Language as a Tool 1

Language as a Tool:
A Gergen Style Analysis
Emily Johnson
11 April 2014

It is virtually impossible to identify a news article that is unequivocally objective and

free of societal or culturally generated paradigms. This phenomenon is not entirely the fault
of the authors because they, like the general population, have accepted that the world and
aspects of the human race are categorized into certain schemas engrained in the public
vernacular. Although these social constructions are not always impartial and tend to lead to
generalizations, they have purpose assisting journalists and writers as well as psychologists,
sociologists and other professions that rely heavily on the individual. However, some writers
push the boundaries of societal acceptations and subject their audience to their own opinion
and social viewpoint. Now prefaced, I present Patrick Counihans IrishCentral.com article
titled Irish politician quits after Facebook spanking message to teen. By means of analysis
la Kenneth J. Gergen, specifically stylized with his paper titled Psychological Science in a
Postmodern Context in mind, I hope to provide evidence that Counihans article, while
holding objective arguments also inserts a socially contestable use of language.

Language as a Tool 2
In order to fully grasp the details within my analysis of the IrishCentral.com article, it
is necessary to provide a brief introduction to the points of the Kenneth J. Gergen paper I will
repeatedly reference. Gergen puts a great deal of emphasis on three modernist themes
emphasis on the individual mind, an objectively knowable world, and language as carrier of
truth (805). He believes that the study of and emphasis on the individual mind is crucial to a
greater understanding of society. Knowledge of the individual is applicable to the masses and
we can use this information to evolve into a better functioning society. In relation, the
objective world consorts with the individual mind. Gergen deduces that the individual mind is
capable of being objectively studied. In concordance with the individual and an objectively
comprehensible world, Gergen links the truth behind language. He argues that if the
individual cognizance understands the objectively fathomable world through language
language being the way material reaches the mindthen language is fact. This brief
description of Gergens essay provides a basis of knowledge for my pending analysis.
Before introducing the impartial assertions made within Patrick Counihans article, it
is important to note the objective journalistic work presented. Counihan certainly researched
and used his access to the Sunday World expos that provided details on the scandal. The
succinct and indisputable evidence listed in Counihans article is the name of the Irish
politician, Patrick Nulty and his [now former] title as Independent Dublin West deputy. Also
inserted are direct quotes from Patrick Nultys statement to the Sunday World where he
revealed that he would resign from his house position. In these ways the author chose to put
an extreme focus on Nulty, the individuala central message in Gergens work. Counihan
did not include any statements from the women involved in the scandal or their families.
Therefore the focus is entirely on Patrick Nulty. Assuming Counihan researched and quoted
correctly, all of these points in the news article are facts. None of this information that laid
the framework for the article is disputable. True, Nulty could be lying about his side of the
story but the fact of the matter is that he indeed said the words quoted in Counihans article.

Language as a Tool 3
These facts provide a metaphorical skeleton for the less factual and more opinionated rhetoric
presented in this news story.
The initial controversy presented by the author relates to perception of language and
lies within the title of the article itself. Titling the article Irish politician quits after
Facebook spanking message to teen conveys at least three distinct messages. First, rather
than saying man quits after Facebook spanking message to teen or Patrick Nulty quits, the
author chose to say Irish politician quits implying that it is particularly noteworthy for
someone of such high status to commit these indecent acts. Harping on Nultys position infers
that it is more scandalous and reprehensible for a public figure than for someone out of the
public eye to partake in such activity. Secondly, the title mentions a spanking message.
While pictorial, there is no further description as to what spanking message means. With a
title so ashamedly enticing it seems almost obligatory that the article live up to the hype. Yet,
nowhere in the story are readers enlightened to the elusive definition of a spanking message.
In fact, unrelated details are brought up about other women that do not pertain to the teenage
girl at all. This leads me to my final issue with this headline it is not entirely indicative of
the news within the article. The title promises a story about an official resigning after making
sexually explicit remarks to a teenager. However, the author introduces stories about other
women with different allegations against Nulty causing the article to become something quite
different than what was expected. All the inconsistencies associated with this one article title
show the power that language can have. This brings me back to Gergen, who focuses heavily
on the importance of language in the world. He states, We use language to report on the
nature of the world as we see it, and these reports are then subject to falsification or
vindication as others test them against their observations, (805). When Counihan formulated
his article title, I would venture to say my queries never crossed his mind. To him, it probably
seemed like a perfectly adequate title to attract readers. An attention seizing headline is
fundamental in the news industry. But this headline stands out in a particularly unsavoury

