Re: a political being

Nah, those are all too easy, Tina. Too obvious. We could avoid language like
that and still have politicization wired into our heads through our language.
I've mainly read descriptions in terms of Sausserian semoitics: for each pair of
binary oppositions, one tends to be privileged ("up" over "down" -- and notice
that word "over", right/left, male/female, logical/emotional, etc.). Then, if
you remember, there was Scottie's definition of class, which carries with it a
pretty wide range of linguistically determined social markers. Etc. What you
describe is an outgrowth of all this. John could go into more detail. It's
fair that he doesn't want to, though...just too bad.

Jim

tina carson wrote:

> >Would love to hear you chime in about the politicization of our everyday
> >language, though.
> >
> >Jim
> >
>
> I'll take that challenge, Jim.
>
> Too obviously, the PC language, ie everything from "african-american" to
> "mobilitally challenged" No, that's too easy. Let's see... How about
> AIDS? It was originally called GRID, for Gay Related Immuno Deficiency.
> How about how the words "liberal" and "fundamentalist" are now insults? Are
> you "pro-choice"? Or for "unborn children"? For describing people, how
> about "yuppies" "gen-x" "urban commandoes" "wannabees" etc. How about the
> great controversy over who can use the word "nigger" and when and how they
> can use it? When I was a child, "cracker" was an insult for white people,
> but Ross Perot gave it another meaning entirely.
>
> While I'm on the topic of language, though it's not exactly political, why
> are so many insults sexual or genitalia? You're a dick. Pussy! Asshole!
> Cunt! Did you see that cocksucker? etc, etc, etc.
>
> "done for now" tina
>
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Received on Fri Aug 1 15:45:21 2003