The Role of Language in History

Through the extensive regulation and manipulation of language within certain historical events presented in history text books, events are comprehended to a certain extent by the readers. Despite the purpose of language of communicating thoughts and share facts and information, language has the ability to alter one's ideas and perspective of a certain historical event through the implementation of persuasive techniques and diction, grammar, and powerful figurative language, that all in all either uncovers or masks information. Moreover, through the strategic use of specific language, one side of a story can be only portrayed, which contributes to the distortion of information and facts within history leading to the possible formation of stereotypes amongst a group of people or nation within the historical time period, which has future consequences that may be harmful since generalizations are formed and attributed to every individual as a result of the deliberate use of particular expression through diction.

From the use of persuasive and thorough language, certain impressions are implanted in the reader's head, thus bias can be introduced into historical events. Through the strategic use of persuasive words, the author portrays one side of the story through expressing their personal emotions and opinions that has the ability to alter the reader's standpoint. In addition, by masking the other stories or perspectives, bias arises, which once again leads to the formation of the incomplete portrayal of a group of people or an event that also leads to the formation of stereotypes.

Furthermore, language has the ability to help or hinder the interpretation of historical facts due to the variety of cultures and languages; once primary historical records, extracted from different locations around the world, are translated to secondary sources, meaning is lost or misunderstood. This results in the inaccuracy within the historical representation of an event or group of people that hinders the historical representation. On the other hand, if language is used in a strengthening manner that only draws a vivid image in one's head of an accurate representation, then it can be said that language contributes and aids within historical interpretation.  

Knowledge Questions:

1.      To what degree does persuasive language alter the essence of a historical event?

2.      To what extent does reason play a role in history?