Language of Alienation: A Site of Cultural Violence

Abstract

Culture teaches us the basics of living. We can say that it is the institution of culture which hosts the primary school in our life which opens up the learning processes. Language is one major element of culture. Language is a collective of numerous words, tones and styles. Every word, tone and style communicates its meaning. It provides meaning to the contexts and meanings also construct the contexts as well. Any term or word of language has a history of context and realities. These histories could be singular or plural. What is important to know that as language of acceptance and participation exists, similarly language of pain, hatred and alienation exists too. What happens when the language of exclusion and othering becomes the part of culture? This means one behaves in a manner that a person feels that this is the only way to behave against and with each other. There are numerous illustrations in society which are spreading its wings knowingly or unknowingly which has been culturally learnt behavior strengthened by the power of language creating venom against each other on various grounds like caste, class, gender region, race and communities. It's time to review those venomous languages which is not only responsible in creating distances rather it is also responsible in creating disturbances. Johan Galtung tried hard to create the process of peace studies by identifying various nuances associated to Violence in society. The present article tries to capture the Galtung perspective towards language of negation of needs and hatred. This has been dealt by him as a part of cultural violence. Further the present write up tries to grab the gaps in the language and its usages which try to abuse and violate the rights of certain agencies like homeless and women. The two agencies have been taken into consideration because the reflections have been used through the research work conducted with them as a part of academic work.