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    Language and Literacy Reflection

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    This document discusses the role of language and literacy in society and how it can affect one's social perception and treatment. It describes how slaves brought to America were forced to learn a bastardized version of English to communicate with masters and to prevent secret plotting. This broken English became known as African American Vernacular English and is now often referred to as "Ebonics". While the author is comfortable using Standard American English, they acknowledge that language use can indicate one's education and social class but not necessarily their race, as cultural influences have led to integration of vernaculars. The author chooses to communicate eloquently to avoid discrimination and to be taken seriously.

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    Language and Literacy Reflection

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    454 views3 pages
    This document discusses the role of language and literacy in society and how it can affect one's social perception and treatment. It describes how slaves brought to America were forced to learn a bastardized version of English to communicate with masters and to prevent secret plotting. This broken English became known as African American Vernacular English and is now often referred to as "Ebonics". While the author is comfortable using Standard American English, they acknowledge that language use can indicate one's education and social class but not necessarily their race, as cultural influences have led to integration of vernaculars. The author chooses to communicate eloquently to avoid discrimination and to be taken seriously.

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    language and literacy reflection

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    This document discusses the role of language and literacy in society and how it can affect one's social perception and treatment. It describes how slaves brought to America were forced to learn a bastardized version of English to communicate with masters and to prevent secret plotting. This broken English became known as African American Vernacular English and is now often referred to as "Ebonics". While the author is comfortable using Standard American English, they acknowledge that language use can indicate one's education and social class but not necessarily their race, as cultural influences have led to integration of vernaculars. The author chooses to communicate eloquently to avoid discrimination and to be taken seriously.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    454 views3 pages

    Language and Literacy Reflection

    Uploaded by

    api-317666069
    This document discusses the role of language and literacy in society and how it can affect one's social perception and treatment. It describes how slaves brought to America were forced to learn a bastardized version of English to communicate with masters and to prevent secret plotting. This broken English became known as African American Vernacular English and is now often referred to as "Ebonics". While the author is comfortable using Standard American English, they acknowledge that language use can indicate one's education and social class but not necessarily their race, as cultural influences have led to integration of vernaculars. The author chooses to communicate eloquently to avoid discrimination and to be taken seriously.

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    Language and Literacy Reflection

    Language can be defined as the conventional usage of words as a system of


    communication. Literacy can be defined as ones ability to both read and write.
    Both language and literacy play a pivotal role in our society. They can determine
    how a particular person or ethnic group can be viewed or perceived by society
    which can affect how they are treated by society.
    Contrary to popular belief, the Standard American English we know today in
    America is only a bastardize version of the English that originated in England.
    With that having been said, when Africans were forced to come to America as
    slaves they experienced a brief language barrier. They were unable to verbally
    communicate with their masters due to the differences among the languages.
    However this did not last very long. The slaves were taught almost immediately
    upon arrival an even more bastardize version of English. For example, when a
    slave would refer to their master they would say massa which is both a
    bastardize and incorrect version of the word master. These slaves were fully
    capable of speaking articulately and properly but they were forced to learn a
    bastardize version of English in order for them to assimilate to the white American
    society. If these slaves wouldve kept their native tongue they might have posed a
    threat to white America because they would be able to speak in a private language
    which will allow them to secretly plot against the slave owners. They also were
    forced to learn English so the slave owners could communicate their orders to them
    without the need for translation. Unfortunately, these slaves were forbidden to
    read which prevented them from learning the correct pronunciation and structure of
    the English language. Subsequently, this common vernacular was passed down to
    later generations. This bastardize or broken English became a part of the African
    American vernacular.
    Today, what was known as the African American vernacular is
    predominantly referred to as Ebonics. Ebonics is defined as the language of the
    ebony people. Today, Ebonics incorporates a lot of modern slang. I, like many well
    educated African American people, seldom use Ebonics. Situations that involve me
    using urban terminology would be in social settings usually around my peers or
    those within my age group. When I communicate with adults or my superiors such
    as my employer or a police officer, I speak more articulately and eloquently. I try
    to circumvent using poor English or what people believe is the African American

    vernacular because it may cause others to discriminate against me and consider me


    a person of ignorance or simply one who is uneducated. I am completely
    comfortable with utilizing my knowledge of Standard American English language.
    Furthermore, I believe that one should use proper English in any situation
    regardless of who that are communicating with.
    In most cases language can divulge the status of ones education or class.
    Typically those who have received a high education or a reputable education reflect
    that in their vernacular. That can correlate with the vernacular based on class.
    Those who are impoverished tend to receive poor education which can cause them
    to have a poor understanding of the English language. This is also applicable to
    those of affluence. Those who are wealthy probably receive a good education
    which can aid to their comprehension of the English language. So, it can reveal the
    status of ones education or class. However, I believe that language cannot reveal
    the status of ones race. Today, Ebonics or the African American vernacular is
    commonly used by people who are not of African descent. Many whites, Latinos
    and people of other ethnic groups use the African American vernacular. This also
    applies to other vernaculars dominated by other races. Many African Americans
    use the white vernacular or the vernacular of some Latinos. Since America is the
    melting pot of cultures and almost all of the cultures adopt characteristics of one
    another it would be rather difficult for one to attempt to determine anothers race
    based solely on how they speak.
    Code switching is the practice of switching between one or more languages
    within a single conversation. A great example of code switching is Spanglish.
    Spanglish is when the conversation consist of both Spanish and English within the
    same context. I do not code switch between standard American English and the
    African American vernacular. I simply adhere to the standard American language,
    not to come off as pretentious, but to allow people to easily comprehend what I am
    trying to communicate.
    My verbal and written communications skills represent how I choose to
    present myself to others. I choose to present myself with composure and stature so
    that I can be taken seriously. I believe that if I were to communicate inadequately,
    someone will not take what I am trying to express seriously. They may degrade me
    for simply being an ignorant uneducated nonwhite. I choose to avert such
    discrimination by speaking eloquently and remaining well educated.

    Things that can improve my language and literacy skills is simply reading
    more. I am already an avid reader. During my journey as a voracious reader Ive
    come to the realization that reading can positively affect my vocabulary and my
    reading skills. Reading often has improved my reading speed and my reading
    comprehension. Furthermore, reading has augmented my vocabulary. Prior to
    becoming an avid reader, I would use words that were common of the words
    spoken by a child, however now I am better at communicating my ideas and
    thoughts with less words and with words that are more specific to what I am
    actually trying to say. Another way to improve my language and literacy skills is to
    learn Latin. Latin is the root of many English words. If I were to learn Latin I
    would then learn the etymology of words which can aid to my understanding of
    them and what they mean. Lastly, I will communicate more especially with those
    who I consider intelligent. That way how can learn for how they speak and use
    them as a guide to modify my vernacular.

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