Reyes, Dalila

Instr. Gross

English 103

April 12, 2011

The Awareness in Biased Language

            The power of language can be a strong influence within the meaning and interpretation of words.  Susanne Langer describes language as a “symbol” because it causes a person to think about what is being symbolized.  Rosalie Maggio’s  argument relates biased language as being a form of a symbol as the meaning interprets different information.  One of the example’s that Maggio uses is the word manmade.  The words, she argues, does reveal much information.  “Does it mean artificial? Handmade? Synthetic? Fabricated? Machine made? Custom-made? Simulated? Plastic? Imitation? Contrived?”  The true meaning of the word manmade is an object that is made by human being, not artificially made.  The word can be misinterpreted as to refer that any object is made only by the male sex.  Her example of biased language is very accurate in regards to “manmade.”  It is a word that I do not pay much attention to because the meaning of the word has been engraved in my head.  The affect of the word would be different to a person who is not familiar with the language.  At first sound it would be presumed that an object was made by a man.  This is how the perception of language can influence a person and language itself. 

            Langer writes, “the essence of language is symbolic,”  and provides a good example of a child playing with a toy, which is always referred to as horsey.  The child’s repeated use of horsey allows for the fixed conception of the meaning to be created.   With every repetition, the name and meaning become engraved in the young minds head.  The name, describes Langer, “Names are the essence of language; for the name is what abstracts the conception of the horse form the horse itself, and lets the mere idea recur at the speaking of the name.”   Although, not all names completely describe the correct meaning or conception.  Several names that have been created and given within society are very derogatory and/or biased.  Words that Maggio describes such as gay, bum, fishermen, office girl.  Words such as these have been created but describe a very biased meaning.  These words are often used in mainstream society and media.  For a person who is unaware of their derogatory meaning or chooses to be ignorant to it,  influences others conception of the name. 

            I am guilty of using such words at times and as I read Maggio’s article, it is unbelievable the amount of biased language that is used.  It is engraved in everyday literature and heavily used in media and marketing elements.  Reading several examples of this bias, it emphasize the large amount of influence words can have upon a person.  It ranges from the car commercials advertising only for the male audience or the packaging labels that emphasize how easy the use of the product will be for all mom.  It is almost a form of brainwashing manufactures and companies are constantly labeling the “norm,” that car belong to men and the rearing of children only belongs to women.  It is language that at times I use in my regular language, language that has been engraved in my head since I was young.