The evolution of language

Over time, words evolve and meanings change. This can be a positive development, but at least two writers – Howard Richler and Prof. Ivan D. Kalmar – feel it's important to be aware of the evolution of language. They will share their reasons why with audiences at the 23rd annual Cherie Smith JCCGV Jewish Book Festival next week.

Choose words carefully

Howard Richler makes the case that the intent of language, as it's used today, isn't always, or even often, to communicate clearly. In fact, he argues that politicians, special interest groups and even the general public commonly manipulate language in an attempt to gain an edge in survival.

This five-time author and linguistic columnist with the Montreal Gazette would never agree with the old saying, 'Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me.' In fact, he told the Independent that, "Words are a weapon of war as much as a bomb, and probably more so in this media-savvy age."

Richler explained that terms like "freedom fighter," "regime change" and "sovereignty" are examples of euphemisms that have evolved over time to take the place of less palatable words like "terrorist," "overthrow" and "separation."

This is just one way that language changes. Others include continuous wrong use of terms, which leads to those terms ultimately taking on new meanings, as in "villian," which used to refer to someone who lived in a villa. As well, sometimes cultural changes reflect, or precipitate, the creation of new terminology. For example, Richler said, " 'Sexual harassment' only came into the English language mid-'70s. Now, one can assume that people were sexually harassed before 1975, but you can also be sure that, without the term existing in the language, the process was less likely to be recognized."

Richler, who claims that the Oxford English Dictionary Online is his "bible," doesn't denounce the evolution of language but he does believe we need to be aware of it. And, while he contends that certain words are "so vile" they transcend common decency and should be censored, he doesn't believe ideas should be censored. Rather, he said, it's the role of the media to give context to ideas and explain the meaning of euphemistic terminology. For example, he said, "take 'ethnic cleansing.' No one really believes anything is being cleaned." That's because the media has done a good job, in Richler's view, of presenting exactly what the term means.

As for political correctness, Richler said, "very few words are value neutral." He added, "Once you determine something by gender, it tends to diminish the value, for example 'manageress' or 'governess.'" He argued that many gender-neutral terms are improvements - "firefighter" is a better descriptor than "fireman." But sometimes, as in the case of "fisher," the terms sound so strange that they are not adopted.

People also need to remember that the way they use words may unintentionally be perceived as pejorative by others. According to Richler, this is particularly the case during a period when the connotation or nuance of a word or phrase is in transition from one meaning to another. For example, "multicultural" and "third world," Richler argues, have begun to take on a derogatory meaning in some circles.

– Kelley Korbin

Is orientalism relevant?

Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, there has been increased focus on Islam, its values and tenets often being contrasted to those of the Judeo-Christian tradition dominant in the West. And yet, Judaism and Islam are more similar to each other than either of them is to Christianity. The disconnect is not lost on Ivan D. Kalmar, a professor at the University of Toronto, who has studied extensively the concept of orientalism.

In the introduction to Orientalism and the Jews, which Kalmar co-edited with Prof. Derek J. Penslar, the two discuss how "orientalism" has generally referred to "the Western image of the 'Orient,' usually with a focus on the worlds of Islam (and not, as the uninitiated might suppose, the Far East).... We believe that the Western image of the Muslim Orient has been formed, and continues to be formed in inextricable conjunction with Western perceptions of the Jewish people."

In an interview with the Independent, Kalmar said he was very troubled by the question of orientalism.

"I'm looking at a history where Jew and Muslim are imagined together as one of a kind," he said. "A lot of that history of that imagination is kind of foolish and doesn't make any sense today. Maybe some of it did make sense, but today it is kind of forgotten and ... [Edward] Said actually said that when he was writing [about] orientalism he was writing on a branch of anti-Semitism.... I think that he described Islamophobia as a 'secret' sharer of anti-Semitism and I think he was right about that because people don't really know this history and it's not much talked about."

Kalmar thinks there are two reasons that this shared history has gotten lost and it relates "to the history of the state of Israel because once, originally, many Zionists were romantic orientalists and they felt that they belonged to the Orient and that once they were there, they would also revitalize the Orient. Together with the Arabs, they would create a kind of Semitic counter way to European civilization, but once it became clear that the Arabs did not welcome them, then this didn't make much sense any more."

It is difficult to say whether reviving the idea of orientalism is a good idea.

"I'm really looking forward to talking to people at the Jewish book fair," said Kalmar, "because I usually talk to academics about this, many of whom are Jewish, but I don't know how the general Jewish public would take to this – if they would be threatened or if it would make them feel hopeful." Kalmar was skeptical "about how many Jews and Muslims want to like each other and to deal with an image of each other as being somehow relatives."

– Cynthia Ramsay

Hear Richler and Kalmar discuss their views in No Room for Censorship, How Words Shape Our Culture, moderated by Alan Morinis. It takes place Nov. 28, 7 p.m., at the Sandman Hotel, 180 West Georgia St. For tickets, call 604-257-5111 or visit www.jccgv.com.

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