Subjective Language

Subjective language willingly embraces passion, opinion and bias to sway listeners to a speaker's position.

Introduction

Subjective language attempts to combine ideas and emotions, rather than separate them. It acknowledges, accepts and embraces the understanding that humans are emotional creatures, and uses this understanding to provoke strong reactions in listeners.

Understanding Subjective Language

While a speaker using objective language is careful to avoid value judgements, a speaker using subjective language has no such qualms.

When using subjective language, a speaker can happily use words such as wonderful or terrible to suggest that one thing is better than another.

This speaker can also freely admit that any claim they make is based on personal opinion or belief, rather than logical reasoning or impartial evidence.

Using Subjective Language

Is the use of subjective language undesirable because it has the potential to misrepresent objective truths and encourage listeners to put their feelings above logic?

Quite possibly; however, the use of subjective language is very much a part of human society.

In other words, it isn't going anywhere.

That said, it is worth reflecting upon the ways that both speakers and listeners will try to justify the use of subjective language depending on their values and beliefs.

For example, if a speaker believes passionately in a given cause and hopes to persuade others to share their view, they can justify their use of subjective language because they believe they are doing the right thing for the right reasons.

However, listener reactions to this use of subjective language may differ.

If a listener agrees (or comes to agree) with the speaker's position, they will likely believe the use of subjective language to be inspiring and wholly justified.

By contrast, if a listener disagrees (or comes to disagree) with the speaker's position, they will likely believe the use of subjective language to be shameful and unjustified.

When both interpreting and preparing arguments, we should always ask ourselves whether the use of subjective language is justified.

When doing so, we should also consider how our own personal values and beliefs may be influencing our justification of the use of subjective language.

Conclusion

Having studied the different ways language can be used to influence an audience, we will next examine some specific persuasive techniques a speaker can use to further argue their position.

NEXT:
Rhetorical Question