Let's reflect on our learnings on 'Language and Power' in class eight! 

'Language and Power' বিষয়ে আমরা অষ্টম শ্রেণিতে কি শিখেছি চলো তা মনে করে দেখি।

7.1.1 Discuss the following questions in pairs/groups and share your responses with the class.

নিচের প্রশ্নগুলো জোড়ায় বা দলে আলোচনা করো এবং তোমাদের উত্তরগুলো শ্রেণিতে শেয়ার করো।

a. What is instrumental power? 

b. What are the language features of instrumental power people usually use in conversations? 

c. Have you experienced any language features of instrumental power while communicating with others? If yes, what are they? 

d. Have you noticed any evidence of sharing instrumental power in conversation? If yes, what words/expressions they used in their conversation?

7.1.2 Now, reflect on the notices and guidelines you are usually informed by your school. Then, discuss the following questions in pairs/groups. Finally, share your responses with the class. 

এখন, স্কুলে তোমাকে জানানোর জন্য সাধারণত যেসব বিজ্ঞপ্তি বা নির্দেশনা দেয়া হয় সেগুলো নিয়ে ভাবো। তারপর জোড়ায় বা দলে নিচের প্রশ্নগুলো আলোচনা করো। সবশেষে তোমাদের উত্তরগুলো শ্রেণিতে শেয়ার করো।

a. What are the things you are usually informed by your school?

b. How do the school officials inform you?

c. What type of words, sentences, expressions and tone does the school official use to inform you about something? 

d. Do you find any differences between the language of those notices/orders and the language we usually use? If yes, what are they?

e. Why do you think the school officials use a different type of language to notify you? 

f. Do you think the language of the school notices or orders should be different? If yes, explain your answer.

7.2.1 Read the following text. Then in pairs/groups, identify examples of the linguistic features of instrumental power and neutralization of that power. Later, check your responses with the class.

নিচের text-টি পড়ো। তারপর জোড়ায় বা দলে, instrumental power এবং ক্ষমতাকে নিরপেক্ষ করার ভাষাগত বৈশিষ্ট্যের উদহারণগুলো খুঁজে বের করো। পরে, তোমাদের উত্তরগুলো শ্রেণিতে যাচাই করো।

Diba and Nazmun are two friends. Last Saturday, Diba came to visit Nazmun's school. The school is on the outskirts of the city. On their way to the school, Diba loved the serene and quiet environment of the area. After reaching there, out of curiosity, Diba looked at the notice board hung beside the school gate. The language of the notices seems different to her. Diba read the following notice -

'The students who like to submit their forms are requested to attach 2 copies of PP-size photographs and Birth Certificates with the photocopies of their parents' NID cards. Again, as the teachers have other responsibilities to carry out, the interested students

Drawing Nazmun's attention, Diba said, "The language of your school's notice seems different."

Nazmun couldn't understand and asked, "Is it? How is it different from your school?" Diba replied, "You know, in my school the same notice will be written in the following way -

"The students who will submit the admission forms for 2023 are asked to bring 2 copies of PP-size photographs and Birth Certificates with the photocopies of the parents' 

NID cards. The meeting time with the teacher is from 10-11.30 am on Monday and Wednesday."

Nazmun said, "Hmm... now I can see the difference." Afterwards, she told Diba to visit their classrooms. While crossing the classrooms, Diba saw an ongoing class and asked Nazmun, 'Isn't your school closed today?' Nazmun replied affirmatively and added,

"It is an extra class for the students who need extra care." Diba again loved the idea and stood for some time to see how the teacher would help the students. Diba heard the teacher saying, "What do you want to learn today?" One of the students said, "I think today we can discuss how to write a CV." The teacher welcomed the idea, saying "That's a good idea."

This made Diba surprised again. She said, "In our school, we never decide the topic. Most of the time our teachers decide the topic. We just follow the teachers." Nazmun said, "I believe, students should sometimes choose the topic for the class. Also, at my home, when my parents make any decisions, they always ask my opinion. Though as parents they take decisions, they always discuss with us before taking the decisions." Diba said, "What a good practice!"

