Quote by Roland Barthes
Language is legislation, speech is its code. We do not see the power which is in speech because we forget that all speech is a classification, and that all classifications are oppressive.
Summary
This quote suggests that language itself is a system of rules and regulations, while speech serves as a way to decipher and convey those rules. The quote highlights the idea that we often overlook the power embedded within speech, mainly because we fail to recognize that any form of communication involves categorizing and labeling individuals or ideas, leading to oppressive outcomes. It implies that the act of classifying and labeling through speech can contribute to oppressive structures that we may not be consciously aware of.
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