Sociological Theories of Language and Power

Sociological Theories of Language and Power Given that sociological theories are just that- theories, it is impossible to say that they can sufficiently explain or define any aspect of our lives. However, sociological theories can help us to understand the way in we interact with each other and society thereby broadening our knowledge and perspectives. In the following discussion we will look briefly at some of the main sociological perspectives. We will then look at language as a means of communication and social interaction. Finally we will examine the relationship between language and power by exploring mass communication and its effect on social life. Sociology is concerned with society, with individuals in society, with institutions and with its norms and values. As Bilton et al state, social life is a puzzle and sociologists spend their professional lives trying to make sense of it. (2002 p4) Within sociology, there are several different influences which affect how theorists explain or attempt to explain social phenomena. These include functionalism, conflict theory and Marxism among others. Functionalism views the various parts of society as interrelated parts of a complete system. It sees behaviour as being structured and social relationships as being patterned and recurrent. It also emphasizes the role of value consensus within society. For example from a functionalist perspective, the family structure as a recurring social unit plays an important role in society. The family is the main socialising agency for young people and acts as a stabilising influence in society by propagating the shared norms and values of society (Har alambos and Holborn 1995, p8-9). In direct contrast, conflict theory is concerned with social structure as a cause and reflection of social inequality. Wallace and Wolf outline three basic assumptions of conflict theory. Firstly it assumes all people have basic common interests. Secondly that power is central to all relationships and thirdly it assumes that values and ideas are seen as weapons used by groups in their own interests rather than a way of defining society as a whole (1999, p68). It is similar to the Marxist perspective of society as operating through the fundamental conflicts of interests between the social groups involved in the production process (1995, p12). Another sociological perspective is structuralism, which was strongly influenced by the work of Sauserre in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Sauserre developed the study of linguistics by looking at language as it is structured. According to Sauserre, analysing the structures of language means looking for the rules which underlie our speech. He argued that the meaning of words is derived from the structures of language, not the objects to which they refer. In this way, meaning is created by the differences between related concepts which the rules of a language recognise (Giddens 1989, p698-699). The field of semiotics is largely derived from Sauserres work on linguistics. The semiotic approach that meaning is located in the sign, has important consequences for how we view culture and language and through these, power. Sauserre described semiotics as a science that studies the life of signs within a society. It is concerned with meaning as something which is socially produced and proposes that the decoding process of communication is as important as the encoding process. In semiotics, meaning is derived from signs through their structural organisation. Sauserre conceived of signs as being made up of the sound image, termed the signifier and the mental concept, termed the signified. In this way signs can differ between individuals. For example when one person in a group refers to a car, everyone would conceptualise a car but each persons car would be very different. According to Mulholland (1991, p17), language is the instrument by which meaning is realised and by which effective social interaction can be created and sustained. She adds, language is not a neutral toolwhenever one encodes something of the world into language one is fitting it into a systematic code which works to produce meaning both paradigmatically (by choice of one item from a similar set of items) and syntygmatically (by arranging choices into sentence patterns).This can influence how it works to represent both propositional content (the happenings of the world when they become the subject matter of speech) and interpersonal content (the attitudes, role, tone and so on of relationships) (Mulholland 1991, p18). Therefore language is much more than a set of words and phrases which we use to communicate. And aside from spoken or written language, communication is also achieved through body language, a look or a gesture can say all that needs to be said. Much of our communication is based on shared codes and cultures. Day to day conversations are based on a knowledge of ourselves and the people we are communicating with. However, there are many factors which influence how we communicate. For example, our audience, the context, the desired outcomes of the communication and shared terms of reference. For example teenagers may be comfortable talking together about the latest rap artists and may even adopt some of their lingo whilst their parents may have no idea what they are talking about. This is because the parents are not familiar with the context (rap) of the conversation. Another factor which affects communication is the power and relative status of the speakers. Consider for example being told to step aside on a pavement by a police officer. Most people would comply with the request since the police (generally speaking) have an authority bestowed on them by their uniform. Similarly, we are inclined to give credibility to news broadcasts because we believe that the newsreader has authority and therefore what he or she is telling us must be true. Although Eldridge (1993) and others have argued that news is just a social construction anyway and as such cannot be considered unique or impartial, it is not reality which is constructed but a semblance of it. (1993 p33) However many argue that the media and the language it uses is manipulated by those who are in power in order to reinforce and legitimate that power. According to Adorno and Horkheimer (1979) the media is a technological system which is grounded in economic power. They argue that through the m edia, power and social systems are reproduced which in turn reproduce forms of social inequality in which political and economic spheres are inextricably mixed (cited Eldridge 1993, p34). They argue that news as such is just the result of what is considered important or proper between a select and unrepresentative group of business people, reporters and officials. In contrast to this a pluralist conception of mass communication is that there is such an enormous flow of messages and images that we can choose among them which to believe and which to discard. The Marxist response to this is that whilst it is true that the media occupies a contested space which has economic, cultural and political constraints as well as commercial pressures, these merely lead to different patterns of domination and agenda setting. (Eldridge, p36) For example, Williams has stated the commercial character of television has then to be seen at several levels: as the making of programmes for profit in a known market; as a channel for advertising; and as a cultural and political form directly shaped by and dependent on the norms of a capitalist society, selling both consumer goods and a way of life based on them in an ethos that is at once locally generated, by domestic capital interests and authorities and internationally organised by the dominant capitalist power. (ci ted in Fairclough 1995, p43) Mass communication is frequently discussed in terms of its effect on listeners/ viewers/ readers. In this way, it can be said to be a powerful force in our everyday lives. Therefore the language it employs also has a certain power. The formal language of the newsreader for example implies knowledge and authority and we are inclined to trust this voice. Likewise, the more commercial an image becomes, the less we are likely to trust it. Conclusion Sociological theories such as structuralism are very useful in enhancing our understanding of language and power in society. By comparing differing theories of language and of power we may not come up with definitive answers but we are certainly more knowledgeable about the processes. Power is exerted through many different means and language is just one of these. However it is potentially a very influential source of power and one which is exploited wherever possible. This can be seen in many facets of social life from politics, economics even religion and popular culture.

