Friday, 8 June 2018

Language and Thought


This is an outline of the arguments in the report by Derek Barry (2017) on the North West Star about Robert Carl Katter’s interview with Sky News, where Robert has objected on gays and said homosexuals people have “stolen” the word gay, ‘which used to mean happy’. The outlines listed here also signifies the relationship between language and thought which are exemplified within the words and the way they are used in this report.

1.     First of all, the report uses the word ‘gay’ in its title with the meaning which is under dispute in the article. Although the writer of the report has disagreed that the primary meaning of the word gay is ‘happy’, but he uses it intentionally and sarcastically, and this sarcasm reveals the relation of language and the position of the article at the very beginning.
2.     There is almost no word that is completely devoid connotation meaning. The writer uses the word ‘angry’ to explain the state of Robert during the interview.  It is a negative description and shows that Robert does not feel comfortable discussing the issue. It implicitly says that he is angry as he cannot argue his idea.
3.     The relation between the language that Robert uses and his idea can be easily noticed when he talks about ‘gay’ and ‘beauty’. Referring to Alexander Pope’s poem, Robert argues that the word ‘gay’ “it was the most beautiful word in the English language.” It can easily be understood that in Robert’s thought the whole group of gay people are not beautiful. Otherwise, he should not have complained about the correct use of the word.
4.     Robert uses the words “marriage’ and ‘freedom’ in a provocative way to warn others of the spread of homosexuality. Although he not saying that literally, but his language clearly reveals his thoughts. 
Reference:

Barry, D. (2017, August 24). Bob Katter is not gay about gays. The North West Star. Retrieved from https://www.northweststar.com.au/story/4878399/bob-katter-is-not-gay-about-gays/


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