Neil Postman Essay -- essays research papers

Throughout the span of the past few weeks I have traversed the globe, visiting several countries and regions, only to make believe that although new methods develop, lecture as a way of expressing one and only(a)s self has remained the most effective. Despite this fact, language still has its pitfalls. Neil Postman, in his essay &8220Defending Against the Indefensible, outlines seven concepts that can be utilize to aid a student in better sense the language as a stiffs of colloquy. He describes how modern statement methods leave a student vulnerable to the &8220prejudices of their elders, further stating that a effectual teacher must always be skeptical. He urges teachers of all subjects to denounce free from traditional teachings as well as &8220linguistical tyranny His first dogma regards the process of definition. As I sit in an every daylightlight classroom I notice several things. Many, if not all student simply nod their heads succession a teacher explains, be it a theory in Math, or a formula in Science. non once have I encountered a student willing to heaving their hand and question the definition, or meaning that a teacher has rambled clear up to them. Neil Postman states his feelings on this best when he writes, &8220 It is a form of unwiseness when to accept without reflection someone else&8217s definition. He wants people to realize that definitions are not god given, and that to question the validity is acceptable. Upon looking in a dictionary at any word you will bring down that all have several meanings. The same may apply to our lives, while one definition may apply to you another may not.The mogul to question a definition is a crucial part of communication. For usage in the practice of law a case might bawl for someone to define the freedom of press, and that very definition may mean two completely different things to two different people. Postman&8217s first principle was one that I feel needed to be addressed. Too of ten our teachers impose the same definition they learned, valid, or not. If one is not allowed to defend a definition, especially an unjust one, then communication becomes more difficult. &8220All the knowledge one could ever attain is by asking questions, so logically these questions should be properly formed. Postman&... ...A metaphor, used as a communication skill, is best described in a political way. Think of Reagan&8217s Voodoo economics, or bank note Clinton spend a pennying a bridge to the 21st century. Politicians can easily defraud an ignorant voter, should one not understand a metaphor. For example Clinton refers to building a bridge, but does not tell us with which tools he intends to build it with. This particular concept is valid alone for the above reason. Whether you are talking to a teacher or watching television, metaphors need to understand. The fifth concept is that of reification. This means confusing spoken language with things. We falsely associate simpl e words with things they don&8217t even resemble. This occurs many times when we communicate. Sometimes used to exaggerate the importance of a detail when telling a story, or trying to increase the appeal of consumer goods. Postman wants reification to be taught in school so students may see the inner workings of it. hypostatization is a very potent thing in every day life, and the study of reification in school is an admirable thing. Students should be do wary of advertising gimmicks.