Loaded Language and Hate Speech

LOADED LANGUAGE

Heather Kuhlman

University of Arkansas Grantham

CO120 – INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

Melissa Weaver

9-5-2022

LOADED LANGUAGE

Loaded language is a term used to describe words or phrases that imply more than their literal definition. In most situations loaded language is used when the speaker is trying to pull an emotional response from the person they are speaking to. By raising emotions, the speaker can inspire the listener, appeal to the persons personal opinions, and even motivate a physical response. This type of speech can be used to inspire many feelings, but unfortunately, it is primarily used to create sadness, anger, and even hate.

Words can be used as tools and in some situations they can very powerful. Words have the potential to inflict more harm to an individual than striking them or attacking them with a weapon. It can also provide an individual who has given up and feels as if they have no will to go on, the drive to move mountains.

HATE SPEECH

Hate speech, is a term most commonly associated with racism, but is technically a term used to describe any language that is being used to express or encourage hate, discriminate, abuse, or initiate fear within a specific person or group of people. Human beings have a very complex mind, which tends to subconsciously place everything into categories, including people. Stereotypes are labels that we create to identify these categories or specific groups of people based on traits or characteristics. There are many stereotypes and not all of them are bad, but most of them are incorrect They can be based on cultural, social, racial, gender, and religiously based. Some examples of stereotypes that are often associated with hate speech or loaded language are:

People from one country are better than another.

People from one place are all ignorant, rude or other derogatory term.

One race is more pure or superior to another

One race is dangerous or more prone to criminal behavior

One gender is less competent than the other

Certain religions are all extreme or dangerous people.

Loaded Language isn’t all badMartin Luther King jr. was a minister and a civil rights activist. He is remembered through the power of his words. His “I