Communism and America :: Communism Essays

The word communism has always been a sort of taboo word to say. Even today we call people commies to make fun or tease people. Why did all this start? How did communism become a bad a word? Well communism has always been feared since the birth of our nation. It was the form of government that the majority of Americans did not want. Communism is basically a theory or system based on the ownership of all property and goods by the community as a whole. This system would destroy a lot of the liberties that we as Americans enjoy. There was a certain time period where extremely paranoid about the communist party taking control. Starting at about the 1920’s up until the 1950’s people really feared communism. The Cold War, Ronald Reagan, and the Red Scare were all major contributors in the unreasonable fear of communism during this time period. These three factors helped shaped America’s ideology about communism during this time period.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Cold War put us on the brink of war with the Soviet Union. This could have possibly been the one thing that started the fear of communism. Russian spies are everywhere. People suspected each other, even their neighbors. Since the soviet Union was a communist country that was spreading it’s influence in Europe. America had to do something about it. America felt that the people living in the Soviet Union were being oppressed and needed to be free. This so called war was basically seeing how far both the countries, (America & Soviet Union) could go without going into war. Examples of this would be the Truman doctrine, which was Truman’s way of making sure Greece and Turkey would not become a communist country (N.N.787). Another example would be the Marshall Plan, which asked the countries that needed help request it and the US would help. America did not want the Soviets to spread their ideas to other countries by exploiting the dissatisfaction of their country. So we helped because we thought that our country was in trouble from the communists (N.N.787). An even better example of clashes between the US and the Soviet Union would be the Berlin Airlift. Soviets blocked off all land into Berlin and we airlifted supplies into Berlin. Now during this at home, there were many people scared of communism also. Many were accused communists due to the Red Scare.

