"shape the values of society"

[deledio]

i get how language reflects, but how does language shape society?

[jl_36]

Because language can be used in public contexts to manipulate, persuade, and change attitudes. To answer an essay topic on how language 'shapes' society, I suggest looking at discussing doublespeak and politically correct language. It would also be possible to discuss how different groups in society rely on language to help construct a sense of social identity (and these various groups form and shape society) through features such as slang and jargon (teenspeak could be good to write about as you can discuss non-lexical features such as high-rising tone).