Essay #3 - Slanted Language in the Media

Matthew Grubisich

Eng 414

Su'11

Charged Language: A Dissection of Words, Limbs and Syllables

Stories in the media are covered either fairly or unfairly, as both literary and visual elements are often used to persuade a bias. This is always done in a manner that can be subtle or blatant with intent. The use of charged language, which has many facets - charged words, slanting with emphasis or slanting with facts of evidence, can play a significant role in how you perceive the information communicated. This of course is guided by each individual's keenness to the principle of selection, which is how we consciously or unconsciously filter information. The other element of persuasion, in the visual sense, is the tactful use of imagery. This attribute of slanting doesn't carry a significant amount of weight in merit until it is paired with bias language. When these two elements are joined together, stories can be presented in a fashion that may seemingly or overtly have bias, potentially persuading your perception on the subject matter at hand. An article called "Cameron Gets Tough", by Newsweek Magazine's online sector - The Daily Beast - writes about English Prime Minister David Cameron's stern perspective on the riots ensuing over numerous cities throughout England. The article exhibits a positive bias towards the Prime Minister, as it speaks of communities seeking closure in his unyielding stance against the riots. With the support of "Selection, Slanting, and Charged Language", by Newman P. Birk and Genevieve B. Birk, and "Television News: The Language of Pictures", by Neil Postman and Steve Powers, these elements of persuasion can be identified and deconstructed so that the presence of bias media can be unveiled to the unsuspecting eye. To begin, one must first understand how it is that we process the infinite information that surrounds us.

Living in a world of saturated media, it is rare to find yourself not in the face of information. Whether it's relevant to you or not, it is always there, and it will find you. The funny thing about the amplitude of information in our media driven society is that everyone has their own way of processing the information received, filtering out what is necessary in paying attention to or knowing so that we can then develop feelings or opinions on the matter. This is done both consciously and unconsciously and shapes our perception of the world and the vast perplexities of humanity. All individuals are unique in their own right as to what exactly does the filtering for them and it ranges from memories, or conditioning to the simple conscious decision of liking, or not liking something.

There is a strong dynamic between visual imagery and the language in which it accompanies. As they work hand-in-hand to sway the audience of their preconceived notions, they complement each other in the mission to do so. In "Television News: The Language of Pictures", by Neil Postman and Steve Powers, it is explained that both language and imagery "...are two very different kinds of processes [as] individual pictures give us the world as object; language, the world as idea". The point they come to is that each have their own persuasive power. The image attached to the article being analyzed, "Cameron Gets Tough", written by William Underhill, clearly has influence on the reader as it supports the written words of the article. In regards to nonverbal communication, the body orientation of Prime Minister Cameron is towering over Acting Borough Commander Superintendent Jo Oakley, while leaning over and looking directly into her eyes. This use of nonverbal communication builds groundwork for the claim made in the article about his stern new approach to the disruptive rioting. His body posture is subtle but resonant enough for the reader to succumb to the slanting of visual imagery. The reaction is, "wow, he seems serious"; and thus, he or she is convinced by the content of literature brought forth. In addition to the use of imagery, it is effective in television because, "...violence and dynamic destruction find their way onto [it] so often". Explained further in "Television News: The Language of Pictures", it is for a simple reason - we, as humans, are drawn to highly visible and dramatic change. Often times, this usually means anything related to mass destruction because it provides the quickest visual change. In the picture of the prime minister, buildings are burnt down and toppled over. This attribute catches the eye of the reader because people can relate to buildings, in which we all live in; but sympathy is achieved when it is processed that there is destruction prevalent. Imagery is a strong and persuasive tool that, when presented with charged language, can greatly influence your analysis of information and your personal feelings towards them. Going further into the analysis of language, even factual information can yield persuasive qualities.

As facts can be easily taken for granted as unbiased information, it can just as easily be presented in a way that gives it leverage in persuasion. This is done with slanting in two ways, by use of facts and emphasis on the factual information itself. In "Selection, Slanting, and Charged Language", by Birk and Birk, the use of slanted information by means of emphasizing it is explained:

 In arriving at opinions and values we cannot always be sure that the facts that sift into our minds through language are representative and relevant and true. We need to remember that much of our information about politics, governmental activities, business conditions, and foreign affairs comes to us selected and slanted.

Information is constantly being subjected to a double screening, carefully selected and slanted, often unseen for the bias nature it possesses because it could emphasize different parts of the same fact to derive a seemingly different mood from the content. So discrete; therefore, highly persuasive. In regards to the factual biased found in "Cameron Gets Tough", there is use of slanted facts present in the body of the article. The article quotes the prime minister directly from two different speeches, made in the course of five years, to show his transformation of perspective. In 2006, he is quoted as to say, "When you see a child walking down the road, hoodie up, head down, moody, swaggering, dominating the pavement—think what has brought that child to that moment". In a speech given this year, "...he spoke of the young rioters’ 'mindless selfishness' and of the 'pockets of our society that are not just broken but, frankly, sick". The passage even opens with the article saying, "Cameron of 2011 sounds less forgiving", which adds to the theme - Prime Minister Cameron has become a very stern figure. When coming across such words as mindless, swaggering, broken and sick, an emphasis is intended for you to unwittingly stumble upon. The slanting of these facts is yet another level of delivering unsuspecting bias, and with more examples of it in language, it becomes more and more visible.

Slanting can also be found in the presentation of charged words, that is, words themselves that offer bias in one way or another. Also from "Selection, Slanting and Charged Language", it is explained that, "words, some rather heavily charged, others innocent-looking but lightly charged, work together to carry to the reader a judgment of a person and a situation." Careful substitutions of synonyms can deviate the sentence from its initial meaning, or impression, of a sentence to encourage an intended bias. Charged words are prevalent in the information we perceive on a daily basis and it's very easy to be unaware of its underlying motives. In "Cameron Gets Tough", charged words are in fact present and luckily not so subtle. The last few sentences of the article proclaim that it’s time to go, "... back to stricter policing and the language of moral discipline", and also that Prime Minister Cameron is "fighting back", so valiantly as to appease his political party and a "nervous public". It is in these words that bias can be found, and not discretely at all. The article openly uses these charged words to rally a moral in favor of the prime minister's new found heroism. The slogan this inspires me to chant is, "Slanting for the Greater Good". The most notable thing about the use of slanted words is that it is powerful because of the emotional charge it gives one or more descriptive words. This can then transform the meaning, or feelings, of factual information to develop a strong connection between reader and content. Whether it is motivated by good or bad intentions, it is a utilized tool in persuading perspectives towards a desired bias.

Charged language, accompanied by dynamic visual imagery, can greatly affect how you perceive information, especially in news media. Having a refined awareness for the principle of selection, it can better serve your ability to identify the use of these persuasive tools. As it was mentioned that there are many facets to the concept of charged language and slanted information, it is important to be keen to the presence and functions of these hard-to-identify tools. Although it is easy for one to decide that riots in inner-city neighborhoods are discomforting, the need to be mindful of other possible intentions that articles may have is of great worth. The obvious information is selected by your personal principle of selection, but other elements are at play in the written or broadcasted material, persuading other biases without your knowledge. It is effective and can be sometimes dangerous. The underlying message here is that having a better awareness for these tools will allow you to filter out the bias, allowing room for you to analyze and create your own personalized bias.