Language Users for Nonkilling: A Plea

Francisco Gomes de Matos, Brazil

Francisco Gomes de Matos, an applied peace linguist from Recife, Brazil E-mail: fcgm@hotlink.com.br

Languages per se are not dehumanizing, destructive, lethal, or killing It is the linguistic choices made by their users that may be the new, universal challenge school systems could be facing has to do with why and how NONKILLING language uses should be:

Languages per se are not unfriendly or unpeaceful
It is the meanings made by their users that may be
in language education, teachers could be thoughtful
and help students NONKILLINGLY language to see

Languages per se are not insulting or offensive
It is users’ communicative intentions that may be
in daily interaction, users could be responsive
and a world in need of understanding always see

Languages per se are not denigrating or discriminatory
It is users’ communicative effects that may be unkind
In sharing languages, rather than sounding derogatory
let’s use all those marvels for the good of Humankind