English.....Globalized!

Did you ever think that one language would have so much power internationally? I for sure didn’t even know that English existed in all nations. I am amazed that English has been the main way for communication throughout all of our countries. I am not a techie or into business so that probably explains so of my naiveness.

The English language is global; so many people are adapting this language and will no doubt make it the “lingua franca,” or the universal language. What does this mean to our language, in general?  If everyone is speaking it, will it all be the same English language? Is a native born speaker from California going to speak and understand English the same as an English speaking man from Japan? The answer is, most likely, NO. So how is this globalization of English going to change our language? There is no doubt that there is an impact on English as a language, but how much of an impact is the question. English has already different ways of speaking it, right? In the states, we basically have variations ranging from the north and south; New Yorkers, Texans, even California has our own a style of the English language. Slang was not part of the English language when our nation started speaking it. Some slang words, I remember, you couldn’t even find in the dictionary. (I never did like SCRABBLE that much after I found that truth out.) So my point is that the English language has not been original for a long time, and yes, we still have our rules and structure, but hasn’t the necessary of that even depleted a little through time? I do think we need this structure in our English language, and without it, are we going to understand it the same way? As we learn about English, our primary goal is the get our English structures correct so we can effectively portray what we want to say, either in speech or writing. Proper English is essential in writing, and I think it always will be. Speaking, on the other hand, is a challenge for both natives and non-natives to communicate with each other. Different body languages have multiple meanings across the globe, so what there to say that English words won’t have different meanings or multiple meanings in other countries. It’s no longer American’s language, it’s everyone’s now. Every country makes the language their own; interpreting it in their own fitting ways. English may be the way of science, computers, business, politics, and the way of the world, yet, who’s English is it? The evolution of the English language is a constant change, but I think English may be the best way of building a stronger nation. It is exciting to see so many people and cultures wanting to embrace into one main language, but I wonder if later in time, are languages like Spanish and Latin still exist? Language evolution creates problems and misunderstanding, obviously, so I think both natives and foreigners will have to tolerate and learn the ever-changing, English.

Author's Good Advice!!

Writing has always been somewhat difficult for me, until now. In the past, I don’t even recall some of these tips mentioned to me regarding the writing process.  A couple of essays that I have read recently will hopefully help with my writing technique in the future.  When it comes to the writing process, the first thing I think of is that I could do better at paying attention to my reader’s needs and wants. Linda Flower’s essay, “Writing for an Audience”, really makes me realize that I do have an audience, the reader. Flower writes, “The goal of a writer is to create a momentary common ground between the reader and the writer.” Honestly, I don’t think I have ever written for my reader; I mostly write for the purpose of looking and sounding good. Wow, what a lesson. Thinking about it now, readers do need to be interested in what their reading or it’s boring, right? (Memo to self: Work on this!)

Another essay I found enlightening was Patricia T. O’Conner’s, “Saying Is Believing”. She addresses thirteen principles or rules to follow while writing, and I’m totally guilty of disobeying a couple of them; maybe even more than I’d like to admit. For the sake of this blog, I will advise you of my common mistakes. The first and second rule in this essay intertwines, I think. In the first rule she states not to cushion your point, “the reader is ready. So get to it.” I think she makes a great point. I often feel like I need an introduction for my point to come across clearly, but evidently, I don’t. The other point she makes in rule two is to stop when you’ve said it, in other words, don’t beat around the bush, so to speak. Guilty! This creates more words and fills the paper up faster, right? Well, so I guess this is a great tip for me for my future writing projects. In some cases, like personal intro and opinion papers, it is really hard not to use the words “I”, “me”, or “my” too much. (By the way, I have been really trying not to use them in this blog.) It’s very difficult not to write this way, yet I do think it’s consciously possible. O’Conner titles this rule,” Don’t make yourself the center of the universe”.

I’ve save the most beneficial essay to me for last. Tips from this essay, I think, will help me a lot.  Anne Lamott writes about getting started on the writing process and gives helpful tips on how to stay on track in your writing. She has it right when she comments that the “biggest challenge is simply getting started” with writing. Her tip is to sit down at the same time every day and write; this supposedly trains your brain better. It’s worth trying, in my opinion. Distractions are the worst; it disrupts my creative vibe, especially when I’m on a roll. Now it’s really hard to get started when you have “Nurse Ratched” on your mind, so Lamott suggests that you clear your mind and focus. She suggests that you hold an imaginary gun to your head and make yourself stay at your desk in order to accomplish this. In past times of writing, I wish I had that piece of advice to consider. Now I know some tricks of the trade, so future papers watch out, I will now write you better (I will try anyways)!

