Taming a "Wild" Tongue

"Who is to say that robbing a people of its language is less violent than war?"
~ Ray Gwyn Smith

While I was reading a chapter in Gloria Anzaldia's Borderlands/La Frontera there were three reoccurring thoughts that danced threw my mind regarding language. To provide a brief background on the text... Anzaldia expresses the discrimination, lack of support, and struggle one faces, who was/is born in a country other than America, where the primary language is not English. Specifically highlighting the Spanish speaking population, I read a small amount of the shameful remarks and negative comments an individual may hear from countrymen, Americans, and native English speakers, who possess no compassion or empathy for English Language Learners that speak a developed form of English (ex. Chicano Spanish). Why are people quick to judge, stereotype, and make assumptions (positive and negative) about another HUMAN BEING based upon the accent, dialect, and native language one speaks? My first thought was about the class of English Language Learners I have taught AND learned from, who wished to speak, read, and write English proficiently. On the first day of class, I explained the purpose of our classes was not to rid them of their accents, but to help them communicate effectively to live a less stressful life in their new home. In fact, I used the students native languages to establish connections to cognates and comprehend common ideas. We built a new discourse community for our literacy class. We discussed the misconceptions people, who are ignorant to the process of learning another language for survival, form and project onto others -- which can lead to mistreatment. I have met men and women with doctoral degrees that mispronounce words (i.e. the blend "th" is replaced with an "f", the word "month" transforms into "monf"); yet the response is not to harshly ridicule or publicly embarrass for the error. The text addresses that is what several Spanish speakers have experienced. Returning to Rosina Lippi-Green's linguistic facts, one in particular comes  to mind: all spoken language changes over time. If you live in any region long enough you will adopt the dialect and accent that your ears/brain encounter on a regular basis. Therefore, we are all susceptible to developing a new form of language due to our geographical location and the fact that oral language is a living, changing form of communication. Lastly, if human beings identify their language as being a part of their identity, others should be careful how they critique and criticize speakers of any language.