Definition and Examples of Pejorative Language

The term pejorative language refers to words and phrases that hurt, insult, or disparage someone or something. Also called a  derogatory term or a term of abuse. The label pejorative (or derogatory) is sometimes used in dictionaries and glossaries to identify expressions that offend or belittle a subject. Nonetheless, a word thats regarded as pejorative in one context may have a non-pejorative function or effect in a different context. Examples and Observations of Pejorative Language It is often ... the case that pejorative terms are stronger when applied to women: bitch is seldom a compliment, whereas bastard (especially old bastard) can under some circumstances be intended as a term of respect or affection. Of similar positive status when masculine is dog (as in you old dog!, admiring a rouà ©); when feminine in reference in AmE it means an ugly woman. Witch is almost always pejorative, whereas wizard is often a compliment.(Tom McArthur, Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford University Press, 2005)[T]here is a tendency to select our pejorative epithets with a view not to their accuracy but to their power of hurting...The best protection against this is to remind ourselves again and again what the proper function of pejorative words is. The ultimate, simplest and most abstract, is bad itself. The only good purpose for ever departing from that monosyllable when we condemn anything is to be more specific, to answer the question Bad in what way? Pejorative words are rightly used only when they do this. Swine, as a term of abuse, is now a bad pejorative word, because it brings no one accusation rather than another against the person it vilifies; coward and liar are good ones because they charge a man with a particular fault--of which he might be proved guilty or innocent.  (C. S. Lewis, Studies in Words. Cambridge University Press, 1960) Pejorative Language As a  Persuasive  Strategy One important feature of a narratio  is that of characterization of the major players. The use of pejorative language was in order to dispose the audience in a particular direction toward ones own viewpoint and against that of others. Hence we hear [in the epistles of St. Paul] about false brothers secretly brought in who spy things out, or about those reputed to be pillars, or about Peters and Barnabas hypocrisy. This use of pejorative and emotional language is not accidental. It is meant to raise animus against the opposing viewpoint and sympathy for the speakers case.  (Ben Witherington, III, Grace in Galatia: A Commentary on Pauls Letter to the Galatians. TT Clark Ltd., 1998) Euphemisms and Lexical Change There are cases of euphemisms leading to lexical change in the past. For instance, imbecile originally meant weak and idiot meant non-expert, layperson. When these words had their meanings extended to soften the blow of saying that someone had very limited intellectual powers, the original meanings were obscured and eventually got lost. Unfortunately, when we use euphemisms, the unpleasant associations eventually catch up with the new word. Then it is time to find another one. (Surely, a more effective solution to the problem of reducing the hurt caused by using pejorative language is to change the attitudes of people who consciously or unconsciously use such language. Not an easy task.)(Francis Katamba, English Words: Structure, History, Usage, 2nd ed. Routledge, 2005) Rhetoric As a Pejorative Term The art of rhetoric was held in high regard from ancient Greece until late in the 19th century, occupying a prominent position in the paideia, which signified both education and culture. . . .Towards the end of the 19th century, rhetoric fell into disrepute and was no longer taught in the various educational institutions. The word rhetoric received a pejorative meaning, suggesting the use of underhanded tricks, fraud, and deceit, or the stringing together of hollow words, hackneyed expressions and mere platitudes. To be rhetorical was to be bombastic.(Samuel Ijsseling, Rhetoric and Philosophy in Conflict: An Historical Survey, 1975. Trans. from the Dutch by Paul Dunphy. Martinus Nijhoff, 1976)Rhetoric is not a term to embrace lightly; it is too pockmarked by a century in which it has been deemed to be associated merely with sophistication (in the less positive sense of that word), cant and emptiness. It has seemed to suggest a state in which language floats free of its context and th us becomes deracinated, superfluous--perhaps inflated--and ultimately meaningless. This palsied view of rhetoric is not new, however. The earliest recorded pejorative reference to rhetoric in English, according to the OED, dates from the mid-sixteenth century. Plato was fiercely critical of it. It seems that the epithetic phrase sweet rhetoric has been particularly far from peoples mouths in the last hundred years or so.(Richard Andrews, Introduction. Rebirth of Rhetoric: Essays in Language, Culture and Education. Routledge, 1992)

The Epidemic Of Childhood Obesity - 3013 Words

