Introduction
In the book Making Sense of “Bad English,” Elizabeth Peterson dives into the psychology behind language and how and why people can use it. At some point, she makes a statement that languages are not mere means of communication, which makes the language critique a far more complex issue than it might seem at first glance. I agree with her statement because of the multifaceted nature of what language, bias, and criticism genuinely are.
Language, Bias, and Criticism
Language is among the most expressive means of conveying people’s thoughts and intentions. Given how different the identities of communicating people might be, it is only logical to consider language one of the facets of identity. In this context, identity is greatly shaped by the environment in which a person lives or has lived, making their language a fertile ground for various assumptions and conclusions.
This is why many subjective biases and prejudices might occur regarding language critique. Bias alone already implies a superior-inferior relationship. Regardless of its reasons, biased people treat their victims as inferiors by default, assuming their actions are clear and justified. In this case, language serves as a trigger and an opportunity to show attitude, and this pattern can be further generalized by examining the example of criticism.
In general, criticizing someone’s language is nothing but using language as an excuse to be judgmental. Criticism implies the evaluation of a particular trait and a respective response to it (Loew et al., 2020). Even though it can be positive, constructive, and reasonable, criticism still requires judgment and consideration to determine if there might be a better option.
Conclusion
Considering the complexity behind the mentioned concepts, it becomes clear why Peterson made such a statement. Apart from anything else, language is the pure expression of identity, bearing various unique features. These unique features often serve as triggers for prejudice and bias that imply the superiority of their source. Analogically, the broader scope of discrimination in the form of criticism uses language to judge and share opinions, which is why criticizing one’s language is far more than just language.
References
Loew, C. A., Schauenburg, H., & Dinger, U. (2020). Self-criticism and psychotherapy outcome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical psychology review, 75. Web.
Peterson, E. (2019). Making sense of “bad English”: An introduction to language attitudes and ideologies. Routledge.