Language Facts - Controversial issues on language and communication

Controversial issues on language and communication

Below we have compiled a number of controversial issues on language and communication, with arguments for and against.
1. Classes with a minority language will promote the development of active bilingualism of the children.
2. Animals can communicate with humans.
3. It is best not to try to control the development of language.
4. People who speak ungrammatically should be corrected.
5. There aren't any two words that mean the same thing.
6. A gender-neutral language would be a positive contribution towards equality between men and women.
7. At least 30 % of all TV programs in Sweden should be in Swedish. (Arguments for and against not to be found here yet)
Claim 1:

Classes with a minority language as language of instruction will promote the development of active bilingualism of the children.


For:
A. You have to develop the minority language at school, the majority language will come automatically.
B. The school complements the home.
C. Self-esteem may suffer in some cases if minority language is not developed.
Against:
A. Preserving linguistic multitude is a waste, better to switch to one single language.
B. Complicates integration; disruption and isolation of ethnic groups.
Claim 2:

Animals can communicate with humans.


For 2:
A. Humans perceive that animals communicate with them.
B. Animals have been taught to communicate in human languages.
Against 2:
A. Communication requires that you believe that there is a recipient who understands. Animals do not have such beliefs, thus they do not commucnicate.
B. Animals have too limited a register of consciousness, intentionality and ways of expression.
Claim 3:

3. It is best not to try to control the development of language.


For:
A. Control of a language never has been successful.
B. A non-controlled development leads to a richer language, more suited to its ambient society.
Against:
A. If we do not control the language, Swedish will be mixed with English. This is bad.
B. Control does not have to mean restriction; it could just as well mean stimulation.
Claim 4:

People who speak ungrammatically should be corrected.


For:
A. You should correct people, to give them a langauage that gives them respect.
B. You should correct people, so as to uphold norms that guarantee good communication.
Against:
A. The will to speak is resttrained and the self-confidence is weakened.
B. The only grammar there is concerns written language, and using it on speech is inappropriate.
Claim 5:

There aren't any two words that mean the same thing.


For:
A. There is always a certain difference in style, nuance or value between two words.
Against:
A. Differences may be neutralized in a certain context and synonyms may arise in a certain context.
Claim 6:

A gender-neutral language would be a positive contribution towards equality between men and women.


For:
A. Referring to the sex of a person may be insulting - particularly if it is the wrong sex.
B. Linguistic change may raise the awareness concerning issues of equality.
Against:
A. Language is a mirror of society. Linguistic change without changes in society would risk diluting linguistic meaning.
B. It's too difficult to change people's linguistic habits.