“In Flanders Fields” A symbolism analysis Essay

â€Å"In Flanders Fields† is about World War I victims in the cemetery. When we read it, we are meant to feel sympathy for the dead victims of the war who rest in that field because we see their wonderful lives before the war and how it was ended fighting for their country. We are supposed to think of them and remember the war and all other wars and live fully the life they made for us. We are supposed carry on what they did. The deceased in this poem are afraid that we won’t remember them and won’t carry on their efforts and patriotism, even though the poppies grow in the graveyard for remembrance. We have to carry on the torch for them and for ourselves. From this poem, we also feel the fear of dying because those in this poem who once lived and fought for their country are now nothing but crosses in a graveyard. This poem uses figurative language to get its very poignant message across. Mainly, it brings the dead back to life to narrate this poem. The first stanza of the poem provides visual imagery of the graveyard. The poppies blowing between the crosses are symbolic of remembrance. The larks, â€Å"still bravely singing,† are personified to express bravery, which is a human emotion. The â€Å"guns below† are the ceremonies held for these men who bravely fought. Basically we are shown the beauty of the graveyard and signs of people remembering the deceased. The second stanza introduces the leader to not only their death, but also their life. Suddenly we feel sympathy for the young people buried here, whose lives were ruined by terrible warfare. In the third stanza we are shown the anguish of their spirits. They are brought to life in this poem to send us their message. Their â€Å"failing hands† can not of course literally throw a torch, which is symbolic of the war effort and patriotism. This is simply meant to represent the legacy that they are leaving behind them. This stanza is a paradox of the first, saying that peace and remembrance does not come from mere ceremony, but from us living out their legacy. The message in this poem is for all to live and understand.

Whole Foods and Marketing to Hispanics Essay

Whole Foods and Marketing to Hispanics Essay Whole Foods and Marketing to Hispanics Essay Creighton university – masters in business administration program Whole Foods and Marketing to Hispanics Multicultural Marketing Jeremy Griffith At its most basic premise, the case for businesses expanding their marketing beyond so-called general market strategies and methods to appeal to a multicultural consumer base is a simple one. Not only has the ethnic segment been the fastest growing in the United States for quite some time, it is estimated by David Burgos and Ola Mobolade (co-authors of the book, Marketing to the New Majority) that â€Å"By 2042, The United States is expected to become a majority-minority country†. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, this is already the case for the population that is under 18 years old (51% racial/ethnic minorities including foreign-born whites vs 49% whites), (Burgos & Mobolade, 2). Please note the two accompanying charts under Exhibits 1 and 2 at the end of the paper. Between 2000 and 2010, the multiracial population grew 19% in one decade alone! It would seem foolish (if not downright careless!) for an organization not to adjust their marketing campaigns to appeal to this fast-growing segment. The business community is making a mistake if it believes this growth trend is abnormal and likely to level out in the future, as the multiracial population is estimated to grow by 194% between 2010 and 2050 (Burgos & Mobolade, 6). Even if this growth estimate is somewhat aggressive, even half of this rate would be tremendous growth! As Burgos and Mobolade state, â€Å"The demographic shift underway in the United States is unstoppable†. Those companies that either consciously or ignorantly choose to ignore this multicultural audience in its marketing campaigns are doing so at their own risk. As Burgos and Mobolade write, â€Å"marketing communications strategies that fail to adapt will fall behind. The New Majority will select brands that ref lect their transcultural realities while still acknowledging their ethnic nuances, leaving less culturally competent brands to history† (Burgos & Mobolade, 105-106). Not marketing to ethnic minorities is basically the equivalent of letting sales revenue slip through your fingertips, which is obviously not something any business (regardless of the size and stature) likes to do! Regarding the demographic statistics mentioned above, Hispanics currently represent the largest racial minority segment in the U.S. Not only that, the U.S. Census Bureau projects the U.S. Hispanic population to number 133 million by 2050, which is more than double the 50 million number for 2010 (based on 2000 Census figures). Here are the projected population figures and growth rates for the three main racial minority segments (please note the additional chart depicted in Exhibit 3 at the end of the paper as well): U.S. Population* Growth Projections by Ethnic Segments *Population in Millions Ethnicity 2010 Population 2050 Population # Growth % Growth Whites 201 203 2 1.00% Hispanics 50 133 83 166.00% Asians 14 33 19 135.71% Blacks 38 52 14 36.84% Source: US Census Bureau, based on 2000 Census figures This being said, while it is important for companies to appeal to African and Asian Americans in their marketing efforts as well, one could argue it is downright crucial for companies to target Hispanics if they want to grow their revenue in the future. Although intelligently-managed companies have been marketing to Hispanics for some time now, this segment still represents a relatively untapped source of growth for many organizations. While language barriers and lower than average buying power (on a per-person basis) represent two of the main challenges when it comes to marketing to Hispanics, companies are making a stereotypical mistake if they believe this to be the case for most Hispanics, as this is certainly not the case. Research has shown that the language barrier mostly only applies to first-generation immigrants to the U.S., those who are said to be

