disorder, and the child needs to receive help early in the school experience to overcome the disability. Treating the problem as if it were simply a dialect that is to be tolerated will surely cripple the child's ability to learn effectively in the classroom, and making the child unfit for later career development in a post modern information society. Such children miss out not only in terms of career readiness development, but also in the development of language skills needed to socialize with the broader school population and make friends outside of their small ebonic related group.

Ebonies Instructor Certification

The real objective for ebonics, like Afrocentric education, is to immobilize and often to discredit the public school systems efforts to teach the standard English. This argument in support of ebonics quickly leads to a segregated school population involving "instructor certification," implying an urgent need for teachers certified to teach ebonics; as opposed to the standard English language. Indeed, it becomes one of finding teachers properly certificated to teach ebonics, and where no such teacher preparation is in evidence. In some instances the need for counselors properly certificated to deal with ebonics speaking children has been evidenced as well.

The Oakland School Ebonics Problem

The Oakland school district made a egregious error when it recognized ghetto talk as a legitimate English language alternative. The Oakland School District needs to learn how to teach proper English, not how to coddle inappropriate speech in the classroom. Public school speech embracing ebonics can lead to verbal segregation of students, and with ebonies speaking students ill prepared to complete in the career market for jobs in the future. The information economy is more color blind and speech conscious in selection than has been suspected, and no affirmative action program can compensate for sloppy ineffective speech.

Mapping Race or Ghetto Talk

The argument of whether or not a racially diverse society should tolerate such speech diversity is irrelevant. The interesting fallout of the ebonics controversy is that when race is mapped to speech and speech patterns, suddenly what is really incorrect, imperfect, and imprecise becomes correct, but only for a select few involved in the incorrect usage. This becomes a major force in playing the race game, and an ever ready Black community is ready and willing to support their own people. This rally around race only serves to lead to ghetto children less prepared to compete in the world of tomorrow.

American public education is based on standard English, and the commerce of the information society is based on standard English. For teachers to dupe AfricanAmerican youngsters into believing that their inappropriate speech can be expected to deliver a good career is to show disrespect and to mislead the child and an entire race of African-American people. Public schools are failing today largely because they have lost respect for standard English, and instead post respect and approval for street language in the name of culture or diversity.

Respect for Ebonics Child

The argument in some circles regarding the ebonics speaking child has been a need to respect each child and tolerate individual differences. Typically, it involves a poor Black child often from the ghetto that is involved, and pity for that individuals must be foremost is a prevailing argument. Actually, the truth is that not immediately correcting the child's substandard English is always disrespecting the child all the more. Whether it is a hillbilly child, and African American child, or other, respect for the child has little to do with tolerating or not tolerating incorrect English.

Native Americans

On another stage in our schools Native Americans have begun to war over whether the term "Kimosabics" could be used to close a friendship and partnering with the "murderous" white man. Those who prefer a more warlike posture have suggested the term "featheronics;" while those who want a more traditional approach suggest the term "powwowonics." Many indians feel that English is really a substandard foreign language, and should be replaced by an indigenous native American tongue.

Hispanic Community

On still another stage in our schools, and with rapidly growing numbers, especially in California, Texas, and Florida; argue for still another language. Cubans want cubanonics, Mexicans desire chicanonics, Puerto Ricans favor ricanonics, and Columbians suggest cocainonics. Each Latin group wants their own name to be associated with the non-standard dialect of bilingual Spanish proposed to be taught in the public schools because they know that along with the name accepted will go some control of the Federal dollar given to schools for such purposes. Each group, of course, is trying to equal the monies that they expect the Oakland schools to win for the teaching of ebonics. The federal government has suggested that Hispanics get their act together if they expect to receive any federal money, and have suggested that maybe "brownonics" could be used as a collective alternative with dignity. So far all four of the Brown groups have rejected any compromise and firmly insist on their own proposed handle with the full right to dictate the selected ebonic substitute for other Brown people.

The Malcolm X Middle School

As ebonics elicits debate across America Malcolm X (middle school, 2760 N. 1st Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) with its Afro-centered curriculum has spun extensive and sometimes wild disagreement between supporters and critics. At issue are a series of concerns including the school administration's relationship with faculty members, as well as the handling of fiscal affairs.

Todd Receives Oreo Cookies

During a recent school board meeting a Malcolm X supporter gave Todd a bag of Oreo cookies, bestowing him with the "Oreo Cookey of the Year" award. Todd reminded the presenter that he remembers well when he had to sit at the back of the bus, and drink from a separate fountain as a boy. One evening Todd's home was fire bombed. No one was hurt, but the bombing left behind a $1,000 in property damage.