While returning, Diba commented, "Today I had a great experience, and definitely I will share all these great ideas with my teacher and parents. It might open a good environment for others." She then thanked Nazmun for the tour of her school.

You can record your responses in the following grid. One is done for you.

7.3.1 Read the following note to find out how power is associated with Language

ভাষার সাথে ক্ষমতার সম্পর্ক বুঝার জন্য নিচের note-টি পড়ো।

Note 

Power and language

Do you ever think about how language becomes a way to hold and gain power? Let's explore!

You all know that language is always considered a potential tool to express one's thoughts and ideas. But, in conversations, sometimes people use specific words, sentences or a way of expression to show their authority or superiority over others. Also, their tone of voice tells that they are in a higher position. Again, some people have a way with words, and they use some special features of language to convince and influence others.

If you consider, the power associated with language, you will mainly get two types of power- instrumental power and influential power. You have already learnt that instrumental power refers to a kind of position that people hold because of who they are. They do not always need to convince or satisfy anyone because of their position. Some of the language features that people use to establish their position over others are the use of modal verbs, imperative sentences to give advice or orders, formal register (which means the speaker uses complete sentences, avoids slang and is likely to use fewer contractions), conditional sentences and the use of declarative statements.

Today, you will learn about the influential power.

Influential power is just the opposite of instrumental power. It is also known as social power. It refers to a particular set of language powers, that is people with the use of influential language power intend to gain the confidence of others and to persuade others to believe in or to support them. Often, you can find this type of power in statements made by leaders and in advertisements.

While engaging in conversation, people utilise specific strategies to help them establish their influence. Now, let's explore some features of influential or social power language.

i) Very often, people present opinions as facts to persuade others. For example, you may hear some guests to your school program say, "This is one of the best schools in your locality. And as a student of this famous school, you must perform your best." Here, it is the speaker's opinion that the school is one of the best schools in your locality, and the speaker uses his opinion to influence you to perform your best.

ii) The use of first-person plural pronouns is another feature of influential power language. For example, if you notice carefully, you can see your class captain always say, "This is our classroom. So, we have to keep it clean and tidy."

Here, he/she does not say, "This is my classroom. So, you have to keep it clean and tidy."

iii) Imperative verbs like act, speak, do, and come are also used to influence others. As in the student's election, the candidates use imperative verbs like - 'Listen to your heart and vote for the suitable candidates. Here, the candidate uses imperative verbs- listen and vote to persuade you to vote for him/her. 

iv) Sometimes people use expressions like My people, My friends or My brothers to establish a feeling of friendliness and reinforce their power. 

v) Using interrogatives like asking the listener/reader questions to establish their acceptance is another feature of influential power language. Here, they use modal verbs to have their dominance over others. For example, someone very close to you may say, "Am I not close enough to guide you? Now, you must listen to me."

So we can say that influential power exists in language, and people use these language features to persuade a reader or listener towards a particular way of thinking, i.e. from being a freethinking individual to a person with determined thoughts, beliefs and actions. As a reader or a listener, you should understand when language is used to maintain power exercise or to influence you to make better decisions.

7.3.2 Now, read the following extracts of the historic 7th March speech and identify the language features that Bangabandhu used to inspire people. 

ঐতিহাসিক ৭ই মার্চের ভাষণের নিম্নোক্ত অংশ পড়ো এবং মানুষকে অনুপ্রাণিত করতে বঙ্গবন্ধু যেসব ভাষাগত বৈশিষ্ট্য ব্যবহার করেছেন তা খুঁজে বের করো।

The 7th March speech is one of the best speeches delivered in world history. The greatest Bengali of all time, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, called for our independence in his historic 7th March Speech in 1971 in front of a sea of people in Race Course Maidan, Dhaka. The speech is considered the world's most inspirational speech by which he inspired the Bengali nation to join the great liberation war and snatch victory from the oppressors.

So, now read the following parts of the historic speech and identify the language features that Bangabandhu used to inspire people.