Language as a Tool 4
way. Again I am speculating by stating this, but I feel as though he chose the title primarily
with the intent of reader inducement. So in relation to Gergen, Counihan and I perceive the
title in different ways because of the effect of language. My interpretation of the title is that it
is full of assumptions and deceit. To Counihan, I assume he sees it chiefly as a way to
increase readership. With this is mind, it is clear that language and the individual perception
of language play a significant role in the analytical process.
Counihans use of language in this article goes farther than deception and assumption;
he also strategically inserts his own opinion into the supposed news article. The article
opens with the phrase, An Irish politician has sensationally resigned (1). The key word in
this sentence is sensationally. What is Counihan trying to convey by noting Nultys
resignation as sensational? The word sensational has many connotations. In some contexts it
can mean amazing or remarkable. In other settings it implies shock or scandal. Since
Counihan did not provide footnotes for his opinions, readers are left wondering which
meaning he is referring to. While it may seem obvious that he is implying shock, the
uncertainty remainsand so the opinionated word serves its purpose. Another instance where
Counihan worked in his opinion is when he states: Independent Dublin deputy Patrick Nulty,
a former Labor Party representative, was forced to stand down after he was exposed by the
Sunday World newspaper (1). The word in this sentence to focus on is forced. Forced is a
very aggressive word. Had Counihan used a word like obligated, his opinion would not be
so transparent. These kinds of contextually erroneous words are why authors views do not
have a place in news articles; too much is left to the discretion of the reader. Once again,
Gergens theories have practical application. He asserts, If the individual mind acquires
knowledge of the world and if language is the means of conveying the content of mind to
others, then language becomes the bearer of truth (804). The implication is if Counihan
chooses to use opinionated words and phrases in his articles, this then becomes the language

Language as a Tool 5
of the informed populace. His beliefs and social vantage points develop involuntarily in the
minds of his readers. This is the power language and opinion can have on the individual.
Through Gergen style analysis, I believe I have effectively provided enough evidence
to allegorically prosecute Patrick Counihan on his use of language as a strategic tool to push
his societal viewpoints and opinions onto readers of IrishCentral.com. His offenses, though
potentially inadvertent, have the power to sway reader opinion on Patrick Nulty. His actions
may have directly altered or influenced the mind of the individual. If Gergen is correct in
theorizing that the mind finds truth in the objectively knowable world through language, then
Counihan may have created false truths through his display of opinion. Granted, this is a very
small scale and perhaps only a few minds were affected. But in larger applications, it is
apparent that Gergens notion about the power of language is a dangerous conjecture. The
more the individual opinion becomes the accepted truth of the masses the less individualistic
and free thinking minds will inhabit the earth.

Works Cited

Language as a Tool 6
Counihan, Patrick. "Irish Politician Quits after Facebook Spanking Message to Teen."
IrishCentral. Irish Central LLC, 23 Mar. 2014. Pages: 1. Web. 06 Apr. 2014.
Retrieved from http://www.irishcentral.com/
(http://www.irishcentral.com/news/politics/Irish-politician-quits-after-Facebookspanking-message-to-teen-.html)
Gergen, Kenneth J. "Psychological Science in a Postmodern Context." American
Psychologist 56.10 (2001): 803-13. Print.