Afro-American History

Todd insisted that he was strongly in favor of Black children learning the history about their past, and with full inclusion of their culture. In addition, Todd insisted he wanted Black children to learn about American history. He reminded the critics of the life and contributions of Mahatma Ghandi's effect on Martin Luther King Jr., and how King embraced the passive philosophy for accomplishing change. Afrocentrism fails to deal with the ancestral home of many Black Americans in West Africa and the Congo Basin. Todd insisted Afrocentrism is a pseudo science, and not history, and too often it includes historical fallacies, racism and racial isolation that school must not teach our children.

Kemet and Auser Auset Society

Todd insists that the Malcolm X school personnel were involved in the Kemet and Auser Auset Society which advocated polygamy and the worship of ancient Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. He suggested that Malcolm X focus on a curriculum that prepares students to pass college entrance exams and leads to higher education. Often the Black consultants now wear special dress are only after the tax dollar; not trying to prepare Black children to pass entrance exams to enter college and to prepare for success in life.

Blacks Have Paranormal Power

Too often Afrocentric history includes the teachings of Asa Hillard of Georgia State University who insists that Black Egyptians due to the melanin in their skin were gifted with paranormal power, extra sensory perception. This, of course, means they could read the mind of others, and make objects simply obey their will. He insists that Egyptians soared the skies over the Nile river on expeditions and for recreation. Todd insists there is no real documentation for such stories, and that they should be eliminated from history.

2006-10-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

This whole article discusses the language behind the initial reports on the Oakland School District decision. Why is the language behind this decision and the language that was used in covering the decision important? What impact did it have on how we as a culture now perceive the debate?

2006-10-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

We're moving into a section that looks at a very interesting debate on a specific language feature: Ebonics, or African American Vernacular English (AAVE).

This debate has the ability to turn to a race discussion quickly and easily. I caution you against that right now - before you begin posting on the subject. Our discussion will not address race issues. Our discussion will instead address how this aspect of language is demonstrated in our language, its affects on the people who both use it and don't use it, and where we could go from here in the public debate. The fact of the matter is that Ebonics exists and no amount of well-intentioned ideas will change that. Also, Ebonics is a recognized variation of Standard English - the form of the language you see in most American films, on American news programs, and in the majority of American public forums. It is not a matter of not being able to speak Standard English (i.e. speaking Ebonics has nothing to do with the speaker's intelligence), it is not genetic, it is not merely slang.

The debate is currently focused on the use of Ebonics in schools - more specifically on whether or not teachers who have Ebonics speakers in their classrooms should teach strictly Standard English or if using Ebonics as a teaching tool in the classroom would be effective use of language. One side of the debate says that students should be expected to speak only Standard English because it is the language of the empowered in our country. The other side says that in using Ebonics to teach other things, among those Standard English, students would learn better and more efficiently. The debate continues and extends to music, politics, job prospects - you name it.

For your response, first read this article for some additional background information and alternate points of view. Then respond directly to the article. Make sure you mention something specific directly out of the article. Do you agree with the statement? Do you disagree? Is this new information to you? Does this help clear up some questions for you? What questions are you left with?

2006-10-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

Here's an article that hits a little closer to home. It's an opinion piece, so go into it with that in mind.

While you're reading I would like you to cue in to this line from the article:

Propaganda is far more malignant. A calculated and systematic effort to manage public opinion, it transcends mere lying and routine political dishonesty.

Is the author wrong when you look at the context he discusses? Remember - we're not here for your political rant. We're here for your intelligent discussion on the topic.

Please make sure you read the article to the bottom of the page; there's a large gap in the middle of the page that you have to scroll through to get to the remainder of the text.

And if you haven't yet seen the movie Wag the Dog, I highly, highly recommend it.

2006-10-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

Check around on Biology Daily for another look at propaganda. Investigate the outside links and develop an understanding of the history and usage of propaganda.

Then, look at gurl.com to glimpse some more on labels - a definte form of propaganda.

For your response, I would like to hear your thoughts on the topic as they relate to first, your personal life and secondly to our nation's current state. Remember, your responses will only count if they are well thought out - knee-jerk responses and strictly personal reactions will not count towards your grade.

2006-10-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

War of the Worlds. Heard of it? Know where it started? No, it wasn't first done with Tom Cruise. The beginning of War of the Worlds is much more fantastically sordid than even Tom Cruise can provide.

