Subjective Language, Objective Language and Bias

Your goals:

  • Understand the uses of objective and subjective language.
  • Develop an awareness and understanding of bias in communication, media and everyday life.

Objective Language

Objective language refers to statements and expressions that are based on factual information, observable phenomena, and verifiable data. It aims to present information in a neutral, impartial manner without personal opinions, emotions, or biases influencing the content. Objective language relies on measurable and concrete evidence, allowing different individuals to interpret it similarly, regardless of their personal beliefs or perspectives.

Objective Language Examples:

  1. Objective Statement: “Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.”
    • This statement presents a scientific fact that can be measured and verified by anyone. It’s based on empirical evidence and isn’t influenced by personal opinions or feelings.
  2. Objective Description: “The cat has black fur and green eyes.”
    • This description relies on observable characteristics that can be independently confirmed. It doesn’t involve personal emotions or opinions; it’s factual and based on what can be seen.

Subjective Language

Subjective language, on the other hand, involves personal opinions, feelings, and interpretations. It reflects an individual’s thoughts, emotions, and experiences, often lacking universal validity or concrete evidence to support the claims made. Subjective language is inherently biased because it’s influenced by personal viewpoints, cultural backgrounds, emotions, and individual beliefs, making it prone to differing interpretations among people.

Subjective Language Example:

  1. Subjective Opinion: “Chocolate ice cream is the best!”
    • This statement expresses a personal opinion about a preference for chocolate ice cream. There’s no factual evidence to prove that chocolate ice cream is universally the best; it’s based on individual taste and feelings.
  2. Subjective Feeling: “I feel excited when I play with my friends.”
    • This statement conveys an individual’s emotions and personal experiences. It’s subjective because feelings, like excitement, vary from person to person based on their own experiences and perceptions.

Bias

Bias refers to a preference, inclination, or prejudice in favor of or against a particular person, group, idea, or thing.
Bias can manifest in various forms, such as:

  • Confirmation bias: This is when you only look for or believe things that support what you already think. For example, if you like a certain football team, you might only listen to news that says they’re the best and ignore news that says otherwise.
    • Example: Imagine someone strongly believes that a certain brand of sports shoes is the best. They might only pay attention to positive reviews about that brand while ignoring or dismissing negative reviews, reinforcing their belief and not considering other perspectives.
  • Cultural bias: Sometimes, the way we grow up or the culture we belong to can make us think some things are better or worse without really knowing why. For instance, believing that certain types of food are weird or bad just because they’re different from what you’re used to eating.
    • Example: A history book might focus more on the achievements and contributions of one country’s people while downplaying or omitting the achievements of another country’s people. This bias can happen when people prefer their own culture over others.
  • Gender bias: This happens when people think that boys or girls are better at certain things just because of their gender. Like saying only boys can be good at sports or that girls aren’t good at math.
    • Example: In some places, people might think that only boys are good at playing soccer, and girls can’t be as skilled. This bias leads to unfair treatment and fewer opportunities for girls who are interested in playing soccer.
  • Selection bias: This is when people pick only some information or facts that help prove their point, leaving out other important stuff. For example, if you’re talking about how awesome a game is but only ask your friends who like it and ignore those who don’t, it might not give the full picture.
    • Example: During a survey about a new video game, if only the opinions of players who already love video games are considered and those who don’t play video games aren’t asked, the survey results will be biased towards positive opinions about the game.
  • Language bias: Sometimes, the words we use can make some people feel left out or treated unfairly. For instance, using words that are mean or disrespectful towards someone because of their race, where they’re from, or how much money they have.
    • Example: Using words that suggest certain jobs or activities are only for specific genders, like saying “boys should play with cars” or “girls should play with dolls,” can create bias by limiting choices based on gender stereotypes.

It’s super important to know about bias because it’s everywhere! Sometimes, our feelings or opinions can make us see things in a certain way. That’s why it’s super cool to think about what we hear or see and a