“Radio and television speech becomes standardized, perhaps better English than we have ever used. Just as our bread, mixed and baked, packaged and sold without benefit of accident of human frailty, is uniformly good and uniformly tasteless, so will our speech become one speech.”
Explore This Quote Further
Example of Usage
John Steinbeck's quote on the standardization of speech in radio and television highlights the impact of mass media on language. As communication technologies evolve, the homogenization of language becomes more apparent.
Analysis of Quote by John Steinbeck
In this quote, John Steinbeck is commenting on the increasing standardization and homogenization of language due to the influence of radio and television. He is suggesting that as these mediums become more prominent, there will be a loss of unique regional dialects and individual expression in language. The comparison to packaged and mass-produced bread indicates that while the language may become more polished and grammatically correct, it will also lose its flavor and individuality. Steinbeck's warning serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving linguistic diversity and the richness of language.
The Impact of Standardized Media Speech
In today's digital age, John Steinbeck's observation about the standardization of speech in radio and television holds more relevance than ever. With the rise of social media influencers, podcasts, and streaming services, there is a push for individuals to conform to a certain level of language and communication style. This standardization can lead to a loss of individuality and creativity in speech, as everyone begins to sound the same. It is important to recognize this homogenization of language and strive to maintain authenticity in our communication.
Reflection Questions
In this quote, John Steinbeck expresses concern about the standardization and homogenization of speech due to the influence of radio and television. Reflect on the following questions:
- What are your thoughts on the idea of "standardized" speech as described by Steinbeck? Do you believe it is beneficial or detrimental to society?
- How does the concept of standardized speech relate to issues of cultural diversity and individuality?
- Have you noticed any changes in the way people speak or communicate as a result of advances in technology and media?
- How can individuals work to preserve the richness and diversity of language in the face of increasing standardization?
Similar quotes
“Communications must destroy localness, by a slow, inevitable process [...] Radio and television speech becomes standardized, perhaps better English than we have ever used. Just as our bread, mixed and baked, packaged and sold without benefit of accident of human frailty, is uniformly good and uniformly tasteless, so will our speech become one speech [...] What I am mourning is perhaps not worth saving, but I regret its loss nevertheless”
“Literature is not a game for the cloistered elect. Literature is as old as speech. It grew out of human need for it and it has not changed except to become more needed.”
“Literature was not promulgated by a pale and emasculated critical priesthood singing their litanies in empty churches - nor is it a game for the cloistered elect, the tinhorn mendicants of low calorie despair.Literature is as old as speech. It grew out of human need for it, and it has not changed except to become more needed.The skalds, the bards, the writers are not separate and exclusive. From the beginning, their functions, their duties, their responsibilities have been decreed by our species.--speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1962”
“He stopped, feeling lonely in his long speech.”
“His ear heard more than what was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought.”
“Literature is as old as speech. It grew out of human need for it and it has not changed except to become more needed. The skalds, the bards, the writers are not separate and exclusive. From the beginning, their functions, their duties, and their responsibilities have been decreed by our species... the writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man's proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit - for gallantry in defeat, for courage, compassion and love. In the endless war against weakness and despair, these are the bright rally flags of hope and of emulation. I hold that a writer who does not passionately believe in the perfectibility of man has no dedication nor any membership in literature.”