First, you need to read the history on this fascinating broadcast. I'm giving you a couple different sites because they all have different information and I want you to gain a full picture of the event.
Museum of Hoaxes
Transparancy Now

Next I would like you to get a feel for what people were saying at the time. Here are some newspaper articles to peruse.

Finally, listen to a piece of the broadcast.

What do you think about the reactions people had to this broadcast? Could this happen today? Does is happen today? (Anyone seen the movie Wag the Dog?)

2006-10-01T17:42:00.000-07:00

We're moving on from linguistic profiling to a little ditty on propaganda. Investigate all you can on the site I linked to above in this paragraph and report on things you learned or things that surprised you.

Please make sure you take a look at the "Name-calling" page because as Americans, we do this a lot.

2006-09-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

Listen to this NPR clip featuring letters from listeners about this idea of linguistic profiling. When you click on this link it will take you to a fairly blank page with a button marked "listen." This is what you will click to play the clip. The clip is about two minutes long and features about four responses to a previous edition of their show.

Pay close attention to one of these letters and use it as the basis for your comment. Does one of these people say something new to you? Does someone bring up a new concept or say something in a new way? Do you firmly disagree with something someone says? State who and why in your response. And once again, this isn't about your personal views on racism or profiling. This is about your understanding of the concepts of language.

2006-09-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

In case you're still not clear on the topic, read this article on linguistic profiling. Even if you are familiar with the topic, you should read this article; it goes into the accusations of racism when dealing with linguistic profiling.

Next, I want you to visit this crazy PBS site on written forms of linguistic profiling. The article goes through how forensic linguists can help police apprehend criminals based on their ransom notes, etc.

2006-09-20T17:56:00.000-07:00

This is the same guy...Turn up your volume and listen to these three short recordings. Continue your thoughts from the last trend.

2006-09-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

We know we speak differently in different situations and because we're from different parts of the country (dialects, accents, etc.). Is it safe to say that we can tell a person's race by their speech? Is that another dangerous form of racial profiling as this article suggests?

2006-09-13T17:58:00.000-07:00

Peruse this article on racial profiling. Some of it is repetitive, so read the first part well and then pick and choose some items after that that sound interesting to you.

Again, I would like you to comment on the language associated with this topic. Don't share stories or personal convictions - it's not the place. Why is it worded the way it is? What are the implications of using the term "DWB" or terms like it?

2006-09-12T18:44:00.000-07:00

This is a topic that has arisen a lot lately. Let's look at the language - the semantics - around the topic. I'm not going to guide or prompt this discussion; I'll let it go where it goes. Just remember to stick to the topic - this isn't the forum for your personal opinions on immigration.

Kiss Me, I'm Illegal
By Paul Vitello
Published: March 26, 2006
The New York Times

MURKY self-described patriot groups call them "terrorists." On combative talk radio shows the term is "illegal aliens." Advocates for immigrants prefer the Emma Lazarus-evoking "economic refugees."

The most common label attached to the estimated 12 million foreign-born people living in the United States without visas may be "illegal immigrants," even though some grammarians argue that the adjective can modify actions and things (like left turns and hallucinogenic drugs) but not people. President Bush, a proponent of offering citizenship to at least some of them, has used the more optimistic and implicitly promising term "undocumented immigrants."

There is an almost magical power in naming things. To give a person, an act or a group its name is to define it, assert a measure of control over how it is perceived. (See Adam, in Genesis 2:20, who "gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field." Also, see the playbooks of most campaign managers.)

Like the battles over civil rights and abortion, the contest over immigration has been joined as much in the naming of things as in the writing of laws. Consider the labyrinth of language in play as Congress grapples with an overhaul of immigration policy, its effort to fix what is widely considered a broken system of deciding how many and which foreigners are allowed to enter, work in or become citizens of the United States.

Tumbling in the air of the debate like so many juggled balls are enough words and catch phrases - some old, some new - to form a peculiar dialect of the national ambivalence: Guest workers. Willing workers. America's security. Permanent temporary residents. Immigrant smuggling syndicate. Earned legalization. Virtual fence. Birthright citizenship abuse (coined by lawmakers who would cancel the citizenship rights of children born here to illegal immigrants). Anchor babies (the term coined for such children). Police state (what Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York says would result if illegal immigration were criminalized). Two-time losers (Justice Antonin Scalia's phrase for illegal immigrants who are deported twice - one such immigrant brought a case heard by the court last week).

