Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Blog Post 1 Fall '11
What are your thoughts on the readings and discussions thus far? Do you think there are multiple languages even within the English language? How does one negotiate between languages they have already acquired, and learning academic and standard languages? Is there a difference between "school" language and "home" language? Do you have to unlearn "home" language to learn "school" language?
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I think the readings and discussions have been very interesting. I don't think they're multiple languages in the English language, but they're different ways of speaking the English language because of the cultural backgrounds people come from. One negotiates between languages because they are similar in many ways, since it's still English. There is a difference between school and home language because some things one says at home, he or she wont say in school and I do not think I have to unlearn home language to learn school language.
ReplyDelete-Emmanuel Concepcion
The readings and discussions are intriguing. I've already learned a a few writing techniques. I don't believe there are multiple languages in the English language, but there are dialects and different lingo used. One negotiates between languages acquired and standard languages by using simple and common words. Yes, there's a difference between "home" and "school" language. You speak a certain way when at home and another when in school. At home you use more slang and elsewhere, such as school, you have more of an educated choice of words. I don't believe you have to unlearn any language, you just have to know the appropriate time to use each.
ReplyDeleteThe readings and discussions are interesting because they are tied with the theme of language. I believe that the English language is broken up into different dialects and changes throughout history. We negotiate between languages by understanding what is being stated and using it correctly. The difference between school language and home language is school language is more proper and formal and home language is more informal. I don't think unlearning home language is necessary to learn school language.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the first few readings were uninteresting and almost difficult to read because of the way they were written, but I liked the last passage we had to read for homework. It was a lot easier to understand because it was well written, had great vocabulary, and it was about something I can relate to. I do believe that there are many languages within English because there are certain words and phrases that could make sense to one specific person or group of people that wouldn't make any sense to anyone outside that group. There are also tons of slang words that people use and even some made up words that consist of parts of standard English words. We can negotiate between languages because in most cases they are still relatively close to standard English and you can figure out what they mean by the words around it. The difference between home language and school language is that in school things are meant to be more proper while at home it is acceptable to be less formal. I don't think it is necessary to unlearn home language because it can almost be used as a step up to the language you learn at school
ReplyDeleteI personally didn't really enjoy the first few readings. They were pretty boring and at times difficult to understand. Although I must say, I did enjoy the last two passages "Spanglish" and "Today's Kids Are, Like, Killing The English Language. Yeah, Right". Both these stories were intriguing to me and also humerus, because there was a lot of truth behind them. I do believe that there is a difference between "school" language and "home" language, home language is a lot more relaxed where as school language is more proper. I don't believe that you have to unlearn "home" language in order to learn "school" language, you simply have to be able to differentiate the two.
ReplyDeleteI think that some of the readings were boring. Discussing what we read helped me understand the readings. To me English is a single language with multiple dialects and accents. As an English and Spanish speaking person I can tell you that at times negotiating both languages can be quite a task, especially when I speak my broken Spanish or should I say "Spanglish". Their definitely is a difference between the language we speak at home versus the language we speak at school. In my home for instance our language is a fusion of Spanish, English and slang. Whereas the English language used in school is more standardized. Every person is unique in his or her own way, and the same thing goes with our language. Therefore we should not unlearn our home language, but instead be able to differentiate between the language you use at home and at school.
ReplyDeleteI never thought discussing english as a language would be as intresting as its been. I've always believed that there are two types of english, the enlish we the young people speak and the one that older people speak. One being abbreviated and having more use of slang, the other with a lot of maturity noticed which would be the adult one. By reading Jones and Baldwin I have realized that there are more than just those. I do believe there are multiple languages in english as Amy Tan spoke about in her short story "Mother Toungue". As for personal expirience there is what some call "spanglish" a mixture of spanish and english. I do think there is a huge difference between home language and school language because you wont speak the same way to your teacher or classmates as you would with your family. But you should'nt unlearn home language to learn school language because one has to mainly do with your culture and the way you where nurtured and the other is only academic. Which in the future should be the one you speak always because if not noone would want to sustain a conversation with an individual who speaks as if he's not his age.
ReplyDeleteI found that the majority of the writings have been interesting so far, and that the discussions in class helped me understand most of the writings thoroughly. I believe that there is multiple languages within the english language because everyone experiences and has different cultures and backgrounds. Therefore many different people use the english language in their own way and may perceive some words differently than others because of how they might translate their language into english. We can negotiate between languages we already acquire and standard/academic languages because many words are similar and sometimes have the same meanings. There is definitely a difference between "school language" and "home language" because at school students must speak proper english and professionally whereas at home many speak in "slang" and unfinished sentences. I believe that you do not need to unlearn "home" language to learn "school" language because "school" language is basically the corrections and spell check to "home" language. There is always a time and place for each language, but everyone should be able to distinguish the two.