Bangabandhu started his speech by addressing people-

'My brothers,

I come before you today with a heart laden with sadness. You are aware of everything and know every bit of happenings. We have tried with our lives. And yet the sadness remains that today, in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Rangpur the streets are soaked by the blood of my brothers. . . . . . . . . . '

Again he said-

'What wrong have we committed? In the elections, the people of Bangladesh entrusted me and the Awami League with the totality of their electoral support.'

In his speech, he also talked about the history of Bengal. As he stated -

"This history of the past twenty-three years has been one of the agonising cries of men and women. The history of Bengal has been a history where the people of this land have made the streets and highways of this land crimson with their blood."

At one point he said,

"I have spoken to him over telephone. I told him, "Mr. Yahya Khan, you are the president of Pakistan. Come, be a witness to the inhumanity in which the people of my Bengal are being murdered, to the way in which the mothers of my land are being deprived of their sons.' I told him, Come, see and dispense justice."

We can also get his strong assertion when he pronounced-

“I said on the tenth that Mujibur Rahman would not walk across the blood to take part in a Round Table Conference. You have called the Assembly. But my demands must be met first. Martial Law must be withdrawn. All military personnel must be taken back to the barracks...... ” 

He concluded his speech by saying....

"Be prepared with whatever you have. Remember: Having mastered the lesson of sacrifice, we shall give more blood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The struggle this time is the struggle for independence. Joi Bangla!"

You can record your responses in the following grid. One is done for you.

7.3.3 Now, read the following note to know how you can neutralise the power hierarchy associated with language.

ভাষার সাথে সম্পৃক্ত ক্ষমতার অনুক্রম (power hierarchy) তুমি কীভাবে নিরপেক্ষ করবে তা জানার জন্য নিচের note-টি পড়ো।

You have already learnt that some features of the language are used to hold power and superiority. But again, you can use some strategies and language features to neutralise this power hierarchy and make a friendly and democratic environment during the conversations. Let's explore some ways to do that.

a. Firstly, when you engage in a conversation, always remember it is a two-way communication. You have to be open and make space for your partner to share his/her thoughts and ideas about a topic. 

b. To neutralize power hierarchy during a conversation, always agree to disagree and show respect for your partner's opinions. If you have different opinions, share your opinions politely using modal verbs. For example- you can say- Could you please reconsider your thoughts on the topic? 

c. Don't interrupt when someone is talking. If you have a question, ask politely. 

d. To have an effective conversation, avoid asking direct questions. Instead, use a polite way to ask questions like I would like to know. . . . . . . . . . or Would you mind telling me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .?

e. Before making decisions, always ask for others' opinions like Which book will be the best to know more about nature? It's a great way to share authority with others

f. If you want someone to do something, ask for that politely. Don't use imperative sentences or order someone to do something. You may use kindly, please, could you please......? or Would you mind.................?

g. Finally, always use expressions like thanks, welcome, great, and excellent to appreciate your partner for every good work.

7.3.4 Now, read the conversation given below and in pairs/groups answer the following questions. Later, share your answers with the class. 

এখন, নিচে প্রদত্ত কথোপকথনটি পড়ো এবং জোড়ায় বা দলে নিচের প্রশ্নগুলোর উত্তর দাও। পরে তোমাদের উত্তরগুলো শ্রেণিতে শেয়ার করো।

Peter: Good morning, I noticed you speak English with a different accent. Where are you from? 

Mintu: Good morning. Yes, I'm originally from a country in Asia. English is not my first language, but I've been living here for a few years now. 

Peter: Oh, that's interesting. Your English is really good, but I have to admit, I sometimes struggle to understand you because of your accent. 

Mintu: Thank you for the compliment. It's common for non-native English speakers to have accents. However, accents shouldn't be a measure of someone's proficiency or intelligence. There are various accents within English itself, and they all deserve equal respect and understanding. 

Peter: I understand what you're saying, but it's just easier for me to communicate  with people who have accents similar to mine. It's nothing personal.