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor                                                                                                                            May 1851


I have just witnessed an amazing sight at the women’s convention in Akron, Ohio yesterday, and I am writing you to share the wonderful outlook on women suffrage in the eyes of Sojourner Truth. My eyes were in disbelief when I saw a woman of color approach the podium standing at least six feet with arms that look that they belong to a man. She kept asking, “Aren’t I a woman?”She made some pretty good points, you know? Why are we treated so differently? Do we really need men to help us through puddles; are we that weak that we can’t do it on our own? Women rights and the rights of colored have been an issue always but Truth has lifted up her voice to be known that she too is a woman, and that takes guts. It is true that this could have gotten her killed, yet the cheering and clapping was powerful. And why are men superior to women? A man tries to explain this notion by telling Truth that “Christ wasn’t a man.” Her brilliant comment back to him was, “Where did your Christ come from?” She preceded telling that man had nothing to do with Christ; he came from woman and God. You should have seen his face; it was a victory for the eyes of women everywhere. At the ending of her speech, Truth made a great comparison and observation about the world as it has been at the beginning. She states that “if the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down, all alone, these together (we women in the crowd) ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side up again…” My favorite part of it is when she concluded it with, “now they are asking to do it, the men better let them.” What a great day for women, and hopefully the days are near that women like Truth can join us women in the fight for equality! It was a day of encouragement and rejoices, for we have seen the power that one woman was able to give. We now have a voice and we will stop for nothing but pure equality.

There is a possibly that all I’ve written to you, you may still not understand the feeling of pride I found in this courageous woman. After seeing her stand up there in front of all those people, and so confident asking for respect, it was amazing and just what we women needed. So I give you this to contemplate, whether you are for us or against us, we are coming strong to fight for equality. So when you lay next to your wife, think of her happiness when she has the choice of her own destiny. Your daughters could grow in a new age of equality and choices due to the truth and voice of Sojourner Truth. I write this comment to inform you of a new wave that is going to sweep the nation! Thank you for your valuable time.

Sincerely,

Ms. Butterfield

Communication issues

When I was in sixth grade I can remember having to be excused from English class once a week to go to the speech office. I had speech therapy for a couple months during that year; evidentially my English teacher was tired of correcting my speech impediment. Well come to find out, I slurred and couldn’t pronoun certain letters correctly. My letter S and Z were slurred and were cut off in some words, for example, the word “specific” was pacific to me, and “zebra” was pronounced sebra. I’m not really sure if the therapy helped or not because I still have a awful time saying “specific,” but I think I do have the “z” words down! As I got into high school, things got a little more complicated. I recall a lot of people asking me where I came from, and I still get asked that frequently by my patients. I grew up in California but evidentially I had an accent. This “accent” gave me a lot trouble due to having to repeat or talk slower to either my classmate or just people listening to me. I don’t really remember that issue with my parents, but they were around me constantly so they were used to it. It wasn’t until then, that my communication issues were quite noticeable and inconvenient. I had always known in the back of my head that it was a problem, but as a teenager I was against doing anything about it. As a baby I had yellow jaundice, and as a result of it, my hearing was severely damage; well, so I’ve been told. Throughout my childhood I’m sure I missed out on a lot of things, like the correct ways of pronouncing things, and my so called “accent” is not an accent at all. Communication is a little easier now that I am older and, thanks to my ex husband, I now wear a hearing aid. Even though I can hear better now, I can still recall the feeling of confusion and displacement as a child trying to be involved in classroom activities. I can recall many recesses that I was made fun of and picked on, called “dummy” or “retard.” Now that I have been trying to look into my past, I don’t even think my teachers liked me. I clapped erasers a few times after class and I read out loud a lot, more than my fair share; I think that might have been my English class, that teacher gave me a hard time. I was told later in life by people that knew me well, that I act snobbish to other. People would ask me a question without getting my full attention and I would not reply or answer their questions; so to say the least I never really had too many friends. I now am very aware of my communication obstacles so I try to be very conscious of what is going on around me, yet that doesn’t change the emotional and silent scaring of my unheard communication as a child.