ReplyDeleteSo far, my thoughts of the readings are beyond reality and what the world has come to in spite the fact of how others react and how they treat each other because of certain races and languages. I do believe there are more languages within rather than the English language. Learning two different languages is not easy, but you can negotiate with them by acquiring the neccesity to use it when it needs to be used. The difference between school language and home language is that when you are in school you are required to speak as an educated student and for home you speak freely and how you normally speak in a way where the people you speak to understand what you are saying and where your coming from such as your sister or you parents.
ReplyDeleteI think the readings and the discussions thus far is eye opening. The discussions alone actually makes me have to use my brain and i like that. I would have to say yes. There are multiple languages within the human languages. One has to negotiate languages by the place they are in. Meaning if your in school, you will not talk like you are with your friends. That is learned at a young age. I would say to a certain extent there is a different between language at home and language at school. i Dont think you have to unlearn home language to learn school language. You can know both language. But the trick is to know what language to use when yor in certain places.
ReplyDeletebadmon is Roberto Tirado in your freshmen comp class
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ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on the readings we have read are that each piece was different in its own way. Some were similar and some were very different in terms of the way it was written by the author and in terms of who the author was speaking to in whichever the case was. Are there multiple languages in the English language, I don't think so, but I think people have their own way of speaking to one another. One negotiates between different languages on how its interpreted and how they feel about what is said. I think there was a huge difference between school and home language, but now-a-days I think it's sort of been accepted/parents know its our generation. But I still do believe there is a difference in school language and home language definitely. And I know I don't have to unlearn "home" language to learn "school" language.
ReplyDeleteI think the first reading and discussions we've had so far were quite interesting. They all had a different style of writing. I do not believe that there are multiple languages within the English language. I do believe that there are different dialects. everybody has their own way of speaking the English language depending on their backgrounds. We can negotiate the differences between the language we already know and standard languages because it still is English. it just depends on who you are talking or writing to. There is a huge difference between home language and school language. When we use our home language it's normally not proper English and we would not normally use our home language while in school. School language is proper English. I believe you don't unlearn home language in order to learn school language. I think we learn when it's okay to use home language and learn when it's necessary to use school language.
ReplyDeleteAt first english class was confusing and uniteresting to me. Before this class I felt language was jus reading and writing in english!I've learned that that their is more dept, more background and more to understanding the history of language just english. I do believe there are multiple languages in the english language. The english lauguage has evolved and changed over time... Different dialects,cultures,and backgrounds have all contributed to and warped the english language making it wat it is today. To negoiate the use of language one has already acquired, and learning academic and standard language is to realize and diffrenciate the time and place to use and apply them all.Standard and academic langauge play importance in our missions to succeed.How we talk, write,and represent ourselves can be the deal breaker on our futures. Acquired language is usually language we easily understand and use in our comfort zones. The difference between school and home language is school language requires predicate. Proper speech and writing techniques, rules that in everyday life we do not elaborate on nor do we apply. Home launguage is free,comfortable, easy to express and use without prejudice. You dont have to "unlearn" home language to learn school language.You just have to understand that to set aside one at the proper time(home language),you can enhance, broaden,learn more, and further understand the other.Thus what I've learned to begin doing since the start of this class!
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed the readings in class but as for the discussions in class I can say i am not to pleased with. Granted we are all entitled to our own opinions but I find it mind boggling how this era has become so impersonal with so much technology that people aren't even open to enrich themselves with literature. From the readings you understand that there is much more to language. I don't believe there are multiple languages but many types of dialect and accents and lingo's that influence the one language that is English. We are just lucky to be able to express one idea in multiple different ways. I find that awesome because I can personally say from speaking Spanish as a second language that its a bite difficult to express your thoughts in Spanish the way you can in English because there is only a limited amount of ways we have to say something. Where as for English just one word has multiple ways of being said. are daily negotiation is knowing who, what where and when you can speak the way you want to speak. now at days you can speak the same anywhere only thing that matters really is if you respect the environment you are in to speak appropriately.
ReplyDeleteIve enjoyed the readings and discussions cause they had to do with culture and from what time or place the writter is from will effect the literature.i dont believe there is many languages in the english language, but many dialects due to the culture and location of the person and which their culture may have different influences then others. I do believe there is a difference between home language and school language cause theres a time and a place to use both correctly and in the right situation. I do believe you have to unlearn your home language to learn school language, cause if you dont your home language will blend with the school language and make it harder to learn and use correctly.
