Race representation in sitcoms: "Desmond's" vs "Mind your language"

Tom Law, a Welsh man living in Wales, expresses his frustration with England for forcing the Welsh people to abandon their native language in favor of English. In his article “Cachau Bant: Mind Your Language,” he argues that England's actions are tyrannical and that England holds power over one's speech. Using various strategies to persuade readers and evoke empathy, Law condemns England's disregard for languages other than English. Through the pentagon analysis, he presents his arguments and delves into the historical context of the situation.

His main point is that politicians, driven by a desire for power and change without understanding the consequences, perpetuate a world filled with war, loss, and corruption.

Tom Law contends that the Welsh language is not at risk of being lost due to the influence of the British Empire, as stated in his book "Cachau Bant: Mind Your Language." He argues that England imposed the English language on the Welsh people without their consent, believing it was in their best interest.

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Law expresses his frustration with this imposition through informal language and stark imagery, such as likening the decline of the Welsh language to suffocation by England.

The author uses a great deal of irony in his writing, such as when he sarcastically references "the glory days of the British Empire" and the dominance of the English language as a source of national pride. This suggests that England may not actually hold as much significance as it believes. Throughout the article, his tone remains consistently negative, evident in phrases like "It was done by England and it continues to tear the country apart" and "It’s the consequence of the state treating the Welsh language as a sickness which needed to be cured".

These examples highlight his frustration and anger towards England.

Tom Law uses history as a tool to illustrate how England has historically caused distress and difficulty in various countries, including ongoing issues. He describes the impact on non-Welsh speakers, who feel like outsiders in their own country, excluded from history, culture, and job opportunities. Welsh speakers have also faced continuous attacks and discrimination, having to defend their language even within their own community (P.9 ll. 227-236). The article appeals to emotions by recounting instances of oppression, such as the practice of forcing school children to wear plaques with "WN" initials if caught speaking Welsh, leading to punishment (P.9 ll. 211-217). Through logical reasoning, Law presents data showing the decline of Welsh speakers from 80% in the 1840s to below 20% in 2011.

When readers engage with Tom Law's text, they are likely to find support for his argument, as he asks thought-provoking questions such as "What can you do?" (P. 7 l.117). These questions foster a sense of community and engagement among readers. However, the article lacks credibility in terms of ethos, as it does not provide expert opinions or data to support its claims. By including expert opinions or data, the article's ethos would be stronger, potentially attracting more readers' attention and support. Overall, Tom Law aims to garner support and empathy from like-minded individuals through his writing.

The author attempts to sway individuals who share his antipathy towards England. He seeks to sway individuals who are feel disoriented due to the historical losses inflicted by England in various countries. By integrating aspects of England's history into his article, he aims to connect with those who are struggling with their sense of identity. This target audience primarily consists of individuals who are feeling lost. The secondary audience includes the nation of England, whom the author advises not to meddle in other countries' affairs, particularly language.

Tom Law tries to persuade readers to support his opinion that England should stay out of other countries and focus on internal matters. His negative tone towards England reveals his biased perspective on the topic. If he presented a more balanced viewpoint, his argument would be more compelling and gain greater support. England's historical influence in forcing other countries to adopt its language has led to global communication. Despite his criticism, it is important to recognize the role England has played in shaping world languages and facilitating understanding among different cultures.

Race representation in "Desmond's" and "Mind your language"

This essay will analyze the different ways race is depicted in the sitcoms "Desmond's" and "Mind your language." "Desmond's," set in a barbershop in the 1980s, and "Mind your language," set in a school in the 1970s, will be compared.

Mind your language perpetuates stereotypes by highlighting people's accents. For example, Ali's use of "nicking" instead of "knocking" makes him sound untrustworthy. Ali and Ranjeet's conflict stems from the ongoing war between India and Pakistan. Jamila is portrayed as domestic due to her constant knitting in class. Additionally, there is tension between Ingrid and Anna as they vie for the attention of the male-dominated class.

Ranjeet is portrayed as a typical Indian due to his constant head shaking and hand movements. He is also being forced into an arranged marriage with someone he doesn't know or like. Taro, the Japanese man, carries a camera, symbolizing the stereotype that all Japanese people are tourists. The students in "Mind Your Language" show a lack of seriousness towards learning English by not doing their homework and purchasing it from Giovanni, the Italian, and by frequently arriving late to class.

Desmond's is a sitcom taking place in a barber shop during the 1980s, standing out from "Mind Your Language" by subverting stereotypes. It showcases individuals who are business owners, and at the beginning of the show, viewers witness white individuals socializing with black individuals instead of being separated by race.

The representation of different characters in the show "Desmond" is significant. Shirley, the daughter of Desmond, has a white friend, which is evident when a Black man and a white man are seen shaking hands at the start of the show. The barber shop in which Desmond works serves as a place for social conversations about the achievements of black people and how political comments are negatively portrayed through stereotypes in the media. Sean, Desmond's son, is portrayed as intelligent and eager to learn, demonstrated by his interest in going to school and listening to rap music. Sean's older brother has moved on to become a bank manager, living comfortably in his own house.

Overall, I believe that "Mind Your Language" portrays people in a negative light, making them seem dishonest and unpleasant. In contrast, Desmond's shows a positive representation of black individuals on television by depicting them as eager to learn, enjoying rap music, and forming friendships with people of different races.