My First post! Introduction + Foucault's Language and Power

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  About Me

  My name is Lenka, I am currently finishing my Bachelor’s degree in Vienna. I live in Bratislava, Slovakia, where I grew up. I work as an intern to a stylist, where my main tasks are creating graphics and publishing content for magazines weekly. In my free time, I like going on walks with my dog, reading, riding my bike, and spending time with friends. 

Language and Power


Foucault's Theory 

Foucault's theory on power is interesting to me, as I agree with his view, that power shouldn't be viewed as only negative, rather being a powerful tool. In my life, I see many examples where power can be productive, giving not only authority but also respect, often truth, in various situations. I believe that in today’s society, the power of language is witnessed quite often - in politics, news, as well as daily life. 


Language & Power in My Life

Attending an international primary and high school in Slovakia has connected me to peers from different countries and cultures than mine. Only recently I realised that the power this gave me has left me with naturally keeping an open mind in all situations, as well as trying to understand others' opinions, even if being different from my own. 


Image by Lenka Hasslerova


After high school, I lived in Milan, Italy for a year. It was one of the best, but also most challenging times in my life. I had to immerse myself completely in a different country, which has shown me the importance that language and culture has in daily life. The italian culture is much different from the ones I have known. For example, the judgement of power, in Italy, is not only based on what the person does (or their title), but how they speak, what their gestures/mannerisms are, as well as the tone of their voice. I found that most Italians are very skilled in expressing themselves clearly, and in a tone which might seem assertive, yet it is normal. This is why, when people don't understand Italian language, they often think that the people they hear conversing in italian are fighting. 


My View on the Connection of Language and Power


The Venn diagram I created, seen below, shows how I view the two concepts of language and power. I believe that, although they each are their own concepts, there is undoubtedly a connection between the two. 



Image by Lenka Hasslerova

An example the power held in language that resonates with me is Nelson Mandela (seen below). I believe, that the power he expressed in his words is immense. Even judgung the statue located in London seen on the image, I can feel the emotion that he was expressing. An example of a speech that I feel shows this power was his "I am prepared to die" speech. 


My View on Language
My view on language has been shaped over years, as I get older, I am reassured of my belief that language is a powerful tool used to communicate with others, as well as express emotions. I am grateful to be able to speak multiple languages, as I belive that the dominance of the English language has made it a powerful tool to communicate amongst various cultures in groups such as NATO and the United Nations. Even in the European Union, where there are many different member countries speaking various languages, English is used as a common language that is understood by most. 







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