Praise should primarily be used and seen as something positive. The purpose of praise is to motivate regardless if it can seem deceitful at times. If praise were to be accepted as an expression of approval or motivation in all communities than the formation of a more utopian society would be possible. Everyone would try to help each other fulfill their goals instead of making things into a competition. In the world of language and multiple communities’ words can have more than one meaning. Each community derives a different context to the word. For example, the word “praise” has a different meaning in school, church, and my own community. According to Oxford English Dictionary, the first use of praise was in 1200 as an expression of approval. …show more content…
The use of praise varies when it comes between a two friends and two opponents. In my experience when someone praises me and I don’t get along with them I sense a feeling of hypocrite praise. However, if a friend praises me its honest and very uncommon. To me praise among friends is very uncommon because it’s always fun and games. It’s more like we say the opposite of what we mean to each other. Among friends there is no need to sugar coat things. Praise among two men isn’t the same as praise between two women. According to Deborah Tannen, “Women are designed to take the other person’s feelings into account … men are designed to maintain the one-up position…” (Tannen). Meaning when women talk to each other they talk with emotion while men challenge each other. For example, if I was with one of my female friends I’ll praise them more often than when I’m with a male friend. Each gender takes things differently. Lastly, social status can contribute to how praise is often praised is used and the purpose to why it is being used. For example, when I use to go to my summer job I would always see many of my co-workers praise the boss in order to get a higher position or raise. However, they would never praise the manager like they did with the big boss because they always said they couldn’t benefit from praising the