Friday, February 15, 2013

Blog 3- The Language of War



Our global effort against “terror” is no doubt inescapable. Its influence is everywhere. This is not just a war in which the United States is involved, respectively, but it encompasses our global society. What makes this war so unique is that fact that it is in turn molding, shaping, and reconstructing our social reality both on an individual and collective parallel. The interesting affair that we are currently witnessing is the emergence of a new formal language based around our global involvement in the war on terror.
Habib Zahori, a journalist with the New York Times, recalls this phenomenon through several personal accounts.  Habib and his family are native to the Arghandab district of Kandahar Province—the south of where the Taliban hold their strongpoint in both ideology and physical force. Habib recalls that the war in his country has influenced the native people to adopt certain terminology typically used by the foreign fighting forces in the area. Words such as “ISAF,” “casualties,” “suicide attack,” “Al Qaeda,” and “night raid” are now simply common language used on a daily basis. Our author gives accounts in which these newly adopted terms and mannerisms are applied. Our author uses a friendly dispute as an example: “When two friends tease each other and one gets angry, maybe he will say: “Leave me alone, or I’ll put on the vest” — referring to an explosive suicide vest.”  
                It is an interesting phenomenon, this change in language and dialogue. By witnessing this phenomenon, we can begin to recognize how dramatically war shapes and molds our society. The citizens of the Arghandab district of Kandahar Province are not the only ones adopting a new language due to the impact of war. The citizens of the United States are commonly seen doing the same. Words such as “haji” or “towel heads” have emerged in common language within the states. This is no doubt a unique phenomenon and it allows for us to witness just how strongly war impacts global society. 



Nathaniel Funkhouser
02/15/2013
1:14 pm

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