It surprises me that there are so many variations in language. These variations occur depending on certain circumstance. We recognize the formality or informality of the situation, and therefore adapt our language appropriately. We change our language much like the manner in which we change our clothes. Robert MacNeil’s article “English Belongs to Everyone” made me see the relationship between language and attire.
There are comfortable ways of speaking and in these situations we tend to speak informally. We speak informally to our friends and family, those who are close to us. Striving to speak grammatically correct when talking to our friends is not our first priority. We are relaxed in our speech and our clothing reflects this informality. We wear blue jeans, t-shirts, and flip-flops. With our friends, we wear and speak however makes us feel most comfortable.
In formal occasions, we speak properly. We alter our language in situations such as a meeting or a job interview. In a meeting it is important to speak grammatically correct. Speaking “correct” English demonstrates our knowledge and qualifications. A sharp, clean suit is proper meeting attire. Another example of when we should pay attention to language is at church. In church it is inappropriate to speak loudly or vulgarly just as it is inappropriate to wear jeans and a t-shirt. It is through respect that we adjust our language and clothing in formal situations.
There are clothes of different materials that correspond to different language. Swimsuits are appropriate at the pool or beach. In these two places it is okay to laugh, holler, and scream at the top of your lungs. You can speak informally and relaxed. Jogging shorts, tennis shoes, and t-shirts are common at the gym. When working out it is all right to breath heavily or even grunt when speaking. Speaking with one word sentences is common at the gym because of exhaustion. There are even clothes which help to make an occasion memorable and magical. These include wedding dresses, tuxes, and graduation gowns. The Language spoken at these times are memorable as well.
We should all keep in mind that it is necessary to change our language in addition to our clothing to agree with the circumstance. In many ways using language is like wearing clothes.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
T...OCD
When it comes to writing, computers are distracting. Well at least for me. There have been numerous occasions when I have sat before a blank computer screen, not knowing where to start. I find myself wasting my time perfecting the appearance of my paper rather than concentrating on the content of my paper.
I have come to the conclusion that I have a typing disease. I have condition called typing obsessive-compulsive disorder. Although it is frustrating at times perfecting the outrageous range of fonts and graphics that accompany Microsoft Word, it is comforting to know that I am not the only victim of this disorder. Sharon Cogdill shares her view on this topic in “Computers and Writing.” Cogdill explains, “All writers who use a computer fall in love with the neatness, the orderliness, brought to their pages by the screen and the curser.” Formatting my paper precisely consumes the majority of the writing process.
After reading her article, I have noticed in my writing that the lower order concerns take priority over the higher order concerns. With a click of a button, it is easy to take care of the lower order concerns on a computer. Grammar and spell check is automatic and fonts are easily changeable. A thesaurus is accessible as well.
Often times I fall into a trap and cannot write more than one sentence without rereading and revising it. I feel that it is necessary for writing on the computer to look professional so I am therefore consumed in perfecting sentence by sentence.
Cogdill shares an important aspect of the revising process that I had never thought about before. She mentions that students who revise only on the computer receive worst grades than those students who revise on an 8 ½ by eleven sheet of paper. This makes sense because you are limited in your view of your paper when you are simply looking at the screen. On a hardcopy however, you can look at your paper as a whole and make larger revisions.
Keeping Cogdill’s suggestions in mind, I now only write my first drafts on paper. This eliminates a significant amount of distractions which leads me to concentrate more on content. The best advice within Cogdill’s article is, “The danger is twofold: time spent on the surface is time taken away from the depth, and neat, decorated pages look like finished pages to a vulnerable writer.”
I have come to the conclusion that I have a typing disease. I have condition called typing obsessive-compulsive disorder. Although it is frustrating at times perfecting the outrageous range of fonts and graphics that accompany Microsoft Word, it is comforting to know that I am not the only victim of this disorder. Sharon Cogdill shares her view on this topic in “Computers and Writing.” Cogdill explains, “All writers who use a computer fall in love with the neatness, the orderliness, brought to their pages by the screen and the curser.” Formatting my paper precisely consumes the majority of the writing process.
After reading her article, I have noticed in my writing that the lower order concerns take priority over the higher order concerns. With a click of a button, it is easy to take care of the lower order concerns on a computer. Grammar and spell check is automatic and fonts are easily changeable. A thesaurus is accessible as well.