ReplyDeleteJonathan Eklund
I've found the readings and discussions very informative and that they've given me a better acknowledgment of the historical backgrounds of the languages spoken today. It gave me a understanding that there's more to language than just speaking it and writing it. I don't believe there's multiple languages within the English language, just that it's spoken and influenced differently depending on your background, culture, race or even region. I believe that the negotiation between already acquired and academic and standard languages takes place when you change the type of people you're around or atmosphere. You'd talk differently to someone who's from a high class oriented family than a hard working midle class one. Why, because of the way they were thought the language and the way they were brought up as a child. "Home" language and "school" language will hewlppractice change the way you'll communicate with the different people you'll talk because they're both different, even though their the same language. This could become tricky, but you'll just have to be able to differentiate both languages, een if it's hard task since they're so simliar. It could mean that you'd have to unlearn "home" language because of danger of mixing the two could be. It'll only confuse you and everyone around you.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion most of the readings aren't something I'd normally see myself reading, although I do find that certain parts are interesting. I wouldn't have ever thought of "Black English" and "White English" as a language. I think that they both speak English just a different form of it. I don't believe there's really a different language, I do feel however depending on your origin, where you came from and how you were brought up that you might use other forms of English. You adapt to the change of language depending on where you might be and how you should act, rather then how you want to act. There is much of a difference between your "home" language and your "school" language. At home you're more free to say what you please and more comfortable with what you say. You can speak slang, use inapropriate language and not really be judged by the people around you. At school you're more preserved and alert of what the right thing to say might be. You're more formal and proper with your use of "standard English". I don't think you have to unlearn any language to learn "school" language. At home you can be a completely different person then you are at school, its the way you've been brought up, your culture and like I said before how we as humans adapt or adjust to our surroundings.
ReplyDeleteI actually tried to comment on this 3 times last night, and before I logged off I had seen the comment on the site, luckily I was informed that it hadn't post so I just reblogged what I had wrote.
ReplyDeleteThese writings each have their distinct purposes which clearly I can see. The writings that aren't as entertaining aren't really supposed to be. We're not their audience, such as the letter to the woman's daughter. She doesn't expect freshman in college 300 years later to understancd exactly what she's talking about. However the cell phone study clearly caught my attention considering I'm an avid cell phone user.
ReplyDeleteKristiana Sarro has left a new comment on your post "Blog Post 1 Fall '11":
ReplyDeleteThus far my opinion on the readings are split. Some texts I found to be very dull and incomprehensible due to the time difference in which they were written compared to today's writings.The first piece we read in class, "Letter to Her Daughter" by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, shows a more older, very wordy type of writing. However, other texts, I found quite interesting and understandable. "Today's Kids Are, Like, Killing the English Language. Yeah, Right." by Kirk Johnson, is a perfect example of this. Not only is it structured as most of today's writings it's topic, regarding the language of the next generation, is something almost everyone can relate to.
Not only do I think there are multiple languages within the English language itself, I feel that words or phrases commonly said can soemtimes hold more than one specific meaning. Baldwin wrote a text regarding black English. In his work he expresses his thought that black English is a separate language from the American educational system English, which I find not to be true at all. Yes, blacks do have their own way in speaking, that only one another can understand (as he explains with the way the family members warned one another), but where did the words come from? It's not a different dialect nor does it have different grammar rules, if any grammar at all. It's simply a spin off of the traditional American educational system English. Which brings me to my next point. Not only did they borrow from the American educational system English but white Americans borrowed from them. In his writing he uses the word "Jazz" as a perfect example. For black Americans this word has a very strong sexual context but for white Americans they used this word to refer to a time period, the Jazz Age. Many cultures feel they have created their own "language" and sometimes feel others are trying to "steal" it from them. However, this is not the case. Americans all speak, or should speak, the English language, meaning dialect. We all borrow different words and phrases to make the language fit us as well as our lifestyle better, but this isn't creating another language it's just a cultures own version of slang.
"Home" language and "school" language do vary quite some amount. "Home" language or the way one would speak to a friend is very informal and laid back. While "school" language or the American educational system English is much more proper, structured and on point. Both languages are a very useful tool to know and use. Walking into a job interview one wouldn't say, "Yo, what's up man?" Not only would that person be judged right away, it wouldn't be a good judgement. The employer may think the person is poorly educated or rude and not want this kind of representation. This language would be appropriate when hanging out with friends at the movies or someones home where the environment is more relaxed and free. In this case the American educational system of English would be the best approach. Not only would the employer feel one is highly educated, but they would love to have them representing them as well as their company. It makes them look better.
No has to negotiate between the different languages. They just need to know when and where which language is appropriate and correct
Kristiana's comment did not post correctly, so I've posted it for her.
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ReplyDeleteI have really been enjoying the readings and class discussions on different english interpretations and different uses of dialect. My initial approach to this topic was "Well, how could there be more than one way to speak english? If there were, it wouldn't technically be the same language." But after reading Baldwin and Jones's points of view on black and white english and different types of dialect used throughout generations, it's opened my mind to what the meaning of the english language is. I've learned that languages are developed over time from different generations of dialect that changes from generation to generation. I think history and language coincide with each other. To really understand ones history, one could study the language used during that time, and vise versa. When it comes to "school" english and "home english, they differ tremendously. One wouldn't go up to their professor and say "Yo, what's good how's it going?" Your professor would look at you and think you've mistaken them for your friend or brother or sister. School language consists of a more sophisticated and respectful tone, and a much more intelligent use of language. One doesn't necessarily have to unlearn the other, but simply to know when to switch them on and off.
-Nicole Esan
Nicole's comment did not post, so I've posted it for her.