Mintu: I see where you're coming from, but it's important to recognize that language and accents are tied to power dynamics. Native speakers of English often hold more influence and privilege in English-speaking countries. Non-native speakers, especially those with accents, can face discrimination or be treated as less competent solely based on their language use.

Peter: I never thought about it that way. I apologize if I unintentionally made you feel marginalized or judged based on your accent. That wasn't my intention.

Mintu: Apology accepted, and I appreciate your willingness to learn and understand. Language should be seen as a tool of communication rather than a measure of one's worth or abilities. It's crucial to be aware of the power dynamics at play and to treat all language users with respect and equality.

Peter: Absolutely. I'll make a conscious effort to be more mindful of how I perceive and interact with people based on their language or accent. It's a valuable lesson, and I'm grateful for this conversation.

Mintu: I'm glad we had this discussion. It's through open conversations like these that we can challenge and dismantle the power relations associated with language use. Let's continue to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment for everyone, regardless of their linguistic background or accent.

a. What is the topic of the conversation? 

b. How is the tone of Peter? 

c. Do you think both of them hold the same power and authority in the conversation? If not, who holds more power and how do you know that? 

d. Do you find anyone in the conversation impolite? If yes, explain your answer with an example. 

e. Have you got any examples of sharing power in the conversation? If yes, describe your answer with examples.

7.3.5 Now read the conversation in Activity 7.3.4 again and identify the language features of instrumental and influential power. Again, find out the language features used to neutralise the power that make the conversation more acceptable and democratic. 

Activity 7.3.4 এর কথোপকথনটি আবার পড়ো এবং instrumental এবং influential power সংক্রান্ত ভাষার বৈশিষ্ট্যগুলো চিহ্নিত করো। আবার, কথোপকথনটিকে আরো গ্রহণযোগ্য এবং গণতান্ত্রিক করার উদ্দেশ্যে ক্ষমতাকে নিরপেক্ষ করার জন্য ব্যবহৃত ভাষার বৈশিষ্ট্যগুলো খুঁজে বের করো।

7.4.1 Read the following visa interview and identify the language features that are associated with power and authority. Then, rephrase those sentences to neutralise the power in the conversation. Later, share your responses with the class and submit a copy to the teacher. 

নিচের visa interview টি পড়ো এবং power এবং authority সংশ্লিষ্ট ভাষার বৈশিষ্ট্যগুলো চিহ্নিত করো। তারপর কথোপকথনে ব্যাবহৃত power-কে নিরপেক্ষ করার জন্য বাক্যগুলো পুনর্গঠন করো। পরে, উত্তরগুলো শ্রেণিতে শেয়ার করো এবং একটি কপি শিক্ষকের কাছে জমাদাও।

Nilu: Good morning, sir. 

Visa Officer: Good morning. Hand me your passport, please.

Nilu: Sure sir! Here it is. 

Visa Officer: So, what's the purpose? 

Nilu: Sorry, could you repeat that? 

Visa Officer: Okay. Why do you want to go to India? 

Nilu: It is the Bookfair, I mean Kolkata. 

Visa Officer: I see, and what else! 

Nilu: Umm, also, I want to go to Darjeeling. I intend to stay for 4/5 days, as in 6 days my class will start at the university. 

Visa Officer: Your first-time visit and you will travel alone, right? I think, that will be challenging. What is your opinion? 

Nilu: I believe that challenge is a part of life. 

Visa Officer: Who is paying for your visit? 

Nilu: Myself. I saved money from my part-time job. 

Visa Officer: You have to explain this part. 

Nilu: Oh, okay! I do tutoring. Besides, I do some freelancing. In fact, I earn my living expenses. 

Visa Officer: Have you ever travelled outside your country? 

Nilu: No sir! I have never been. 

Visa Officer: Do you know anyone in India? 

Nilu: Again, no sir. 

Visa Officer: Alright, let's see what I can do for you. 

Nilu: Oh, thank you so much.

New Words: potential, specific, associate, persuade, strategy, inhumanity, agonising, recognise, proficiency.