Use And Manipulation Of The English Language

Language plays a significant role in defining who we are. It is a method of communication in a structured and conventional way. “Language reinforces feelings of social superiority or inferiority; it creates insiders and outsiders” (p. 242) states Robert MacNeil (2012) in his article “English Belongs to Everybody”.

n the essay “Why Good English Is Good For You”, John Simon tries to convey to his audience the importance of standard English than using improper English. He does so by using rhetorical techniques such as using analogies, giving grammatical examples of what’s right and wrong in different scenarios, using parenthetical asides, and asking rhetorical questions.

“There is more pleasure to building castles in the air than on the ground.” This quote by Edward Gibbon illustrates the intensity of writing and what gratification it can hold. When one writes, they are not confined to one certain formula. A person is able to express their thoughts and feelings in any way they choose. Language is a border for many people in that some cannot comprehend a certain language, understand how to use it, or recognize what is being said to them. On the other side of the border, they are not viewed as equals or as important compared to those who are not competing with this barrier. In his essay “Coming into Language,” Jimmy Santiago Baca uses his personal experiences to demonstrate how much

Being able to communicate effectively with more people feels good and is empowering. In “Arts of the Contact Zone,” Mary Louise Pratt tells the story of her son and how his literacy of baseball allowed him to, “start a conversation with a stranger and feel sure of holding [his] own” (485). In Richard Rodriguez’s essay, “The Achievement of Desire,” he writes how, “reading made [him] a confident speaker and writer” (527). To be able to communicate well with others and get ideas clearly across to them is a satisfying feeling; likewise, to be able to understand their ideas.

Rhetorical knowledge was established in course lecture as a tool with useful consequences in establishing credibility with my audience. The application of rhetorical knowledge to writing requires some skill. Coincidentally, this skill was developed through specific developmental lectures that identified what rhetoric is, and how it can be divided into useful modules. Thereby, these modules can be individually applied to establish a foundation of credibility with an audience. Credibility, was identified to have a foundation in a variety of specialized skills that are based on common standards. One such common standard was identified and labored on extensively, ensuring grammar is effective and accurate was identified as the key. Consequently, the accurate use of grammar affords the audience an opportunity to be eloquently held captive by the effective flow of sentence and paragraph transitions.

The power of words has the ability to completely relate to one person or completely fail while trying. It is the intended audience that the author has decided to write to that could make a good book become great. Diction and rhetoric are popular ways to convey a specific message to the designated audience. They create the emotion that is passed through the pages directly into the reader’s heart. They keep the reader reading.

If a writer wanted to appeal to the audience, what would he have to do? He is going to have to utilize some rhetorical devices of course! Rhetorical devices are key in writing persuasion papers and just any paper that is meant to be read to an audience. In the Inauguration Speech of 1961 given by President John F. Kennedy, he was able to really connect with his audience that day by using lots of different rhetorical devices. By using chiasmus, anaphoras, and metaphors, JFK was able to effectively reach and persuade people to have faith in him despite his age and religion.

A piece of writing is much more than just words on a page. Just as a potter carefully molds and carves every detail and shape into a piece of art, so does a writer. Each comma, dash, antecedent, and fragment is picked cautiously. Each grammatical choice brings to pass a different rhetorical effect creating an irreplaceable and unique piece of art filled with fine detail. Rhetorical grammar is the clay of a potter. One must have it to begin and it has a variety of options to choose from. A person’s ability to understand and use grammar is as the technique owned by the craftsmen. Just as clay can be brittle and weak, so can grammar if used incorrectly or not to its best ability. The most amazing work is not made simply by chance but because of

English language techniques are used in many writings to help the readers to have a better understanding and for the writers to express more. It is also same for an argumentative writing. In this particular essay, the writer had used language techniques to persuade readers that Australia should not become a republic country. This essay will discuss about what kind of language techniques the writer had used to persuade the readers that the writer’s opinion is correct.

In English 131 we are expected to meet four outcomes that will help improve our writing. Outcome One aims to demonstrate us how to adapt to various forms of audiences and styles of writing. Throughout this course, I have been oblivious on how to meet Outcome One, but with time I became more comfortable in meeting it. One of the key factors in meeting Outcome One is being able to adapt to an audience which can be done by utilizing the correct vocabulary, tone and style. Another factor to meet is to know to write in various forms of writing by using the components stated above, but also the organization of the text.

The style and features an author use can help persuade the audience if clearly used. Dana Gioia in the essay “Why Literature Matters” uses factual data, superb word choice, and numbers to build her argument. In doing this, Gioia successfully persuades his audience into believing reading is a personal right.

Trying to communicate, but words aren’t used, writing isn’t used, it’s simply impossible. When communicating with others we use words, we speak, write, and read. But if one can’t perform those tasks, communication is simply out of reach. The essay “Homemade Education” by Malcolm X, a minister and a civil right activist, describes how his experience of learning how to read and write in prison changes his life as he became both an articulate speaker and writer. Similarly, Helen Keller, an author and political activist shares her experience being both deaf and blind in an excerpt called “A Word for Everything.” She explains how learning a new language opened her to all the joys and horrors of the world. I, like many other authors, also had an experience concerning language and how it changed my perspective of the world. Speaking Chinese and Vietnamese as my first languages in the United States made me run into societal barriers and restrictions. However, by learning English, I could open myself to new possibilities and experiences. By learning and struggling through the experience of language; new perspectives are opened up such as how one views themselves, the world, and society.

“Public speaking is the process of presenting a message to an audience, small or large”.

Everyone has a different interpretation of the word, “invention”. However the word is simply defined as; a new device, method of process developed from study and experimentation. An invention is just a mental fabrication; it’s a falsehood (Dictionary.com 2013).1 Although in the essays, “Why I write” by Joan Didion, “Life in a new Language” by Eva Hoffman, and “Basmati Rice: An Essay about Words” by Audrey Thomas, each author has their own view on the English language, how they each began inventing their own writing styles, and also their reasons for why they chose to become writers. These are the three things that make their definitions of invention very particular and their own.

In writing it’s important to have an understanding of what you’re trying to convey for your audience in addition to how you you will present your ideas. Effective communication extends beyond having well organized writing expressed in complete and coherent sentences. The style, tone and clarity of writing must also be considered, as they are constantly changing relative to the audience. Again, analyzing one’s audience and purpose is essential to successful writing. Appropriately, when choosing the most effective language, it is important to consider the document objective as well as the reader. In essence, this idea of effective use of language has been the overarching theme of this online English course. Each writing assignment