Reflection upon Words

1. In his article, The Rhetorical Situation, author Lloyd Blitzer delves into the impact of specific social situations have on rhetoric. Blitzer makes a reference to author, Bronislaw Malinowski’s observations of the local fisherman in the Trobriand Islands and the particular language they use to communicate to one another while working. Malinowski concludes from the utterances of the fishermen “language functions as a link in concerted human activity, as a piece of human behavior. It is a mode of action and not an instrument of reflection” (4). Although, I agree that language is a piece of human behavior, as it is one of the defining features of a culture. However, I have a difficult time supporting Malinowski’s claim language is solely ‘a mode of action.’ Consider personal memoirs and individual writings in a journal or diary. While writing in a diary is an act itself, the language used on the pages illustrates a person’s thoughts, ideas and hopes ruminations on life and certain experiences. There is in fact no assurance that any idea within the writings will be physically acted upon. Are there any other forms of language that may illustrate simple reflection, rather than pure action?

2. Irving Goffman reiterates author, Robert Park’s argument that humans are constantly wearing a mask and playing a role. Park states “In the end, our conception of our role becomes second nature and an integral part of our personality” (19-20). Goffman exemplifies Park’s point in his description of the couple in Shetland. As the owners of a hotel, the couple catered to countless middle class tourists, whom they originally looked upon with cynicism. Yet, as time passed and the couple became more familiar with the middle-class population, they themselves were becoming more and more similar to their clientele, their masks had changed. However, if the couple was removed from their surroundings, perhaps placed in an area with people that fit within the paradigm they had originally lived in, would their masks and views of the consumers result back to their initial cynical outlook? Or would the impact of their vocation as hotel owners have changed the foundation of their masks and thus their personalities?

3. When asserting how to define a situation in his book Introduction to Rhetorical Theory, Gerard Hauser summarizes meanings emerge from how situations are defined. “Our situational definitions evoke basic response patterns of approach and avoidance, of territoriality and self-preservation…”(42). For the majority, most individuals will be able to define a situation and create their own meaning of the circumstance. However, often times, a single situation will leave a number of people with a completely different definition and meaning of what occurred. What types of events, characteristics, issues etc. make people define situations the way they do (i.e. religion, race, gender, cultural upbringing etc.)?