In the novel Don’t Call me Ishmael language plays an important part. It is thought, “Language has the power to shape different realities about people, places and events. This can be clearly seen in the novel. Throughout the novel there are many examples that demonstrates how language can be empowering. However, the novel proves that language can be both used negatively or positively. The novel also emphasizes how one word can have an impact on someone. There is another saying ‘Sticks and stones won’t break my bones’; this states that words cannot wound someone permanently.
Nonetheless, words can definitely damage one mentally and hurt then deep down that it still remains there and be remember for long enough to cause more grief and harm. In the novel, this is shown through Barry and Ishmael strongly, when Barry insulted Ishmael for his name and says ‘Ishmael? What kind of a wussy-crap name is that? ’. This stimulated Ishmael to believe that his name truly was a ‘wussy-crap name’ and that all his problems started with his name. This as he called it was ‘Ishmael Lesuer Syndrome’, triggered by his first and last name said together.
Often Barry Bagsley is the cause of Ishmael Lesuer Syndrome, for he tears at the name ‘like a mad dog mauling a shoe’ as Ishmael described it. This is an example of how Barry uses words negatively. However, once James Scobie arrives and Barry threatens him, Barry doesn’t feel tough and intimidating any longer as James Scobie uses the power of language and his intelligence to protect himself. Since, James uses large words to confuse Barry and stays calm while Barry loses his temper, it only shows that James words are hurting and provoking him. Revealing that James has won and Barry has lost the battle.
The Term Paper on Second Language Aquisition
Language Acquisition What is Second Language Acquisition? In second language learning, language plays an institutional and social role in the community. It functions as a recognized means of communication among members who speak some other language as their native tongue. In foreign language learning, language plays no major role in the community and is primarily learned in the classroom. The ...
At the St Daniel’s rugby game, Scobie had used two very powerful and inspiring lines from his poem. ‘We don’t give up, we don’t give in’. These were the lines that encouraged and gave Peter Chung a boost to continue and push that little bit more to win the game for St Daniel’s that they hadn’t for a long time. With just these two lines, St Daniel’s had won the game, this goes a long way to show how words can effect people positively. Another very significant event in the book was when Miss Tarango demonstrates how one word can be very manipulative.
This when Miss Tarango asks for a volunteer and sets out the rules which Barry should have listened to intently before agreeing. The rules were ‘whoever volunteers will have to sit in this shair. Is task will be to stay on the chair. My task will be to get him off the chair using only the power of language’. He should’ve listened to the rules carefully before accepting because on the third circle she had made around him she wrote ‘before I walk around the chair three times you will be off’ and then the bell for class to end had rung.
Yet, she still hadn’t finished the third circle therefore, Barry was trapped on the chair. With choices to either sit there until she finishes the circle that could happen anytime at her heart content or to forfeit and get off the chair. Indicating how reading between the lines and listening closely can go a long way. Overall, the points above strongly show how language can shape realities about people, places and events. Language can be very powerful if one uses it to its full advantage. One of the many reasons why learning English is very beneficial
