Raymond Yu, Q3 Week 1 - Language for Power
Q3 Week 1 - Language for Power
By Raymond Yu
(Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card)
Language has always been closely linked with power since it is one of the key ways of gaining and maintaining it. Power is the ability to control the outcome of a situation and is often determined by the amount of influence that can be exerted. Influence is gained through many means, and politicians have always been some of the biggest influencers of society. Politicians who seek power must gain it through extensive campaigns, on which they deliver speeches to convince the populace that they are deserving of the power. Because politicians gain their power through the willing entrustment of it to them by the people (whether through honesty or wile), they are able the exert tremendous amounts of influence proportionate to the number of people and the strength of their trust in the politician. Oftentimes, through their power derived from language, politicians can shape the course of history by speaking (or not speaking) a few words. One passage from Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (a science fiction book covering a broad spectrum of topics such as philosophy and tactics), shows the power of words. Peter (a character who later becomes Hegemon of Earth in a later sequel) says, "There are times when the world is rearranging itself, and at times like that, the right words can change the world. Think what Pericles did in Athens, and Demosthenes . . . there are times when the world is in flux and the right voice in the right place can move the world. Thomas Paine and Ben Franklin, for instance. Bismarck. Lenin" (Card 139). Peter brings up a host of historical examples of politicians (some more so than others) whose language changed the course of history. One particular example that Peter makes demonstrates the power of his claim, that, "it's not my fault that right now is when the opportunity is open. Right now is the time when I can shape events. The world is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win. Everybody thinks Hitler got to power because of his armies, because they were willing to kill, and that's partly true, because in the real world power is always built on the threat of death and dishonor. But mostly he got to power on words, on the right words at the right time" (Card 142-143). Hitler is perhaps one of the best examples of politicians who shaped the course of history with their language. At a time when Germany was at its most desperate (after WW1), Hitler came in and promised salvation. Germany had been stuck under huge burdens imposed upon it by the victors of WW1 through the Treaty of Versailles, with an extremely large debt that Germany had to pay to France and Britain. This made the financial situation in Germany so bad, money was burnt for warmth, and cartloads of cash were needed to buy a single loaf of bread. Included was also a stipulation requiring Germany to take the blame for WW1, and German nationalists chaffed under the humiliation of the defeat. All of these provided the perfect situation for an influential politician to take control over the country, as truly desperate people will flock to anyone who promises solutions to their problems. Language is infallibly linked with power since it is one of the greatest requisites to its acquisition and maintenance, regardless of through propaganda or speeches.
Image Source:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z9y64j6/revision/5
Book:
Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Game. Tom Doherty Associates, Inc., 1986.
P.S. I was reading the book over the weekend and decided to check out some of the movie clips (the movie was made in 2013). To me, the movie seemed terrible compared to the book, since it captured very few of the very important character aspects that were in the book.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTrump I would say is the most memorable example of attaining power through language. From what I could remember the republican party always hid their motives behind carefully crafted phrases to hide their hypocrisy, but Trump embraced the hypocrisy in a way that made fun of the other side. He made every one of his claims seem like common sense. I would struggle to compare this man to the Hitler because Trump was straight up incompetent when it came to utilizing his power but the same underlying philosophy applies. All those who have come to power took advantage of the genuinity of the disadvantaged. I would say this is the principle of power, and language is just a means to do just this.
ReplyDeleteHi Raymond,
ReplyDeleteI think another great example of a powerful leader that made influential change with the power of their language is Mahatma Gandhi, though he used his power in a positive, pragmatic way. As many of us may know, Gandhi helped India reach independence through a philosophy of non-cooperation, except it was completely non-violent. He led protests and guided people with his voice. He also shared the idea that all change must be made without violence. In a place where citizens are taken under control from invaders, it must have been extremely difficult to bring out actual change without the use of armies and violent approaches. His success and impact on India demonstrates the power that language can carry.
Hi Raymond,
ReplyDeleteWe live in a world where communication is one of the (if not the most) important skill in everyday life. To tell you the truth, that is exactly why I decided to take this English course. Would any of us have burdened ourselves with all these essays and projects if we didn't think there was a benefit for us? Maybe. But I truly believe that there are very few classes in all 12 years of schooling that can teach you the skill of expression, and APENG certainly takes a step in the right direction. I often wonder how many of my classmates in APENG will grow up to become leaders in their respective fields; I guess that's the type of spark that a class like this brings with it.
Sincerely,
Sean Wang
Hey Raymond,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your claim that language begets power. I truly believe that the right words can move anyone to do anything, and it is one of the reasons why I decided to take APEng in the first place.
Steve Jobs is an individual I look up to in all regards of my life. I've read his biography several times throughout the course of my life, and a key theme I picked out from his life story is that his ability to inspire others with his speech paved the way for Apple's success. Outside of being a visionary, he was a missionary who convinced engineers and designers far smarter than him to join his pursuit to make computing accessible for everyone, and it is ultimately this staff which turned his dreams into reality. Today, Apple, Inc. is the most valuable company in the world, and it is a testament to what the right words are capable of doing.
I hope that one day, I can use language to lead people just as Steve Jobs was able to.
Hi Raymond,
ReplyDeleteThe first person I can think of a powerful person who made influential change is Mahatma Gandhi. He used his language to kick the British out of India. What I liked what that he did not attack at all, which is strange because in almost every independence revolution there has been attacks from both sides. This impact really shows the true power of language.
Sincerely,
Vivan Waghela
Hey Raymond, politics and power are so deeply intertwined, and language is definitely a huge contributing factor. Language can truly have a huge impact on people when the right words are used at the right time, like your example with Hitler. I wonder what makes people so impressionable that they'd put all their trust and support in a person based on what they say without having any idea of their true intentions. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Raymond,
ReplyDeleteI found your post very interesting, especially the part where you mentioned Hitler saying the right words at the right time. As a person who is constantly taught about history over dinner by my brother, I'd like to add that Germany at the time was basically waiting to blame some other people for their misfortunes. Actually, even though Hitler was a good public speaker, in reality, his arguments were terrible. The thing is, a nation that is under great hardship does take the time to think about the flaws of one's argument when they propose a solution to their problems.
Hey Raymond,
ReplyDeleteI think that politics is indeed an excellent example of the power of language. In particular, I think that your point about Hitler's words moving an entire nation to war. Hitler essentially was able to use his words to direct the bitterness and anger of his country to a singular scapegoat. He told the people exactly what they wanted to hear, so in turn, they wanted to hear more of what he says. I agree that during wartime, propaganda is by far one of the most useful demonstrations of power.
Hey Raymond!
ReplyDeleteYour opening sentence of how language is key in holding power really spoke to me. Anyone can get a position of power through dishonest methods, but language is key in maintaining that level of power. You need language not only to communicate with your coworkers but also the public. If you do not have some level of a way with words, it is impossible to truly connect with people on the level it takes to lead. Power is only fruitful if you can lead with it effectively.