Language as a Social Construction of Reality.
Language and the Social Construction of Reality: Spinning Social Reality with Euphemisms Steve Eliason Montana State University, Billings
ABSTRACT This paper describes an exercise I use in my introductory sociology classes that introduces students to language and the social construction of reality process. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is widely taught in introductory sociology classes and suggests that we perceive the world in terms of our own language, and that individual languages produce different and distinct realities for those who speak them; it holds that the reality we experience is unique to our own language. However, there is a need to make students cognizant of how words within our own language are used to structure social reality. The goal of this exercise is to familiarize beginning students of sociology with euphemisms and how they are used in everyday life, and to stimulate thinking and discussion on the power of language and its relationship to social reality. A group activity is used to introduce students to euphemisms. I=ll discuss theoretical and teaching literature on language as well as euphemisms first, and return to the actual procedure later.
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THEORETICAL LITERATURE The social construction of reality refers to the processes humans use to actively create and shape the world through social interaction (Berger and Luckmann 1967). Newman (1995:48) describes it as A...a process by which human-created ideas become externally given realities handed down from generation to generation.@ Berger and Luckmann claim that language is an essential part of our existence as human beings. The following passage demonstrates the importance they place on language in understanding our social world (Berger and Luckmann 1967:37): The common objectivations of everyday life are maintained primarily by linguistic signification. Everyday life is, above all, life with and by means of the language I share with my fellowmen. An understanding of language is thus
ABSTRACT This paper describes an exercise I use in my introductory sociology classes that introduces students to language and the social construction of reality process. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is widely taught in introductory sociology classes and suggests that we perceive the world in terms of our own language, and that individual languages produce different and distinct realities for those who speak them; it holds that the reality we experience is unique to our own language. However, there is a need to make students cognizant of how words within our own language are used to structure social reality. The goal of this exercise is to familiarize beginning students of sociology with euphemisms and how they are used in everyday life, and to stimulate thinking and discussion on the power of language and its relationship to social reality. A group activity is used to introduce students to euphemisms. I=ll discuss theoretical and teaching literature on language as well as euphemisms first, and return to the actual procedure later.
61
THEORETICAL LITERATURE The social construction of reality refers to the processes humans use to actively create and shape the world through social interaction (Berger and Luckmann 1967). Newman (1995:48) describes it as A...a process by which human-created ideas become externally given realities handed down from generation to generation.@ Berger and Luckmann claim that language is an essential part of our existence as human beings. The following passage demonstrates the importance they place on language in understanding our social world (Berger and Luckmann 1967:37): The common objectivations of everyday life are maintained primarily by linguistic signification. Everyday life is, above all, life with and by means of the language I share with my fellowmen. An understanding of language is thus