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By Jam Ham
As human language is a unique form of communication that emerges from interaction, one use of language is that it symbolically conveys meaning via speech sounds and signs, gestures, and contextual inferences.
Our many social environments can influence the way we use language, and as we acquire the structure of a language as children, our social environment also socializes us to normalize the use of language in a way that coincides with cultural norms, standards, patterns, and biases. For example, in the United States, people typically learn to say “please” after a request as a form of politeness.
From https://www.pexels.com/photo/focused-young-designers-discussing-pictures-for-new-project-5641892/
However, the way we use language also holds the power to define and shape our social realities. As society and culture influence language, the habitual use of language may influence society and culture in turn. But how does language influence our social world and our perceptions about it?
Language as Performative
According to John Austin, a philosopher of language from the 20th Century, language is a form of social action. We may use language like any other physical action via performative utterances as it can generate actual changes and creations in our social environment.
For example, in a marriage ceremony, two may become officially wed once something like “I now pronounce you spouse and spouse” is stated; this establishes a new socially recognized kinship link between the wedded couple. An apology represents remorse about a past action and is an attempt to relieve a social bond.
In fact, all of language is performative! Even basic declarative sentences such as “the cat is over there” and “a cat is a feline creature” establish cultural truths about the world.
Of course, not all performative actions that use language successfully create changes in our environment. One cannot simply be wed just by saying the aforementioned marriage statement—it must be made by a religious leader or an authorized officiant.
An apology may be viewed as insincere if the listener is unhappy with your tone or mannerisms. Felicity conditions are such conditions that fulfill performative utterances. If a speech act is not fulfilled, it is called infelicitous; for example, making a promise to someone while crossing your fingers renders the promise as invalid.
Language Ideologies
The way we talk about language and the way we talk about social groups that use certain varieties of language may also influence how we perceive them. How do these ideas about language form social differences, and what are the social ramifications of these speech communities?
Language ideologies are such ideologies of social differences. Language ideologies stem from differences in the way others speak as different people are socialized in different ways with language, but although the locus of such ideologies are (socio)linguistic differences, statements driven by language ideologies are mainly reflections on assumptions about a social group.
For example, the statement “British people sound/are smart” stems from a historic relationship between “British” English and its usage among the English intellectual upper class. However, this statement possesses an assumption about British people and not the several English varieties used in the British Isles.
Oftentimes, many may carry unjust assumptions about others who are accustomed to different cultural norms and patterns of certain languages and linguistic varieties. For example, some speakers of Tagalog, one of the official languages of the Philippines, may regard the speakers of other regional languages in the country as “impolite” or “coarse” based on the lack of honorifics in such languages and varieties.
Fortunately, many today are realizing the social consequences harmful language ideologies carry on certain speech groups. Today, efforts in multiple regions push for the appreciation of the use of certain varieties of languages in order to establish them as important cultural practices and to counter language ideologies that attack these linguistic communities.
Your Own Language and Your Social World
Think about how you performatively use your native language or a language you are actively learning. How can you use the languages and linguistic varieties you speak to establish social realities? Are there any important felicity conditions for such performative utterances that are heavily influenced by the culture of your linguistic group?
It is also important to be mindful about others’ and your own beliefs about certain social groups. Do they stem from their use of language? If so, what are some ways you can drift from biased language ideologies to develop an almost unbiased picture about such groups?
About Jam
22-year-old Filipino-American and enthusiast in linguistic anthropology, sociolinguistics, and historical linguistics. Speaks English and Tagalog, and is learning French at the moment. Likes hiking and traveling and would like to explore other countries someday.