Multifunctional Role of Language

Discussion Language is multifunctioning. Evaluating the joking imitations of “the Whiteman”, the imitations serve various purposes in the interactions of the Western Apaches. Among the roles that these joking imitations as well as other jokes in the community play are the entertainment of the people who get to understand them in various settings and gatherings. However, this is only at the face value of the jokes that are told in different sessions (without consideration of the type). The role played by the joking imitations of “the Whiteman” serve the role of strengthening interpersonal relations. The behavior of the “the Whiteman” is explored and evaluated. Particularly, they are discredited for their self-proclaimed role as leaders or superiors over the Apaches. They are referred to as “lacking in wisdom” (57) and thus cannot assume the position of chieftaincy as they would otherwise assume through colonization.

Language is multifunctioning, as linguistic anthropologists argue. This is given that a single idea as perceived under one context will be viewed differently under a different context. Ideally, there are also differences when the men are talking to men of different character traits and when women are conversing with other women of different character traits. This way, it emerges that gender and language present varying phenomena in interaction, and as Deborah Tannen argues; the way men and women interact with language is not often static to the traditional views of one gender (often male) trying to be dominant while the other gender (female) tries to the cooperative. Both can be dominating and cooperative at the same time. Thesis statement Both men and women, in their interactions using language can be dominating and cooperative; as opposed to the view that the men try to be dominant while the women try to be cooperative in their interactions using language.