I just wanted to add that our perceptions of class canbe divisive if we let them.

[ June 12, 2002: Message edited by: clersal ]

[ June 12, 2002: Message edited by: nonesuch ]

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How can we keep it from being divisive? How do we - individually and collectively - bridge those gaps?

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I think one of the most important things we can do as individuals is to avoid making generalizations about either end of the class spectrum and become more conscious of the ones we do make. Comments like "those lazy welfare..." or "those selfish, corporate ladder climbing..." don't exactly promote communication between the two groups.

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Can we - and do we - adapt language to facilitate communication between classes?

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This is a very interesting question. In the Woman, wimmin... thread I unthinkingly stated that I did not *get* the point of changing the spelling of words to make a social or political point. After reading more of that thread and this one it seems that I spoke to quickly. Words are certainly extremely political in nature. Unfortunately, the only examples of this which are springing to my mind at the moment are how language can be divisive between classes and other groups.

When people are a part of a certain group they take on some of the characteristics of members of that group. The grouping might be related to class structure and/or cultural/sub-cultural differences but one of the characteristics that is often emulated is speech (both in mannerism and words or slang used). Because group members use speech as one means to identify themselves with their group it is easy for others to do the same. At this point, other generalizations which outsiders make towards that group might be attributed to the individual person because of their speech.

One example of speech being divisive is “uptalk” which has been discussed previously in another thread. When we hear people constantly turning their statements into questions it is much easier for some of us to dismiss what they are saying. The lack of confidence in their statement, implied by the tone and language used, creates a gap between the speaker and the listener that has nothing to do with either’s intelligence or actual meaning.

That questioning intonation seems to belong mostly to very young people (boys, too), who have not yet solidified their views, who are not sure of their information and who often don't expect to be taken seriously. I think they generally outgrow it, so maybe that's not important.

Slang is important. Not just for identification, inside or outside a group, but for guaging how various groups of people think about certain subjects. For example, the various slang names for female persons tell you something (though not as much as one would imagine at first glance) about the esteem in which women are held by that community. The words are worth examining and thinking about - but, not getting one's knickers in a twist over.