George Lakoff, a linguistics professor at the University of California at Berkeley and author of "Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate," says the different language used in any public policy debate is ultimately a contest for the public mind. "Metaphors repeated often enough eventually become part of your physical brain," he said. "Use the word 'illegal' often enough, which suggests criminal, which suggests immoral, and you have framed the issue of immigration to a remarkable degree."

Every side, of course, claims that its choice of words is not only correct but a reflection of the literal truth. Those favoring more restrictive laws, for instance, assert that people who violate immigration laws are, de facto, illegal residents.

"Immigration is such an emotional issue at this point that every word is being hotly contested," said Frank Sherry, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, a group based in Washington that advocates a liberalized policy. "You know where people stand pretty much from the language they use," said Mr. Sherry, who uses the term "undocumented immigrants."

A House bill that would stiffen penalties for unauthorized immigration adds yet another term to the list of synonyms for the illegal immigrant: felon. Under that bill, which led to protests in Washington, Chicago and San Francisco a couple of weeks ago, illegal immigrants would be charged with aggravated felony and face five years in prison.

A Senate bill produced yet more terminology - earned legalization - which would apply to illegal immigrants who pay their back taxes and stiff fines, promise to learn English and wait in line. Earned legalization is not to be confused with amnesty, a word in the immigration debate that is a bugaboo to all sides, on the theory that rewarding illegal behavior would only lead to more of it.

The language can be so arcane that even people who track immigration policy might have been hard pressed to follow the conversation on ABC's "This Week" between the host, George Stephanopoulos, and the Senate majority leader, Bill Frist. In one 10-second exchange, Mr. Frist said he was for enforcement, and Mr. Stephanopoulos asked if Mr. Frist was also for guest worker, to which Mr. Frist replied that he was for guest worker but against amnesty.

Enforcement, in the debate, is code for border security. The enforcement-only bill passed by the House focuses exclusively on tightening border security. It authorizes the building of a 700-mile fence, or the deployment of electronic devices and drone aircraft to create a "virtual fence." It does not establish a guest worker program.

The enforcement-plus bills under review in the Senate (there are three, with a fourth pending) tighten border security and create versions of a guest worker program. (In Washington, to be in favor of "enforcement-only" or "enforcement-plus" is to state one's immigration weltanschauung.)

As for the meaning of "guest worker" in the enforcement-plus universe, it depends. It can signify a long-term foreign worker who might eventually become a citizen. It can also indicate someone who works for two years with no such expectation, and then goes home. It can be a seasonal worker who goes home after every harvest. And in the most restrictive version, it is perhaps a little like the homey status of the political prisoners in Frank O'Connor's short story "Guests of the Nation." The prisoners are treated like friends of the family until one is ordered executed in the national interest.

Ultimately, there may be no neutral language possible in the immigration debate - any more than there is in other emotionally charged human interaction, said Deborah Tannen, a professor of linguistics at Georgetown University and the author of the best-selling "You're Wearing That? Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation." Ms. Tannen claims no special expertise about immigration, but she knows communication. "People cling to words, and use them, as a way of showing whose side they're on, who their people are," she said.

Guillermo Gomez-Pena, a performance artist and writer born in Mexico known for his observations about the cultural life of the border, has coined his own term for the movement of people, legally or illegally, temporarily or permanently, willingly or not, from south of the border to the north. In a recent performance, he mordantly referred to it all as "original sin."

2006-09-11T08:08:00.000-07:00

To what extent is this a good thing? If you think it's a good thing, is it only because you are a native English speaker?

English "world language" forecast

By Sean Coughlan
BBC News education reporter, Edinburgh

A third of people on the planet will be learning English in the next decade, says a report.

Researcher David Graddol says two billion people will be learning English as it becomes a truly "world language".

This growth will see French declining internationally, while German is set to expand, particularly in Asia.

But the UK Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, has warned against the "arrogance" of English speakers who fail to learn other languages.

Learning in English

The Future of English report, launched in Edinburgh at a British Council conference on international education, has used computer modelling to forecast the onset of a "wave" of English-learning around the world.

In the year 2000, the British Council says there were about a billion English learners - but a decade later, this report says, the numbers will have doubled.

The research has looked at the global population of young people in education - including 120 million children in Chinese primary schools - and how many countries are embedding English-language learning within their school systems.

The linguistic forecast points to a surge in English learning, which could peak in 2010.

'Pernicious'

Speaking earlier at the same conference, Mr Clarke argued that the UK needed to improve language skills - and conceded that the country was still lagging behind in learning languages.

