Watch Your Mouth!

Language is often the determining factor when forming an impression of a stranger. Deep voices are considered masculine and higher voices are feminine. The media uses these stereotypes to portray different sexualities and genders. Also, slang usage is a sign of being uneducated and proper grammar is an indicator of intelligence. The fact that people need to use superb grammar in order to be taken seriously devalues the people who are less familiar with English. For example, an Asian male in America who speaks perfect English is automatically considered brilliant and hard-working, while an Asian male who doesn’t speak English well is “stupid” or “probably working in a fast food Chinese restaurant.” Today, the stereotypical frat boy is an unintelligent "meathead" who is athletic and sociable but sub-par at everything else. This image is solidified by the simple and licentious "frat guy language." In addition, people with New York accents may be considered aggressive, rude, or uneducated by outsiders. There is also a “white girl” culture, characterized by excessive use of the word “like.” White women who say “like” too often are considered unintelligent or ditsy and even promiscuous, while the same stereotype applies to non-white females less frequently and rarely for males at all. Language is a destructive tool for stereotypes, and a difficult element to overcome because language differentiation is so prevalent in our society.

Here's an article about how we screw with language and destroy it's true meaning: http://www.prisonplanet.com/analysis_liberty_011703_doublethink.html

And another article about how using generic language will influence your children: http://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2012/09/28/study-on-language-and-stereotypes-suggests-ways-to-reduce-prejudice.html