How to write a Theme Based Essay

How to write a Theme Based Essay How to write a Theme Based Essay Writing a theme based essay is all about the theme, as you can guess yourselves. A theme can be taken from a book, story, fable, song, a TV show or even a movie. A theme based essay can be requested to be written either in an elementary school or college. So, how to write a good theme based essay? Writing a theme based essay vital tips First and most important thing is to outline your theme. For example, if you decide to write a theme based essay on â€Å"Game of Thrones† book, you have to outline the most important theme for you. Is it who will become a king or will the Stark family survive? So, first you have to read the book carefully or watch the show, outline the most important topic for you, brainstorm on it and prepare material and quotations to organize your essay. Introduction of a theme essay Begin writing a theme based essay with an introduction. In the introduction part you acquaint the reader with your theme. It is very important to state the theme clearly because you will write the whole essay based on it. If you do not manage to make that then it will be unclear and hollow, and most probably you are going to get a bad grade. So, once again, prepare carefully by analyzing the main problems of the theme you are going to write about. Body paragraph of a theme essay The second part of the essay is the body paragraph. Here you develop your thesis and your theme, after you have clearly stated it above. In that section of the essay again the initial analysis and preparation on the theme is very important. In your body paragraph you define and elaborate on your theme. Here you outline your main points that prove your theme. It is good to have at least three main points that you have found out and you are prepared to write on initially. Example of a Theme Again, if you go back to the Game of Thrones book and choose the theme â€Å"the most suitable person for ruling the seven kingdoms is Daenerys Targaryen†, then you can outline the following three major points: The first one could be that a king/queen must be fair and noble, must protect its people and rule not based on lies and murders. Daenerys Targaryen is fair, brave and she is a mother of the dragons; i.e., the word mother is symbolic. Being a mother means that it is in her nature to protect and supply with the best; in this case, however, that will be not her children but her subjects. The second one could be that she deserved the throne by birth. The third point could be that she holds the power of dragons and they are the ultimate weapon. She would be able to protect her subjects in the best way possible but at the same time she is not fond of violence and always tries to reason peacefully in times of a conflict. A king or queen must realize that his/her kingdom cannot always be at war and people must have the chance to live peacefully and happily. Furthermore, you can elaborate that she cares genuinely for her subjects, threats them like equal and with respect, knows them and lives with them and for them. All those qualities are vital for a good ruler. At the same time you can point that the current king is violent, unjust, cruel and incapable of acting good and noble. Elaborate your points by giving specific examples to strengthen them and use quotations wherever possible. Start each point on a new paragraph, stating your point and strengthening it with your own thoughts, examples and quotations. Conclusion of a theme essay The last paragraph in writing a theme based essay is the conclusion. The conclusion must be strong and you should clearly restate your theme. Finally, pick a strong closing sentence and proofread it, check spelling, grammar mistakes and whether it’s organized logically and clearly.

