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(Mis)Communication

  • What role does language play in building relationships?

  • What factors lead to effective or ineffective communication between people?

  • How does our language shape our identity or culture as a whole?

  • How can language be used to enhance or undermine social or political power?

  • How do changes in technology affect how we communicate and relate to one another?

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In the classic 1993 New Yorker cartoon by Peter Steiner, one dog says to another: “On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog.” This old joke has become a new adage—a bit of wisdom for this modern world. But what is that adage really saying? One way to look at this cartoon is to conclude that because of changes in technology, it no longer matters who you are or even what you are! What matters is what you say.

Language is arguably the greatest invention in human history. It gives us the power to express our thoughts and feelings and to share them with others. It forms the basis for most of our relationships, from friendships to romances. It allows us to learn, and to share that knowledge with others. It defines cultures, subcultures, and sometimes even individual identities. And now, social networking technology allows us to broadcast our language and ourselves to the entire world.

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What other lessons does this cartoon suggest about language, identity, and relationships in the digital age?
Peter Steiner The New Yorker Collection/The Cartoon Bank

There’s a saying much older than the one about the dog on the Internet that goes: “the pen is mightier than the sword.” As much as language is a tool to connect us, it can also be a weapon to impose power, to categorize, and even to oppress. On other hand, language can be used to liberate, inspire, and reshape the way we look at the world. In this chapter, we’re going to look into all of these facets of language: its power to bring us together and to keep us apart.

OPENING ACTIVITY 1

Think of a situation in your life, current events, or history when the pen (or the spoken word) was mightier than the sword. What happened and what part did language play? What made language such a powerful force in this situation?

OPENING ACTIVITY 2

Who’s the best communicator you can think of? This might be someone you know very well or someone you’ve never met, a person from the past or present, a real person or a fictional character; you might even choose an organization or corporate entity. What makes this person or group such a good or effective communicator? List at least seven characteristics; then rank them from most to least important.