Rosina Lippi-Green’s Linguistic Facts of Life
Questions
What do you understand each of these statements (based on a lot of research) to mean?
What do you know or what have you experienced that supports these ideas?
In what ways do you see these claims embraced in everyday life?
In university life?
In what ways do you see people/policies/language practices contradicting these ideas?
Quotes
All spoken language changes over time.
All spoken languages are equal in linguistic terms.
Grammatical and communicative effectiveness are distinct and separate issues.
Written language and spoken language are historically, structurally, and functionally fundamentally different creatures.
Written language and spoken language are historically, structurally, and functionally fundamentally different creatures.
Variation is
intrinsic to all spoken language at every level.
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Source:
Lippi-Gree, Rosina. 1997. English with an accent: Language, ideology, and discrimination in the United States. London: Routledge. P. 10.
Lippi-Gree, Rosina. 1997. English with an accent: Language, ideology, and discrimination in the United States. London: Routledge. P. 10.
All spoken
language changes over time.
Language certainly evolves over time, much like all living things that adapt and adopt due to the objects’ immediate surrounding environment. Language is alive and therefore words and word meanings morph as people and events influence them. Non-verbal language has different meanings across cultural and geographical boundaries. For instance, a negative sign in the US could be positive in another country, and vice versa. American English is a Germanic language, which has developed, over time, through the borrowing terms from various cultures; such as Greek, French, and Spanish.
Language certainly evolves over time, much like all living things that adapt and adopt due to the objects’ immediate surrounding environment. Language is alive and therefore words and word meanings morph as people and events influence them. Non-verbal language has different meanings across cultural and geographical boundaries. For instance, a negative sign in the US could be positive in another country, and vice versa. American English is a Germanic language, which has developed, over time, through the borrowing terms from various cultures; such as Greek, French, and Spanish.
All spoken
languages are equal in linguistic terms.
In theory this is a great approach to the diverse languages that exist globally; however when one thinks about the labeled “African American” Vernacular and its wide use across the world, one must also point out that it is socially unacceptable to use such language in formal writing and in professional encounters/interactions. Based on a perpetuated, negative image of those that speak in slang phrases and terms, we are advised not to use the AAV linguistic style as it warrants undesirable connotations about the speaker.
In the US there are cities and states that deny access to important information and documents in languages other than English. The resistance felt by, documented and undocumented, immigrants expresses the notion that other languages are not equal to English.
In theory this is a great approach to the diverse languages that exist globally; however when one thinks about the labeled “African American” Vernacular and its wide use across the world, one must also point out that it is socially unacceptable to use such language in formal writing and in professional encounters/interactions. Based on a perpetuated, negative image of those that speak in slang phrases and terms, we are advised not to use the AAV linguistic style as it warrants undesirable connotations about the speaker.
In the US there are cities and states that deny access to important information and documents in languages other than English. The resistance felt by, documented and undocumented, immigrants expresses the notion that other languages are not equal to English.
Grammatical and communicative effectiveness are distinct and separate issues.
In my courses and personal experiences with different dialects and those whose native language is not American English I realize that effective communication is absolutely different from grammatical perfection. A speaker can state “Him go to the store” or “Season rainy in Ivory Coast is in June” to a listener that can understand enough words to comprehend the meaning of and respond to the information. Using grammatically correct sentence structure to speak is not essential to effectively communicate.
In my courses and personal experiences with different dialects and those whose native language is not American English I realize that effective communication is absolutely different from grammatical perfection. A speaker can state “Him go to the store” or “Season rainy in Ivory Coast is in June” to a listener that can understand enough words to comprehend the meaning of and respond to the information. Using grammatically correct sentence structure to speak is not essential to effectively communicate.
Written
language and spoken language are historically, structurally, and functionally
fundamentally different creatures.
Depending on how one interprets this quote, there are several perspectives from which one can respond.
Oral languages, that do not have an existing written form, have historically served a purpose of discussing and continuing traditions.
Structurally speaking there are written and spoken languages which literally structure parts of speech in different order, from the Standard English Americans practice. Symbols used in various written languages differ spanning from one culture to the next.
As far as functionality, I think oral and written languages function in the same capacity – to communicate.
Depending on how one interprets this quote, there are several perspectives from which one can respond.
Oral languages, that do not have an existing written form, have historically served a purpose of discussing and continuing traditions.
Structurally speaking there are written and spoken languages which literally structure parts of speech in different order, from the Standard English Americans practice. Symbols used in various written languages differ spanning from one culture to the next.
As far as functionality, I think oral and written languages function in the same capacity – to communicate.
Variation is
intrinsic to all spoken language at every level.
As one amends their vocabulary, one starts to appropriate utilize new words and phrases into different conversations, as well in writings. Spoken language varies as individuals adopt new words to communicate and comprehend through the process of maturation.
In American English there are often several words to relay on general idea. University papers produced by college students are expected to possess word variation to avoid repetition and weak argument.
As one amends their vocabulary, one starts to appropriate utilize new words and phrases into different conversations, as well in writings. Spoken language varies as individuals adopt new words to communicate and comprehend through the process of maturation.
In American English there are often several words to relay on general idea. University papers produced by college students are expected to possess word variation to avoid repetition and weak argument.
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