Although I found Marx’s texts interesting and also relatable
to today’s society, I felt that Bakhtin’s words stayed with me.
“Certain features of language take on the specific flavor of
a given genre (675)”.
Although a part of me knew this to be true, it’s as if it
just hit me when I read all of Bakhtin’s text. Like when we were in class and talking
about how we don’t think about everything that is actually happening since most
things are automatic… unless we actually make ourselves think about it (I
believe an example was our heart pumping blood or us being hungry). Anyway, I think it is quite fascinating to
really think about it.
Everything we read and write it affected by the language we
use every day. Many things that were once said in the 80s (or even further
back) may no longer be used today or if it is, is looked at/read with
bewilderment. Even when Bakhtin wrote about words having specific flavor the thing
(or person) that came to mind was Flavor Flav which is ridiculous but true and
this is due to “pop culture”, to the way words are now used.
Many words including vulgarity are now seen as something
common among people, movies, and books. It is now (for some) a form of everyday
speech. I will admit that I have become more accustomed to fouler things than
when I was younger but that I am very cognizant of my surroundings and try to
be respectful of others.
But, when I hear children saying profane words or talking
about inappropriate things, my “mom” hat comes on. For example, last week I
entered my usual bus route to UBC and found it to be full of children (ie
middle schoolers). I already find it strange that Canadian schools use public
transportation for field trips (but that is a whole other story, prob related
to my American upbringings) but what I found even odder was that there was a
group of boys discussing the movie Ted. They spoke of how they thought it was good
and really funny. I won’t lie. I have seen this movie and some parts of it were
funny BUT it is not anything someone their age should be watching. It is full
of drugs, alcohol, basically everything your parents wouldn’t let you watch
when you were 12 years old….ever.
And it’s not just movies slowly influencing society but
books and articles. Authors have also become more comfortable
and have adapted to the change in language within society and they reflect it
in their own writings. I do think it is important to understand that this is
happening and to “keep with the times” but will we ever get to a point when
people or our language is going to far? Are we getting too comfortable? Does a
line need to be drawn as to what is ok and not ok to say/write? Of course, here
we go into freedom of speech oh wait….there is no freedom according to Zizek.
Hi, La Vie Sans Mots. I found quite interesting your blog. Actually, I think what it is interesting on the language is that is alive and for that reason it is always changing. When I hear new words that have changed its first definition to a new one, or when a "non-sancta" word is pronounce as a diary word, I always think that the language is taking another route, another way. I do not think there is a limit for language, or for what to say or write, maybe there are some context that you can say or not some expressions, but put a limit on language is turn it to death. But... probably I am wrong.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteYea, I agree with you. I just find it strange that some words that were once considered offensive/foul are now being used in everyday language as if it were nothing. Oh the changing world.