Volu m e II - Purdue University Calumet

This debate is much the same concerning voluntourism. According to VolunTourism.org,
voluntourism is “Voluntary service experiences that include travel to a destination in order to realize one's
service intentions.” It expands, “The integrated combination of voluntary service to a destination with the
traditional elements of travel and tourism - arts, culture, geography, history, and recreation - while in the
destination.” These definitions show that the purpose of the work clearly focuses on the volunteer: neither
mentions the recipients of the volunteer service.
The Study of Linguistics
Taking a closer look at the definitions of voluntourism, the emphasis on the volunteer is even
clearer. In “voluntary service” there are two parties, the servers and the served, each with needs and
objectives. The evaluation of the statement thus critiques how each party is addressed. The server’s
objective is to gain the self-benefits of volunteering. The served’s objective is to have a service provided
proficiently. In the first definition, the server is mentioned and his objective is being fulfilled. The served,
on the other hand, is completely omitted--both as a subject, and in addressing needs. The neglect of one
party’s needs--the omitted served--is evidence that the server is in a position of empowerment, dominance,
and control, according to the definition’s author. The author’s objective was to create an accurate and
appealing definition for the industry, thus this placement of power with the server shows the writer and,
indirectly, the industry’s attitude and values.
As displayed in the example above, the study of linguistics can be a useful vehicle for analyzing the
power relations and attitudes of verbal and written communications. Since the development of study of
linguistics in the 18th century, many theories have arisen to explain language. Linguistics can either focus on
individual words or grouping of words, and can analyze a wide array of perspectives, from the construction
of speech to evolutionary origins to psychological influences. As was used to dissect the above excerpt, this
paper will utilize discourse analysis.
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