"To be quite candid, I'm the first to acknowledge there is an immense amount to do," said Mr Clarke. "Not least to contest the arrogance that says English is the world language and we don't have to worry about it - which I think is dangerous and pernicious."

The report's author agrees that English speakers should not be complacent because they can speak this increasingly widely-used language.

He says Chinese, Arabic and Spanish are also going to be key international languages.

"The fact that the world is learning English is not particularly good news for native speakers who cannot also speak another language. The world is rapidly becoming multi-lingual and English is only one of the languages people in other countries are learning," said Mr Graddol.

He also says that language learning numbers will decline as English becomes a "basic skill" - learnt by primary-age children, rather than something that older children or adults might want to acquire later.

Mr Graddol also warns there could be a backlash against the global spread of English and a reassertion of national languages.

2006-09-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

Brand names create global language looks at the presence of corporate names in multiple languages. Botton (in the article) says that it's good - that it's a way of developing a global language. Is it? Is that a good thing?

PARIS (Reuters) - Brand names have become so abundant that in France they account for two out of every five words an average person knows, according to a study being carried out by French branding company Nomen.

Shocking as that may sound, Nomen Chief Executive Marcel Botton says the trend is creating a new international language that helps people communicate in foreign countries.

"The distinction between brand names and ordinary words is becoming quite blurred," Botton told Reuters.

"This is bad news for companies that have invested a lot of money in branding a product, but for the general public I see advantages. Brand names are more international than words and they are creating a new Esperanto, which I rather like."

Esperanto, an artificial international language invented in 1887 as a second language everyone could learn, never took off.

Learning brand names, on the other hand, is subconscious, as names seep into our brains through advertisements and shopping.

English speakers use trademarks like Frisbee, Hoover and Walkman as ordinary words, causing some to spread abroad. France uses "Kleenex" for tissue and "Scotch" for adhesive tape.

"You hear people abroad asking for well-known brands of food or drink when they don't know the word in the foreign language. It's irritating for Coca-Cola when rival products are treated as the same thing but it makes people's lives easier," Botton said.

Botton, who created such company names as Vivendi, Wanadoo, Arcelor and Vinci, began testing people in August to see how many brands they recognised and how many dictionary words they knew.

"It crossed my mind this would be an interesting study, as it seemed people knew more and more brands and fewer words."

Botton's team chopped up the French dictionary -- which lists around 100,000 words -- into bitesize chunks which were read out to different people within a test group. A list of 20,000 brand names was also split into chunks and read out.

While the study is not complete, the results so far suggest the average French person knows some 3,000 words and is familiar with around 2,000 brand names on top of that -- suggesting that 40 percent of total vocabulary consists of brand names.

Botton said there were enough possible permutations of pronounceable one-, two- and three-syllable words to cover several billion new brand names.

2006-09-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the push toward changing "French fries" to "freedom fries"?

The BBC presented the case in an article a couple years ago that provides a glimpse of both sides of the story. After you read that, check out this opinion piece by Timothy Noah. Finally, catch up on the recent stand against France in this Washington Times article.

What power is there in changing "French" to "freedom"? What was your reaction to the decision three years ago? Did you make the switch? Why or why not? This discussion requires a response deeper than "because I couldn't ever remember because I'm so used to calling them 'French fries'" or "because I thought it was stupid." Think about it...Why didn't the new name work?

2006-08-31T11:38:00.000-07:00

It seems that we need a little background information on our own language. Investigate these sites and learn a little about the history of English.

Oxford
KryssTal
Language rules
A brief history
Invasion of England

How has English been influenced by other nations and other languages? How would our language be different if not for the events in 1066? How has it changed since then? How does it change still today? Why is it important to know about the history of the language?

2006-08-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

English, English, Everywhere - But What Does it Mean? looks at English in its various forms around the globe. While you read this article, check out the other sites linked to within the article - they show English in a different light than we're used to here in America.

How different is it to see English in so many different lights? Is English really English everywhere you go?

2006-08-27T19:38:00.001-07:00

Is it possible to decide on a new world language when that language has been "dead" for hundreds of years?

(Hint, hint...There's two different sites to check out on this one.)

2006-08-26T14:54:00.000-07:00

To what extent do we shape language?

Check out this article on adding words to the English language.

2006-08-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

Words Can Heal is a national campaign to eliminate verbal violence, curb gossip and promote the healing power of words to enhance relationships at every level. Visit this site and look around at stuff. Become familiar with uses of language and the way the site promotes people to be careful of their language choices.

Is this a good way to start the class or would it be a better way to end the class?