The epidemic of childhood obesity Childhood obesity is an important issue because of this diseases impact over the past few years. With the changing of lifestyles, the production of children who are not as healthy as they should be has increased. Due to these results, a widespread of children being obese has occurred. The Center for Disease Control, CDC, distinguishes between being overweight and being obese. Overweight simply means that the weight is high compared to others in the same height category. According to the CDC, obesity means â€Å"an excessively high amount of body fat . . . in relation to lean body mass† (CDC). There are so many factors of childhood obesity. Some might say it’s the parent and some might say that it’s from advertisements. Childhood obesity can be a combination of factors scientific, genetic, cultural, or even environmental. The debate over childhood obesity and its factors has been going on for decades. The CDC estimated that around one out of three children are obese and the numbers are on the rise. Obesity affects around seventeen percent of children in the United States. There are many other factors that can cause children to be obese like no exercise, eating junk food, being lazy, also the child’s surrounding can affect them. Some people may argue that the lifestyle changes are bigger contributions to the rising number of childhood obesity. There are many serious diseases that can a result from being obese. Although advertisements targetedShow MoreRelatedObesity : Childhood Obesity Epidemic1418 Words   |  6 Pageshis article â€Å"There is no Childhood Obesity Epidemic† discussed the there is a â€Å"stunning† drop in childhood obesity rate. He claims that obesity rates among two to five year olds have plunged over the past decade, and that the so called â€Å"obesity epidemic† had ended. I strongly disagree with Campos view that there is no childhood obesity epidemic, this is due to the researches that was done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which shows that childhood obesity has more than doubled inRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Childhood Obesity1216 Words   |  5 Pagesintervening in order to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity claim that, â€Å"parents who strive to keep their kids healthy may not have all the tools they need to do so† (â€Å"Childhood Obesity.† Issues Controversies). Therefore supporters agree that the gove rnment â€Å"should step in and enable parents to do the best job they can† (â€Å"Childhood Obesity.† Issues Controversies). Joe Thompson, â€Å"director of the Rober Wood Foundation Center to prevent Childhood Obesity† claims that not all parents are ableRead MoreChildhood Obesity : An Epidemic876 Words   |  4 PagesChildhood Obesity Childhood obesity is more than a major issue in the United States: it is an epidemic. The number of overweight and obese children in America has increased at an alarming rate over the past years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years [1]. American Heart Association stated, â€Å"Today one in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese; nearly triple theRead MoreChildhood Obesity : An Epidemic834 Words   |  4 PagesIn the United States, childhood obesity is an epidemic and in the past 30 years, childhood obesity have had nearly tripled. There are 31 % of American children and adolescents are either overweight or obese. And according to the numbers, more than 23 million of American children are either overweight or obese and more than 12 million are obese (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2013). The complications of obesity in the childhood period are broad, those include but limited to: hypertensionRead MoreChildhood Obesity : An Epidemic1036 Words   |  5 PagesRainsu Kumbhani All About Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is an epidemic in U.S. In the year of 2012, about â€Å"one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.† Also, percentages of childhood obesity have increased by over ten percent in the last thirty years in children and adolescents (Childhood Obesity Facts 2015). These statistics are shocking, and many people are concerned for the health of their children. This medical condition, as defined by Mayo Clinic, leads to seriousRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Childhood Obesity Essay1053 Words   |  5 PagesThe Epidemic of Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity continues to increase substantially each generation, especially here in the United States. Today, children have become more lazy while eating unhealthy and in excess. This trend ultimately results in increased healthcare problems throughout their life. Childhood obesity has increased because children eat in excess, they are allowed to eat food which is unhealthy, they lack the exercise needed to maintain a healthy weight, and are permittedRead MoreThe Epidemic of Childhood Obesity2154 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction Childhood obesity is an epidemic that goes on throughout the United States. Studies have shown how obesity in children may start, and how it affects each and every child in America. Childhood obesity has been getting attention in the media from famous celebrities all the way to the First Lady of the United States. There are many things that cause childhood obesity and very few ways to stop it. However, there are people out there who are trying to help by getting children active, eatingRead MoreChildhood Obesity : An Epidemic Essay1641 Words   |  7 PagesChildhood obesity is an epidemic in America. 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The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston Essay Example For Students

