James Baldwin Essay On Language

Language in history and culture has often become a theme synonymous with the way a society is built and how it functions. In fact, the emergence of cuneiform as a written technique is what most teachers tell their kids started societal life. Humans have given power to the words that they speak. Consequently, these vast expanses of knowledge conveyed as speech have taken a certain power over us. Although some people claim to overlook this power and keep an open mind, language is the true “key to identity” that cannot be shaken even after a first impression fades away.

Certainly, there are idealists and altruists who make the claim that they are able to keep an open mind when meeting someone. And sometimes, based on a first impression, one might not make a judgement based on a language or dialect. These people claim that they look more at body language, confidence, and other more physical traits. They claim that the language a person uses is not the most important factor when it comes to knowing and making a clear judgement. They say that their minds remain indifferent until true character is shown.

However, the modern American identity has created an atmosphere where the

Does my vocabulary identify me as a teen? An athlete? A white American female? Stereotypes seem to be increasingly based on language. Yes, there is black English that James Baldwin referenced in his essays on language. The way a people may speak has now been given the power to change how the whole world perceives them. Other groups like teenagers, elders, veterans, members of the lgbtq+ community, etc. have often been characterized by the words or phrases that pop culture has given them. Sometimes, it’s just not true. Can the opinion of the media truly speak for one member of a group? The answer is yes. And they continue to do it, drawing upon words to create caricatures of these legitimate