T h e L a n g u a g e o f P r e j u d i c e

A b b y H o e k s t r aT a i y o W i l s o n

2 5 y e a r s o l dg r a d u a t e

s t u d e n t

o w n s a d o gl i k e s r e a d i n g

b r o w n h a i rm u s i c i a ne n g a g e do u t g o i n gf r i e n d l yb l i n d

J o h n

Gordon Allport

I n t r o d u c ti o n

“The Language of Prejudice”by Gordon Allport

1984

• Explores symbols and prejudices in society • Nouns that Cut Slices• Emotionally Toned Labels• The Communist Label• Verbal Realism and Symbol Phobia

• Connections to:• George Orwell’s 1984• Today

N o u n s t h a t C u t S l i c e s

• Labels- used to categorize people into broad groups

• Labels of Primary Potency- strong labels that stand out over all other characteristics

• Strong labels can lead to false assumptions about a person

• Turning nouns into adjectives makes labels more accurate

E m o ti o n a l l y To n e d L a b e l s

• More Emotional and Less Emotional Labels

Examples:Less Emotional More EmotionalNegro “n word”Japanese JapChinese Chink

• People often confuse different with wrong…• Chinese names: short and silly• Polish names: outlandish

…so they make fun if it isn’t the norm.

• Skin color is the most prominent label in our culture

• Black = negative connotation• White = positive connotation

T h e C o m m u n i s t L a b e l

• People refer to out-groups using “they”

• Example: CommunistsIn early 20th century America, the need for a scapegoat outweighed importance of actual identity

• All actions were black and white, either moral or immoral

Ve r b a l R e a l i s m a n dS y m b o l P h o b i a

• Symbol Phobia- the fear of a person having a label placed upon them

• Verbal Realism- when the mind responds to words or iconic objects as strongly as itwould to the things they represent

• All forms of prejudice can be traced back to either symbol phobia or verbal realism.

C o n t e m p o r a r y E x a m p l e s

• At weddings:“I now pronounce you man and wife.”

• “We’re the good guys; we wear the white hats”

C o n t e m p o r a r y E x a m p l e s

• Job interview biasgender, race, appearance

• Uneasiness about Muslims

C o n t e m p o r a r y I n a c c u r a c i e s

• Minorities less sensitive

• Less use of ethnic and sexist slurs

• Minorities and women have gained equal rights

1 9 8 4

• Citizens of Oceania prejudiced against• Eastasia/Eurasia• Proletariat

• Communism• Winston was a citizen of an oppressive government

1 9 8 4

• Verbal Realism• Inner Party steals vocabulary through Newspeak

• Symbol Phobia• Winston feared the label of “rebel”

C o n c l u s i o n

J o h n