The language I'm immersed in seems to be a variety. Most of the people around me speak in some sort of slang and often times use incorrect grammar. I must admit that it bugs me a bit when people use language in the wrong context, but I suppose I shouldn't say anything because I don't have the best spelling or grammar either. I also have friends who you could call grammar freaks who make me feel like I need to spell check everything I send to them. I feel like there's going to be judgement no matter how I speak so I try to speak well. By presenting myself this way I appear more educated, or smart if you will. The same goes for when other people speak well. I respect people more for speaking this way, even in comfortable settings. On the other hand to some people that would seem pretentious. When someone says something like "ain't" you have to wonder if they are choosing to use that word, or if they really don't know that they should have said "is not, are not, or am not." I suppose the key to language is code switching, adapting your dialect to the situation.
Words from yesterday~
cantankerous: bad-tempered
machismo: manliness
lingua : tongue
*I can't really see myself using these on a regular basis, I just thought they were fun words.
3 comments:
What a well-crafted and intelligent post. I like your consideration of both sides of language-- the polished and the "practical", which to my way of thinking means an idea is expressed (though it my be crudely put). I like that you acknowledge the role of judgment that accompanies how we hear someone's speech. Though I like your use of the word pretentious, I don't think anyone would ever think that of you:) I like too that you consider a person's choice when it comes to code switching.
That's kind of fucked up... that you feel your friends are judging you because of your speech. Aren't friends supposed to like you for who you are? I mean dang, son.
Well, I think everyone actually does it. It's not on purpose, but people are obviously going to have a reaction to what you say and that includes the way you say it. The judgement is sort of automatic and subconscious, sometimes you don't even know why you reacted a certain way... I don't know, that's just my take on it.
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