The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston Essay In The Woman Warrior, by Maxine Hong Kingston, captures readers with her own interpretation of what it was like to grow up as a female Chinese American. As a little girl, she came to America with her family. She shows us how difficult it was to fit into two different societies. In the Chinese society the woman were taught to be silent. â€Å"The other Chinese girls did not talk either, so I knew the silence had to do with being a Chines girl†(Kinston, 166). However, In America, Freedom of Speech is one or our rights. Speaking up is taught in the American society. I read aloud in first grade though, and heard the whisper with little squeaks come out of my throat. â€Å"Louder†, said the teacher, who scared the voice away again†(Kinston, 166). Maxine explains to us how she feared silence and how she struggles to come to speech so she won’t end up like her two aunts. When Maxine was little, her mother, Brave Orchid, had Silence In The Woman Warrior, by Maxine Hong Kingston, captures readers with her own interpretation of what it was like to grow up as a female Chinese American. As a little girl, she came to America with her family. She shows us how difficult it was to fit into two different societies. In the Chinese society the woman were taught to be silent. â€Å"The other Chinese girls did not talk either, so I knew the silence had to do with being a Chines girl†(Kinston, 166). However, In America, Freedom of Speech is one or our rights. Speaking up is taught in the American society. â€Å"I read aloud in first grade though, and heard the whisper with little squeaks come out of my throat. â€Å"Louder†, said the teacher, who scared the voice away again†(Kinston, 166). Maxine explains to us how she feared silence and how she struggles to come to speech so she won’t end up like her two aunts. When Maxine was little, her mother, Brave Orchid, had told her that she had to cut her tongue so she won’t be tongue-tied. Her tongue would be able to move and speak any language. â€Å"Maybe that’s why my mother cut my tongue, she pushed my tongue up and sliced the frenum†(Kingston, 163). However, her mother had lied to her because she did not want Maxine to talk a lot. â€Å"But isn’t a ready tongue an evil? †(Kingston, 164). Brave Orchid wanted Maxine to be silent, not talkative in a ghost country. Brave Orchid did not want her daughter to forget the Chinese culture and be customized to the American culture. Maxine didn’t talk much in Kindergarten and had hard time speaking English. â€Å"During the first silent year I spoke to no one at school, did not ask before going to lavatory, and flunked Kindergarten†(Kinston, 165). Maxine did not know that she had to talk and preferred to be silent even in school. â€Å"It was when I found out I had to talk that school became a misery, that the silence became a misery. I did not speak and felt bad each time I did not speak†(Kinston, 166). When she did find out that she had to talk, she started hating silence and tried to battle with her lack of ability to speak. She felt being able to speak and still not speaking was like being handicap. Although Maxine did start getting some voice in class, she hated one Chinese girl who would not speak up even in Chinese school. â€Å"She was a year older than I and was in my class for twelve years. During all those years she read aloud but would not talk†(Kingston, 172). The little Chinese girl could read out loud but didn’t have the voice to speak out loud. The little Chinese girl, preferred to be silent, unless it was one of her duty’s to talk. She only talked in class, when it was recommended for her to talk, but not outside of her class. .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e , .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e .postImageUrl , .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e , .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e:hover , .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e:visited , .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e:active { border:0!important; } .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e:active , .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3ac5d0b409db3a45ada8785e7eff3a8e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Of Suitors EssayMaxine hated the little Chinese girl because she disliked silence. She wanted her to talk because being silent reminded her of her two aunts. One of her aunt, who bears a child and is harried by the villagers and by her family in to drowning herself. Even before she died, she never said who the father of the child was and kept silent. Her other aunt, Moon Orchid, who came to America and went insane. She denied speaking up for her marital rights and kept silent. She didn’t fight back for her marriage and went insane. She didn’t feel strong enough to face up to her husband and ask him, why he left her and married some one else.

