Language is an integral part of the way people in a community strengthen their solidarity with each other and, according to most sociologists, is often the basis of any community. Through the use of language, each member of a community is able to express their identity, their cultural heritage, their background and their thoughts. The effects of language are so powerful as it is able to unify and diversify individuals in a community. When everyone in a community uses the same language and vocabulary, there is a sense of camaraderie. However, people can still feel excluded or unwanted in a community, especially in a place where there is xenophobia, such as in the United States. Ultimately, this essay explores how shared knowledge, slang, and jargon create a feeling of belonging to a community among its individuals. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Additionally, language contains a kind of shared knowledge in a community that helps its individuals bond. For example, everyone in a community, regardless of race, religion, or wealth, is connected to each other by speaking the same language. This is very important for individuals within a community because even though we may all have our own opinions and views on life, everyone is still able to be unified through language. Even though we may not recognize it, we subconsciously feel a sense of belonging to our community when we go about our daily activities. For example, when we leave the house every day to go to work and run errands, we are filled with billboards, people, and signs all spoken or written in English. Subconsciously, our body feels comfortable and welcome in its surroundings due to the familiarity of language. Conversely, if one decides to enter a new foreign city or neighborhood like China Town, one may not feel welcome because everyone and everything spoken or written is Mandarin. It is common for all individuals entering a foreign community to feel like an outsider; However, this shouldn't be a problem for anyone because we all have our own community that makes us feel at home while making others feel excluded. For example, immigrants, when entering a foreign country, can sometimes feel a sense of exclusion for months or even years until they assimilate. Many immigrants also face discrimination and threats from existing natives who embrace the idea that having a language other than English is un-American and disloyal. For many Americans, English is synonymous with patriotism and is much more than just a language. Many Americans also face xenophobia, some overt and some less so. To capture the country's xenophobic phenomenon, author Nicole Guidotti-Hernandez wrote an article in 2009 that contained comments from parents whose children had watched the popular children's television. show, Dora the Explorer. In the article, Hernandez quoted, “Dora was an okay show. Now I don't let my kids watch it. There's too much Spanish." While another comment stated, “It's a shame that even our cartoon shows have gone so far as to teach our children so much Spanish. I feel like if you live here you have to speak our language. Otherwise, go away." The main purpose of Dora the Explorer is to teach Spanish to English-speaking children; yet many American parents refuse to let their children watch the television program simply because they are not comfortable with itthe language. These American parents feel a sense of exclusion when they hear cartoon characters speak Spanish, so as a result they don't allow their children to watch the television program. This is an immature and improper way of handling the situation because parents should embrace learning and curiosity for their children rather than abolish them. Furthermore, parents should encourage their children to learn a new language every time they are given the opportunity, as in Dora the Explorer, so that their children do not feel a sense of exclusion growing up in a society full of diversity . Additionally, the use of slang allows each member a community to communicate their social identity and bond over common interests, knowledge, and culture. In today's world, slang terms are often very fleeting and constantly evolving to suit users of each generation. So it can be very difficult for older audiences to understand. Especially when coalescence occurs, we are able to see how words like “gotta” and “waddup” make speech informal and facilitate the flow of conversation between speakers. Even words like "chillax" and "guestimate" only make the user seem creative and intelligent until they become outdated in society and are replaced by newer words. Using these words in a community can make someone feel welcomed, through the familiarity of the language, or excluded. In this case, older people will most likely feel left out if people around them say these words because they usually consider them immature and unintelligent. While the younger generations will feel a sense of inclusion because these words are very trendy and common to use in this generation. Additionally, with dysphemisms becoming common in pop culture, male teenagers now use words like "bitch" and "hoe." instead of the word "girl". For some people, males use these terms because it is “cool” to demonstrate dominance over women; yet in reality these words simply dehumanize and weaken women by making them feel offended and with a sense of exclusion. It is clear that women will not feel welcome in this case because they are not treated with respect and dignity. Even in a school setting, there are children every day who decide to get in close contact with a good friend when they realize they are not being treated with respect. An example of this can be in the children's novel, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. In the novel, the protagonist, Greg Heffley, is a social climber and stops treating his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, with respect and consideration once they both reach high school, teasing and humiliating him. After Rowley no longer feels a sense of belonging to his longtime friend, Greg, he finally decides to assert himself and end the friendship once and for all. The audience notices, once again, how language can strengthen or, in this case, weaken friendship. Furthermore, the use of jargon reinforces and defines a member's membership in a community. By containing special words and expressions used and recognized only by exclusive people, external audiences do not share the same knowledge or interests as the community, which in turn establishes the community's membership and affiliation. The frequent use of abbreviations such as "TD" (temporary duty) or "AWOL" (absent without leaving) allow members to efficiently communicate the point they are trying to make without having to write or say everything. Technical terms are used every day and vary depending on the industry. For example, military jargon, as used in the example above, differs completely from simply medical jargon.