Often times I fall into a trap and cannot write more than one sentence without rereading and revising it. I feel that it is necessary for writing on the computer to look professional so I am therefore consumed in perfecting sentence by sentence.
Cogdill shares an important aspect of the revising process that I had never thought about before. She mentions that students who revise only on the computer receive worst grades than those students who revise on an 8 ½ by eleven sheet of paper. This makes sense because you are limited in your view of your paper when you are simply looking at the screen. On a hardcopy however, you can look at your paper as a whole and make larger revisions.
Keeping Cogdill’s suggestions in mind, I now only write my first drafts on paper. This eliminates a significant amount of distractions which leads me to concentrate more on content. The best advice within Cogdill’s article is, “The danger is twofold: time spent on the surface is time taken away from the depth, and neat, decorated pages look like finished pages to a vulnerable writer.”
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Who Speaks American??
“Do you speak American?” Journalist and writer Robert MacNeil asks this question across America to investigate how and why people speak the way they do. Watching this documentary prompted me to ask myself this same question. Do I speak American?
I believe this is somewhat of an absurd question. There are numerous dialects that fill our country from east to west, north to south. Not one person can speak American. It is however, the hundreds of dialects that build upon each other that create the American Language. The manner in which I speak contributes to the complete American Language.
Normal is how I would describe the style I speak. I am surrounded by my friends who speak exactly in the same fashion as I do and am therefore acceptable. The word “like” comfortably occupies the space between every other word. “Ya’ll” is the name that I address to all my friends. The speed in which I say my words are long and drawn out. Particular characteristics that make up my dialect are ordinary in the region I live but may be uncommon elsewhere.
It was always an experience visiting my cousins in Philadelphia and New Jersey. They would make fun of the way I speak just because it was different. My cousins however, did not realize that I thought the same about their dialect. At times I could not even understand the words they said. For example, the word “geeyet” means “did you eat yet”, and “wotaice” is “water ice” meaning a slushy. These words were foreign to me. The fact that each dialect possesses its own words and pronunciations brings out the importance of standard American English.
I do not believe by any means that everyone should speak standard American English, but I do think everyone should be educated in it. The Academic English Mastery Program, mentioned in the documentary, is a valuable step to bringing the fundamentals of standard English to children. It is beneficial that they teach in a manner that does not condone their native language.
Language expresses your identity. It demonstrates who you are what you want to be. Your own dialect encompasses qualities of your personality, geography, culture, and social status. Just as there is not one personality and culture in America, there is not one single American Language. Appreciating the dialect you speak is accepting your individuality as well.
I believe this is somewhat of an absurd question. There are numerous dialects that fill our country from east to west, north to south. Not one person can speak American. It is however, the hundreds of dialects that build upon each other that create the American Language. The manner in which I speak contributes to the complete American Language.
Normal is how I would describe the style I speak. I am surrounded by my friends who speak exactly in the same fashion as I do and am therefore acceptable. The word “like” comfortably occupies the space between every other word. “Ya’ll” is the name that I address to all my friends. The speed in which I say my words are long and drawn out. Particular characteristics that make up my dialect are ordinary in the region I live but may be uncommon elsewhere.
It was always an experience visiting my cousins in Philadelphia and New Jersey. They would make fun of the way I speak just because it was different. My cousins however, did not realize that I thought the same about their dialect. At times I could not even understand the words they said. For example, the word “geeyet” means “did you eat yet”, and “wotaice” is “water ice” meaning a slushy. These words were foreign to me. The fact that each dialect possesses its own words and pronunciations brings out the importance of standard American English.
I do not believe by any means that everyone should speak standard American English, but I do think everyone should be educated in it. The Academic English Mastery Program, mentioned in the documentary, is a valuable step to bringing the fundamentals of standard English to children. It is beneficial that they teach in a manner that does not condone their native language.
Language expresses your identity. It demonstrates who you are what you want to be. Your own dialect encompasses qualities of your personality, geography, culture, and social status. Just as there is not one personality and culture in America, there is not one single American Language. Appreciating the dialect you speak is accepting your individuality as well.
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