English 2030 Reflection

In reflecting on this course, it is apparent that I viewed language in an overly

simplified light. Language is not as simple as words on a page or spoken thoughts.

Language is a dynamic and evolving force that shapes cultures and builds communities.

Language can cause irreparable damage or powerful healing. Language should be

questioned and explored, not merely absorbed and regurgitated. This reflection will

focus on those dynamics and explore what I have learned about them.

Language’s evolution has changed throughout history. However, I never

contemplated how much it has evolved in my short lifetime. I have witnessed the

adoption of the emoji and the birth of the text message. Each of these language

evolutions has changed the way entire generations of people communicate with one

another. I have witnessed the transformation of the word “gay.” In my adolescence, this

was a common insult and a synonym for the word bad. However, “gay” is now rarely

used as an insult and instead just a word to describe a lifestyle. As a gamer, I have

experienced trends in language that sway daily based on the most relevant viral thread.

Understanding the fluidity of language helps me think critically and promotes

acceptance of change when it happens.

A recent change in language causes me incredible concern. A narrative can

change minds and drive action, and the use of harmful language can destroy lives, both

literally and metaphorically. The change is the adoption and acceptance of hate

language in political discourse. This change is already having detrimental impacts

across several communities. The effects of this hate language are a catalyst for acts of

extreme violence, unethical policy, and increases in hate crime. The adoption of a fear-
driven system is a byproduct of this rhetoric. But there is hope because the counter to

hate language is critical thinking.

This course has also provided me with a better vocabulary and experience in

using critical thinking skills to analyze language. Learning how to ask and consider the

right questions can substantially change the way you understand language. An example

of this, for me, is the change in understanding the variety of bias that shapes language.

Bias does not always manifest in the way of lying or misinformation. Sensationalizing or

distorting language to make an issue simply appeasing for a target audience can also

be biased. Adopting a mentality of critical thinking can help you see through the fog of

disinformation and allow you to make choices based on your ethics.

In conclusion, this course has given me insights into language in new and

meaningful ways. I have a newfound appreciation of critical thinking and how its

applicable in a language setting. I better understand the impacts that language can

have. Lastly, I know that despite moments of hopelessness when it comes to how words

hurt, I know that language is always evolving, and change is still just around the corner.