Myth Of A Classless Essays - Anthropology, Social Class, Socialism

Myth Of A Classless The myth of a classless American society coupled with social stratification impedes race relations in the U.S. far more than any racial differences. The never ending struggle of the have-nots to become one of the haves produces a frustration and feeling of oppression that acts as a catalyst for spawning racial tensions. Minorities see the majority of wealth in the hands of the white population and feel that the wealth is unevenly distributed. Whites hear of government programs for minorities and feel as if they are lazy or just looking for a handout. This occurs and stereotypes are formed. Combine all of this with the United States system of dual welfareand the perfect environment for racial strife is created. In our classlesssociety of false hope the working class and poor are continually seeking opportunities to excel that just aren't there. They have been led to believe that intelligence and ambition are key contributors to one's success. This belief lays blame on the unsuccessful themselves, even if they do possess ambition and intelligence. These people are in a never ending cycle of struggle, followed by minimal rewards, which eventually produces a frustration that sometimes leads to desperate measures. The Summer Stragedy, The Filling Station, Southeast Arkanasia, The Southern Road and Mending Wall are the stories and poems that depict the life of a different classes people in a society. One way you can read Mending Wall by Robert Frost is that it is about a man who rebuilds the wall seperating his property from his neighbours. This man, this person created by Gray doesn't seem to believe there is a use for the wall as he [the neighbour] is all pine and I [the persona] am apple orchard, but his neighbour believes that good fences make good neighbours. The persona tries to change his neighbour's opinion by trying to put a notion in his head? but his neighbour seems to just ignore him. So the person gets annoyed and thinks of him as an old-stone savage. This is a very simple situation which we can all relate to. But, if we read deeper into the poem we may find the meanings that Robert Frost wanted us to see. Firstly, as we know that this persona is against the building of walls where not necessary we find that it is this persona that initiates the re-building of the wall. I let my neighbour know beyond the hill. This gives the reader something to think about. It puts questions in the reader's mind as to why he would initiate this if he doesn't think it's necessary. One reason may be that this persona enjoys the company of his neighbour - but he gets frustrated with him. Maybe this person is a lonely person and any company is good company. They meet to walk the line. Maybe through mending the wall between them they are mending their friendship. These are all viable options and as we read further into the poem we may understand to a greater extent why he does this. When the two start building the wall the reader may notice that words such as we and our are used giving the feeling of cooperation and companionship. The persona once calls this task an outdoor game which connotes feelings of enjoyment, cooperation, competition. The fact that they walk the line one on a side gives a visual image in the readers mind and may remind them of a tennis game. I must emphasize that what is being told in the poem is from the personals point of view, not directly Frost's, so the reader must beware and realise that it is possible that the persona is wrong in some of his comments. There where it is we do not need the wall. This comment being straight to the point makes the reader feel as if the persona is denying the fact that it is the wall that brings the two men together to cooperate with one another and to converse with one another (to a certain extent). The line directly after this comment segregates the two from one another by contrasting the type of people they are with each other. He is all pine and I am all apple orchard. the fact that this statement comes directly after the comment on the uselessness of the wall suggests that it is these kind of attitudes that puts a barrier between people thus segregating them