Financial services in uk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Financial services in uk - Essay Example ooming financial sector due to the emphasis the government has placed on showcasing the strengths of this industry which has powerful entities with worldwide recognition such as the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and the an affluent population of 60,609,153 which has one of the highest real gross domestic product per capita in the world at $30,821 (CultureGrams, 2008). Preventing customer complaints and resolving them in a civilized manner is a critical success factor for companies in this industry in the UK. This essay studies customer service, customer complaints and the application of contract laws related to disputes between customer and firms in the United Kingdom. The financial services industry is a business whose worldwide market value is worth trillion of euros (Plunkett Research, 2008). This industry is composed of different segments which generate sales most of which are service oriented. The different sectors within the industry include commercial banking, private marking, equity market, consulting, financial planning, brokerage, real estate, and insurance among other financial services. In the United Kingdom the capital hub for financial activity is London, followed by Scotland a region in which 108,000 people or 10% of the working population are employed in the financial service industry that generated in 2007 nearly 7 billion euros in economic activity (Sfe, 2008). The people working in the financial services industry depend on customer retention in order for firms to build a portfolio of clients that bring recurrent business to firms. Just like in other industry a customer comes back and recommends the services of a store or company only if they are satisfied with the product they receive. It is essential to provide service to customer and to build a customer total quality program based on a strategic view that the customer is the most important stakeholder of the company. All business process must be geared to satisfy the needs of the customer and

Paraphrasing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Paraphrasing - Essay Example The purpose of the loans could be for activities that generate income and to establish microenterprises. The delimiting factor for microcredit is its focus mainly on the creation of credit without regard for alleviating poverty and assistance to improve the plight of the poor. The service offered from microcredit puts clients from the low income group to be more apprehensive in availing of this option due to lack of sources for repayment and perceived risk in debt. Having identified the evolution of microcredit programs from the early 1970s, their success have resulted in increased schemes until the mid 1990s. Providers of this type of credit have offered this particular financial assistance concurrent with development agencies with the strategy of alleviating poverty for the marginalized poor. Eventually, large organizations in Bangladesh that offered microfinance schemes were recognized internationally and provided the impetus for the first international summit to be organized and globally presented. Advantage of Microfinance In a discourse written by Remenyi that necessitated the review of thirty independent studies from diverse institutions offering microfinance programs, a significant increase averaging 20% in borrowers’ income was reflected.3 Likewise, the author indicated that the presence of common variables that influence the borrowers’ ability to improve their income, to wit: taking into account their target market, the level of skills, gender, marital status, and available support from external sources. In a related research, there has been a reported positive impact on security perceived by borrowers when there is ongoing access to loans. The experience from Grameen Bank indicates that borrowers who continued to avail of microfinance credit eventually achieved sustainability in food and assets such as livestock and rickshaws. An improvement in economic status of the borrowers was tantamount to an overall improvement in living condition s and the ability to purchase real properties. Thereby, successful microfinance borrowers were proven to have gained substantial security that prevented them to liquidate assets in times of emergencies and disasters. 4 Likewise, amongst successful borrower households in several countries, expanding employment opportunities and increasing hours of employment per week have also been noted. Accordingly, some of the social changes in Grameen Bank villages impact positively on the community as a whole, particularly the increased visibility and mobility of women. One study found that a significant change in household and community status could be derived by women who maintained control of their loans. There were evidences that indicate women manifesting direct correlation between having money and increased status and recognition. There were trends towards resourceful women who learn to use the loans â€Å"to empower themselves†.5 However, some studies reveal that â€Å"†¦It c annot be assumed that disbursing loans to women means either that they use them or are empowered.† 6 Disadvantage of Microfinance In many countries, diverse studies show that targeting women in microfinance schemes is a direct challenge to cultural norms. Without parallel programmes which address gender issues, this has resulted in increased intra- and inter-household tension. There had been reported cases of