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Reberta Lopez
English 1A Sec. 9109
Professor Ogbara
February 19, 2014
Words, Mightier than the Pen
Human beings are made to communicate, that is why we are able to speak verbally to one
another. Being able to have a language is an advantage, and it is what distinguishes us from
animals. The language we speak begins to form when we are babies when we pick up the
language from the world around us. Toddlers only know what they are taught and will
regurgitate what they hear. After we are able to communicate verbally, we dont ever stop.
People often speak without the realization of how much power they hold. Language is more than
a form of communication, we use language to connect, disconnect and express our emotion
uniquely amongst each other. The different languages we speak can divide individuals; however,
language can also unite people and heal communities through the creation of new languages.
Language divides people by the many languages spoken by different communities. In If
Black English Isnt a Language, Then Tell Me, What I? Baldwin explains that Black English is
not just a dialect, but is a distinct language unique to the African American community that is not
treaditional American English. In particular Baldwin states that Black English was created by
an alchemy that transformed ancient elements into a new language (para 7). Africans came
to America unable to communicate with one another and were forcefully put under the control of
their master. Out of these circumstances, African Americans found it essential to define their
culture and language to break away from the American culture. Although Black English consists
of words from American English, it is a distinct language because it was created as a covert
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language that defined the African American community in America. The language of a
community does not always have to be completely different to define from that of another
community or culture, but the intentions of a cultures language is to define itself as unique. This
is especially true when it comes to Black English when African Americans did not have a
language where they were able to uniquely express themselves amongst each other. This
disadvantage of the African community not having a language caused them not to have a unique
connection amongst each other in their language. In his article, Baldwin explains how Black
English is important to the African American community because it was created as a secret
language for African Americans to communicate amongst themselves so that the white man
could not possibly understand, and that, indeed, he cannot understand(para 8). Black English
is a strong example of language that was specifically created to separate one community from
another, and of language having the power to bring a community together.
Language differences are not the only factor that can split communities; specific words
used in a language can also isolate individuals with in their own linguistic community. In some
languages there are words that are specifically used and meant to disconnect a person from their
culture. Within the Spanish speaking community a person who speaks English or is
Americanized is referred to as a poncho or cultural traitor as defined by Gloria Anzaldua in
How to Tame a Wild Tongue. In her article Anzaldua explains that the creation of the Chicano
language was intended for those individuals who could not fully identify themselves as being
Mexican or American. The word poncho is deliberately used to single out and detach
individuals from their culture, causing a conflict of identity of those who fully cannot identify
themselves as Mexicans but did not see themselves as being Americans. There are many other
words in every language that are derogatory toward others, but very few words that are meant to
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separate an individual from their culture. Words in cultures hold different meanings and power
for the people with in that culture. In the Spanish speaking community, the word poncho holds a
demeaning connotation that suggests rejection and cultural shunning, which separates members
with in a community. But there are also words that can bring a linguistic community together.
Language has the power to unite people by creating a culture by connecting those
individuals who share similarities, beliefs and a way of living. Anzaldua explains that Chicano
language was created out of a necessity for individuals who needed a culture to identify
themselves with. Out of the necessity of needing a culture to identify themselves with the
Chicano language and culture was created. These individuals who were abandoned by their
Mexican culture, did not fit in to the American culture because they did not want to abandon
their culture to become Americanized, even if they were already seen as cultural traitors in their
own cultures. Anzaldua states that the Chicano language sprang out of the Chicanos need to
identify ourselves as distinct culture (2948). Since Mexican Americans did not connect to either
the American or Mexican culture, they were forced to create a new culture that was a mix of the
two cultures they were living in. To define these individuals as the Chicano culture they created
a language that only the individuals in that culture would be able understand. This creation of a
new language for this new culture brought that conflicted with the Mexican American
community together. Chicanos were rejected from their Mexican culture because they no longer
were living in a community that was immersed in the Mexican culture, and were now were
trying to survive in the American culture. New languages can create and enforce cultural
communities such as the Chicano language did with the Mexican American community.
Language can also unite individuals by keeping their shared culture alive. This is true for
nthe Native American Culture as explained by David Treuer in From Rez Life: An Indians
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Journey Through Reservation Life. In this piece Treuer explains the importance of keeping the
Native American language alive because their culture is directly connected their language.
