I have found it interesting that language, slang, dialects, accents and terminology could have such an impact on modern day society yet it certainly does. I wonder; shouldn’t we pride ourselves in being able to simply communicate effectively and embrace the curious differences in the way that we go about it. I think about handwriting. Mine is different than yours, fairly neat too since I teach handwriting in Kindergarten. If you read a person’s handwriting would you be able to tell their sex, age, and race??? In some cases you could make a good guess but if you heard my voice you would be able to tell a little more clearly that I am a white female in my mid 30s with a moderate southern accent. My point is why a society should place such an importance on which is the more ideal way to speak English. I certainly speak a different style or discourse when I am with friends than I do when I am in teaching mode. It’s still English and it’s still me communicating effectively.
Dowdy made a point that stuck in my mind. She said that language can be a mask. I have found myself trying not to sound so “southern” or use the word ya’ll when I visit northern states or the west coast. I usually get some judgmental feedback on my accent. I get the impression that others may not feel I am as intelligent since I am from the Carolinas.
I wonder about how I must sound when I try my hand at speaking Spanish when in Mexico or in front of native Spanish speakers.
As I read Ernie Smith’s chapter I was reminded of a former student. He was a student who had tremendous speech problems and had a difficult time expressing himself in words, either verbally or in print. Some may have felt that he was below average in intelligence. The opposite was true. He was brilliant in math and science. In the realm of multiple intelligences he was not as strong in verbal linguistic or interpersonal communication. Smith reminds us that linguistic competence is necessary for survival and progress. Obviously there is a need to be able to communicate effectively in professional or public settings with colleagues or strangers. However, each of us with different backgrounds including geographic, social, or economic circumstances must realize that these factors will affect our primary language.
Renee Pagoota
Comments (5)
renee,
i too teach kindergarten and i have had a child with severe sppech. i have had sam for two years...and he is amazing. when i met his mother last year she was so scared for him to come to school. she was worried that he would stop talking all together when he found out just how severe his speech was. i finished his assessments today and he passed everything. yes, he has spent two years in kindergarten but for a child that has a difficult time creating any sound correctly, it is absolutley fantastic! his father had severe speech as well in school and you can still detect it now. in a sense sam was no diferent than my hispanic children that did not speak any english. it just takes time and so much patience. sam can talk your ears off! he has his own language and he is smart! i have had to learn his language just as i have had to learn the hispanic language. with sam, my hispnaic, black and white children, my room is full of so much life! just as you wrote...all handwriting is different and all children are different. perhaps those of us taking this class are so used to looking into the souls of children and loving them for who they are that we dont see skin color or faults or differences...
donna byrd-wyatt
Posted by donna byrd-wyatt | May 24, 2007 7:00 PM
Posted on May 24, 2007 19:00
It is a sad reality that so much focus on the differences in our language. Yet I think some people have problems with anything they cannot understand or relate to. I believe that some children need to learn how to speak better and communicate more appropriately, but they should not be treated differently because of their lack of language skills. Only in a perfect place would this happen. I to speak differently depending on whom I am speaking with and like you, I have had people make comments about the way I speak since I am from North Carolina. On a small scale, it can give you a glimpse into what some people go through everyday because of their lack of language skills and improper grammar. I learned proper English in school, but I had a speech impediment that still makes it difficult for me to get my words out right sometimes. When I did speak certain words I had to put a lot of stress on certain letters and words which made people think I was trying to talk proper even though I spoke SE. This made me feel uncomfortable speaking for many years and it still affects me a little today. I am more confident and when I do stumble over my words I stop take a breath and start again. I do not let it embarrass me like it use to because I know it is something I have to always practice and be mindful of. Growing up my verbal skills was not my strongest area. In fact early this week the counselor, speech therapist and others at my school were talking about language skills and how many of our children lack them, but they are bright. We some how got on the subject of me and how I was in speech classes in school and the therapist or counselor pointed out that I may not have had strong verbal skills, but my nonverbal skills was probably my strength and that’s why I perform so well in certain areas today. It made me think for a while and I believe their may be some truth behind that. We have to learn to celebrate the strengths students have while continuing to help them make improvements in their areas of weakness. We must do it in a way that builds the child up instead of tearing them down.
Posted by Danielle Griffin | May 24, 2007 8:10 PM
Posted on May 24, 2007 20:10
Renee,
I am so glad that you brought up this idea of the "mask." What becomes important are the power relationships embedded in the process of keeping on the masks or removing them.
Also, the idea that language is not always the primary mode of expression is very important for public school teachers. Thank you for bringing this up!
Prof. Alecia Jackson
Posted by Prof. Alecia Jackson | May 24, 2007 9:11 PM
Posted on May 24, 2007 21:11
Renee, I can completely relate to your experiences in masking your Southern accent around some people. I have a friend, and fellow teacher, who is from Ohio who I can almost immediately cover most of my strong Southern accent when I am around her. I also agree that I do not speak the same to my students as I do in other situations. I almost feel that by trying to force everyone to speak SE at all times and attempting to remove the different dialects and home languages that exist in America, we are attempting to create robots who all speak and act the same. Our country is so unique because so many different peoples from so many different places call America home. Why do some people feel it necessary to rob others of their individuality? Of course we should all be able to communicate with each other in a common way, but why does that common way have to be expressed identically?
Posted by Allison Reese | May 25, 2007 5:20 PM
Posted on May 25, 2007 17:20
Renee,
You have a point when you say our background will affect our primary language. This is so true. I have seen this in and outside of the classroom. I grew up in the South and have a Southern accent. I attended school with black and white children. My sister-in-law, on the other hand, grew up in South Boston, Virginia and went to school with black and white children. My husband grew up in South Boston, also. He attended elementary school with white children up until the fifth grade. After the fifth grade, he attended school with black and white children. He is also an English major. I say this to show how our backgrounds do affect our language. My sister-in-law, my husband and I all speak differently in some ways. I have the Southern accent that he doesn't have and my sister-in-law has the South Boston dialect. My husband grew up in South Boston, too but believe it or not he doesn't have the dialect. He can speak the dialect if he wishes but he chooses not to most of the time. It's not because he doesn't like it. He has taught himself to speak like he wishes and like I said before he is an English major and he is very aware of language. He says at times that my sister-in-law and I speak flat. The three of us may all speak differently with different dialect but does that mean that one is more intelligent than the other? Some may think so. Others may not. My point is that our backgrounds did affect our language. We are all different in some ways but I believe that makes us unique. We are all able to communicate effectively.
I also find myself in the same situation that you mentioned. When I'm around people who don't say ya'll, I'm careful with my language.
I too have a child in my classroom with a speech problem but is definitely average in intelligence. I enjoyed reading your post.
Posted by Dawn Thomas | May 25, 2007 7:54 PM
Posted on May 25, 2007 19:54