Transcript The Meaning of Words

The Meaning of Words
Gloria Naylor
Discussion Questions
• Naylor opens this essay with the assertion
"Language is the subject." From your reading,
what would you say is Naylor's main point
about this subject?
Discussion Questions
• "Words themselves are innocuous; it is the
consensus that gives them true power." What,
in your judgment, is the meaning of this
statement? Do you agree or disagree with it?
Drawing from personal experience, give an
example to support your position.
Discussion Questions
• Naylor makes the point that, when used
among the family and people she grew up
with, the word nigger had an entirely different
set of meanings than when used by whites or
other ethnic groups. Why wasn't she confused
by the meanings put forward by her family
and friends when using this word?
Discussion Questions
• Why is it that Naylor, like so many African
Americans, has no problem with black people
using the term nigger but will get extremely
upset and angry when the term is used by
non-blacks? Do African Americans or any
other ethnic group, for that matter, have an
exclusive right to use a perjorative (expressing
content or disapproval) word like nigger while
other groups do not? If so, explain why.
Discussion Qusetions
• When was the first time that the word nigger
was used in your presence when you
understood that it was a negative,
stereotypical way of referring to black people?
How would you explain to your own child
what that term means.
Vocabulary
• Write down the following words definitions and use
each one within a sentence (words in context):
– transcendent
– nonsensical
– consensus
– innocuous
– inevitable
– bustling
– clamor
– disembodied
– unkempt
– communal