Treuer states the disappearance of our language suggests that our culture may not be here for
much longer, he goes on to point out that language is culture. (579). Treuer explains that Native
Americans who know and can fluently speak their language also partake in Native American
customs and traditions. These Native Americans are able to immerse themselves in their culture
because their language does not hold the same significance when translated in English. This can
be said for any language but is more importantly true for the Native American language and the
community. It is important to keep language of a culture alive, especially one that is living in a
community where they are not immersed in their native culture, because language and culture
can be lost in translation. The Native Americans, along with many other culture groups in
America are forced to assimilate into a country that oppresses other cultural beliefs and practices.
Treuer describes this when he explains that Native American children were forced to go to
American schools that rejected the use of any other language instead of English. Once
communities and cultures lose their language in an assimilative country, they lose the last strings
that hold them to the culture they are originally from. Keeping a cultures language alive is also
important because it brings individuals in a shared culture together just like with the Chicano
language, Black English and the Native American language. Each of these languages are unique
for the individuals within the culture and creates a common language that can define individuals
within their culture.
All languages consists of words; words that can be powerful and words that can heal. An
example of this is the word poncho, this word causes an internal conflict in the Spanish
speaking living in America. This one word was so powerful, and caused great emotional distress
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that it enforced the creation of a new culture. In Thomas Moores article The Power of
Language he claims that a single word can stir up emotion, just like the word poncho. Words
have a power that most people do not know; [w]ords dont just convey meaning: they are a
force.(Moore, para 3). Sine words are a force, then it can be known that words hold power to
cause motion or change. Words can bring change by uniting individuals and communities. This
change can be both positive and negative like with the change that the word poncho shaped. This
word affected people negatively causing a conflict of self with in the individuals of the Mexican
American culture, and positively by bringing a new culture about for those individuals. Moore
also states that language can be therapeutic, meaning language can heal. When using a thoughtful
mind when talking to someone, a person is able to know just how powerful their words are; once
a person realizes the power of the words they use, they can use language in a therapeutic way.
When individuals use therapeutic words, or a therapeutic language, those individuals will be able
to facilitate in healing their communities.
Individuals can use the power of their language to heal communities and other
individuals. Healing language is language that is used with the awareness of the power that
language holds. Rebecca Morgans article The Power of Our Words describes her realization
of hurtful words and her journey in discovering how words can bring healing to others. Morgans
slogan to help her remember the power of words is word can cut, words can heal.(para 17).
Language has the power to heal others such as using encouraging or positive words when
speaking to others. This type of language can dissolve the effects of other words like the effects
of the word poncho. Language can also heal communities by the creation of a language such as
Black English or the Chicano language. More specifically, the Chicano language consists of
words that consist of both Spanish and English, these words bring empowerment and healing to
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the Chicano community. Words in the Chicano language bring healing to their community
because the words the language consists of are uniquely theirs, and are solely made for the
Chicano community. The words used in the Chicano language bring healing to the individuals in
that community because the words used empower those individuals by creating a language that is
uniquely theirs.
The language we speak and use can disconnect individuals; however, language can also
unite people and heal communities. Some cultures build languages so they are define themselves
as unique. Words can separate individuals from one another when words are used to tear down or
disconnect one another. As humans we communicate and connect through language; through this
we are able to bring about change to the world. We can do this by being knowledgeable about
the words we use in our lives. We can also know the power of language by knowing that even
though cultures have linguistic differences each culture is the same in that language is an
important identifier for a community or culture. Language is a powerful tool that should be used
wisely because most of the time language is used and thought of as a form of division, instead of
unity.








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Works Cited
Anzaldua, Gloria. How to Tame a Wild Tongue. Borderland/ La Frontera, The New Mestiza.
Aunt Lute Books, 1999. 2947-2955. Print
Baldwin, James. "If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?" The New York
Times On The Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2014.
Moore, Thomas. The Power of Language. Resurgence & Ecologist. The Resurgence Trust,
Web. 26 Jan. 2013
Morgan, Rebecca. "The Power of Our Words." Rebecca L. Morgan CSP, CMC. Morgan Seminar
Group, n.d. Web.
Treuer, David. From Rez Life: An Indians Journey Through Reservation Life. Rereading
America. Ed. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen and Bonnie Lisle. Boston: Bedford/St.
Martins, 2013. 578-591. Print.