The Connection between American Language in Literature and Melting Pot - Essay Example

The Connection between American Language in Literature and “Melting Pot” “Melting Pot” is a term used to describe cultural process and development of homogeneous societies. It is linked with the use and development of American language in literature and influences of other cultures and societies on American literature. The “Melting Pot” is a metaphor for the way in which homogenous societies develop, in which the ingredients in the pot (people of different cultures and religions) are combined so as to lose their discrete identities and yield a final product of uniform consistency and flavor, which is quite different from the original inputs. An influence of “Melting Pot” processes on American language in literature is a complex notion which includes cultural issues and language differences. American language becomes a unified force which helps authors to connect their cultural values and norms with American culture and make their literature available to a wide audience of readers. Gina Masucci MacKenzie in the article entitled "Under-Writing: Forming an American Minority Literature," describes and analyzes the problems of national minorities and their impact on American language in literature. The author states that immigrants have had an impact on literature and language use specific vocabulary and colloquialisms typical for their cultures. MacKenzie’s research is based on the analyses provided by Deleuze and Guattari and two novels Anzia Yezierskas “Bread Givers”, and Pietro di Donatos “Christ in Concrete”. Though this conception is broad and indeterminate, it is narrower than a notion such as difference. The system of “Melting pot” and its processes has to be under­stood as interrelated, diverse and changing ways. In other words some elements will be more central than others, some more easily modified or abandoned, and so on. American language as such do not do anything: it is people who make claims or feel marginalized; and people will often disagree, some­times quite fundamentally, about how their culture should be interpreted or understood. However, while the occurrence of hybridity often complicates matters, it does not work against the idea of systematic cultural differences (MacKenzie, 2003). Nicholls Brendon analyses the problems of Jack Kerouacs fiction and influence of native mother tongue on the context and translation of his works. He underlines that Jack Kerouacs works originate in racial fetishism and reflect vocabulary and language means typical for his culture. Brendon uses primary sources as a core of his research to support and underline the importance of the problem. He creates a vivid picture of changes and influences of American language on Jack Kerouacs works. While different use of American language in literature exists, it is quite unequivocal about why writers use their own cultural norms as a basis in their works. This decision-making is regarded as a linear process, starting with the recognition of a need and in particular a need to express themselves. In the decision-making process the first step is the acknowledgement that they have a need, or a problem that requires a solu­tion, and finally use language to solve this problem (Nicholls, 2003). Claudia Mills in “Diversity in Deep Valley: Encountering the "Other" in the Betsy-Tacy Serie” addresses the problems of “Melting pot” which can be found in children’s literature. She uses the Betsy-Tacy Series as a core of her research and analysis. Mills uses fiction as primary sources as the core of her research and analysis as it serves as a first hand knowledge of the events and processes, and the opinion of the person drew it up influenced the source. Besides, it helps to understand the real matter of the things and connection between American language and the “Melting Pot”. The fiction works reflect personal feelings of authors and the impact of “Melting Pot” on American literature and language (Mills, 2004). The argument is advanced principally through an examination of three broad areas of concern that include impartiality and inequality of impact; the meaning and value of culture; and the legitimate enforcement of local social norms of language. The authors effectively debunk some weak or specious arguments that have been advanced in favor of “Melting pot” principles and policies. The primary sources used by the authors belong to different classifications according to type, location, time, and purpose of creation. This helps to study the epoch more or less objectively, taking into account subjectivity of all narrators. The principal point he makes is as familiar as the objection: any language will have an unequal impact on some people. The use of American language and influence of “Melting Pot” reflects a way of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another. It becomes the collective programming of the mind that distin­guishes the members of one category of people from those of another. Accordingly, the connection between American language and “Melting pot” can be defined as a specific way of relations existing between the authors influenced by national cultural values and norms (Mills, 2004). Many problems associated with the relationships between culture and language stem from variations in norms and values. At its deepest level, however, American language comprises a set of basic assumptions that operate automatically to enable groups of people to solve the problems of daily life without thinking about them. In this way, “Melting pot” is that which causes a group of people to act collectively in a way that is different from another group of people, but these differences are caused by deep traditions and values as a core of the culture. American language has a great influence on the society as it is often designed to add psychological value to its existence; it plays a more important communications role in every day life than any another activity: politics or economics. Religion controls the circulation of ideas in popular culture. This impact is evident, because “Melting pot” replaces multiculturalism diminishing social and cultural differences. In general, the authors pay attention to the facts concerning historical context and cultural norms typical for a particular period of time. This historical information helps them to analyze differences and similarities, and the role of language in fiction. Readers need to know in what context they find a person in order to evaluate it, or, in the case of language, how a word or words are used. By themselves words carry little meaning. Many contemporary critics underline that readers do not understand religious impact on their perception while reading. In reality, American language became the main tool which connects different cultures and authors. Many contemporary critics underline that readers do not understand religious impact on their perception while reading. While different types of literature styles can be shown to exist, it is quite another matter to be unequivocal about why writers use primary sources as a basis for their works. Taking into account the facts mentioned above, it is evident that “Melting pot” and American language depends on social possessions ands influence on popular culture and literature. Being a part of literature, American language supports homogeneity and cultural unity. It is possible to say that cultural behavior is socially determined and that the key to suc­cessful ideas lies in the understanding of dogmas and values. This unequal impact may take the form of making illegal some activity associated with a particular culture or simply making the performance of the activity more burdensome, either more difficult or more costly or both. Works Cited MacKenzie, Gina Masucci "Under-Writing: Forming an American Minority Literature" Journal of Modern Literature, Vol. 26, 3/4, Summer 2003, pp. 1-11. Mills, Claudia "Diversity in Deep Valley: Encountering the "Other" in the Betsy-Tacy Series" Childrens Literature, 2004. Vol. 32, pp. 84-111. Nicholls, Brendon "The Melting Pot That Boiled Over: Racial Fetishism and the Lingua Franca of Jack Kerouacs Fiction" MFS Modern Fiction Studies, Vol 49, Number 3, Fall 2003, pp. 524-549. Read More