Haig Bosmajian received his PhD in 1960 from Stanford University. His work explores rhetoric and the freedom of speech. Bosmajian teaches at the University of Washington, in the Speech/Communications Department, where he has taught since 1965. He is married to Hamida Bosmajian, a published author and a professor at Seattle University.
Read "The Language of Oppression," by Bosmajian, in the Borzoi Reader
Read "By Any Other Name," by Santha Rama Rau, in the Borzoi Reader
Read the Supplemental Readings
You've read two essays which discuss the relationship between language, thought, perception, and behavior. Language can be used, as Stokely Carmichael points out, to establish a master-slave relationship. Dehumanization of others begins as an idea in someone's mind, an idea then expressed in language which in turn shapes and reinforces a person's vision of the world. In "The Language of Oppression," Bosmajian warns us that:
'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.' To accept this adage as valid is sheer folly. 'What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. The answer to Juliet's question is 'Plenty!' and to her own response to the question we can only say that this is by no means invariably true. The importance, significance and ramifications of naming and defining people has had positive and negative effects on entire populations. . . . .;"
and,
While names, words and language can be and are used to inspire us, to motivate us to humane acts, to liberate us, they can also be used to dehumanize human beings and to 'justify' their suppression and even their extermination.
I want you to think about Bosmajian's point and the evidence he uses to support it. Be able to explain his message and reasoning to someone who has not read his essay. Then, apply his thesis to your reading of Santha Rama Rau's essay, your experience of yourself or observation of others, and to a piece of reading relevant to his ideas.
Be sure to explain how his central idea applies to these sources: 1) the experience of Santha Rama Rau in "By Any Other Name"; 2) an observation you have made of others or an event you have experienced directly (personal experience); and 3) the ideas expressed in one of the four supplementary readings OR the ideas expressed in some other source (a play, film, short story, novel, essay, magazine or newspaper article, etc.) you would like to discuss.
Some ideas to consider:
View Instructions for Credit Assignment #3: Quiz on Bosmajian, Rau, and Supplemental Readings
View Mr. Sheftman's sample introductory paragraph in response to the Bosmajian assignment
View a sample "A" paper response for the Bosmajian assignment
View a sample "C" paper for the Bosmajian assignment
View Model Student Papers from Winter 1999
Return to Mr. Sheftman's EWRT 1A Home Page
updated 9/99