Being born and raised in Conyers, Georgia, I have always been surrounded by the southern English language. My mom is from Tennessee and my dad is from Texas. I don't think I have a heavy southern accent, but I do catch myself sometimes drawing out my vowels and I do say y'all a lot. All of my family speak English and have lived in the south all of their lives. I am accustomed to and have grown comfortable around the southern English.
Three or four years ago, my family moved off of our fifty acre farm in Conyers and into a subdivision. It was strange getting used to only living on 2 acres and having neighbors. As time went on, I began to recognize the different cultural backgrounds of the families living in my neighborhood. We have Asian, French, Brazilian, and Indian. My neighborhood only consists of about five streets, so I was surprised to discover this many nationalities in such a small area. My immediate next door neighbor is from Brazil and speaks Portuguese. They have five year old triplets and they love to come over and watch our dog play in our background. While they are visiting, I have noticed that whenever the mom is getting onto one or all of the triplets, she speaks their native tongue of Portuguese, but whenever we are casually talking with them, she speaks in English to them. It's made me realize how they are only five, yet they already know two different languages. Sure, they don't know perfect English yet or how to spell things or the rules of grammar, but from being surrounded by both Portuguese and English speaking people, they have picked up on both languages. My three year old niece is taught Spanish on a weekly basis by someone who comes into her daycare center in Alpharetta and speaks Spanish to them. It hit me while I was having dinner with her one time, that she knew probably more Spanish than I did since she just started randomly spitting out Spanish words and broke out into song about the different colors in Spanish. This is something that I wish I had taken advantage of when I was younger, and even in high school. I wish I had been taught at a younger age the difference between languages. I feel like if you start off with learning these things at a younger age then you will remember them better. Some people can just pick up different languages easily. My oldest sister know Pharsee, Spanish, some french and Italian, and of course English. For her, picking up different languages is a hobby that she enjoys. I on the other hand, have trouble speaking perfect English and the little Spanish that I remember from the three years I took it in high school. I enjoy listening to other languages and accents and wish that learning different languages came easier to me. With all the different languages though, it just goes to show that no matter where you are from or how you speak, there is still a great need for communication between individuals.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Language controversies
From the moment I was born I was exposed to a tongue different to my own. With my mother’s parents both originating from Poland, I have been able to witness first hand the differences between languages. One of my biggest regrets so far in life was not to learn Polish at a decent level; my grandparents and mother have all taught me some basics of the language but I never really took too much interest in pursuing a higher understanding. I just wish that I’d made the effort so that I could have talked to my grandmother in her native tongue before she passed away because I knew of the difficulties she had with grasping English when she immigrated to England in 1957. If I go with my granddad to see his friends I also have regret as I would love to join in with their conversations and hear their tales. I also believe my granddad would be even prouder of me if I could talk to him in Polish. Writing this essay gives me added determination to learn more of the language so I can learn more about their culture.
In the two weeks I have lived in the USA I have already experienced the differences between our English languages. Confusion has arisen from even the simplest of words or phrases. For example during soccer practice, when we first got told to bring our cleats and pinnies with us, the European section of the squad did not understand what we were being asked of. After some discussion between the squad, we realized that we were being asked to bring our soccer boots and bibs. This shows that even though we both talk English, there is a world of difference between ‘British English’ and ‘American English’.
My English accent has also attracted much interest, as people on campus seem to take more notice or an interest in me when they hear me talk. This has probably given me an advantage in making friends with people as classmates seem more eager to make conversation with me, leading to friendships being made easier.
In the two weeks I have lived in the USA I have already experienced the differences between our English languages. Confusion has arisen from even the simplest of words or phrases. For example during soccer practice, when we first got told to bring our cleats and pinnies with us, the European section of the squad did not understand what we were being asked of. After some discussion between the squad, we realized that we were being asked to bring our soccer boots and bibs. This shows that even though we both talk English, there is a world of difference between ‘British English’ and ‘American English’.
My English accent has also attracted much interest, as people on campus seem to take more notice or an interest in me when they hear me talk. This has probably given me an advantage in making friends with people as classmates seem more eager to make conversation with me, leading to friendships being made easier.
Language Controversies
Blog Post One
Matthew Peeler
Over the entire course of my life I have been exposed to the language that most of us grew up speaking, the language that goes by the name of English. English is typically a very elegantly and fluently spoken language that many people in our nation speak. In my family however, it is not necessarily the most elegant or fluent of languages. It all starts for me with my parents who naturally learned "our language" from their parents. With this being the case, I would say it is logical to call this language a family tradition. With my mother growing up in a rural farm town in southeast Georgia and my father growing up in the rural area of Henry County, it makes sense to assume I get my southern slur from my beloved family. From my family I get words and phrases that would be considered by most English teachers horrendous and completely unacceptable in the English language such as "ya'll", "whatcha need", "be there in a sec", and many others that are truly part of the "Southern English" language. Though these phrases are not always the most logical sounding words to say, they are and always will be a part of the language I am proud to speak.
Having a southern draw has its advantages along with its disadvantages with both circumstances being a part of my schooling experience. I have been sitting in many English classes when some of my "Southern English" has been spoken and needless to say, there were many times where I was too scared to repeat what I said. There has also been a number of situations where I would be in the middle of an English assignment and catch myself writing down one of these "Southern English" phrases. As any good student would do, I quickly erased this very illogical sounding mistake with the fears of what my English teacher may have to say about this particular choice of words. Even though it sounds like there is nothing good about speaking "Southern English", there are some advantages to speaking this unique language. One being the fact that you get noticed because of your slur when you visit a new place. This first week at Young Harris has been one of those types of experiences. With the "language" I speak, I have been given the nickname of "Big Country" by many of my fellow classmates. This has been quite a funny experience as many people do not even know my birth name but know me simply as "Big Country".
This week has been a very interesting experience from the aspect of learning other "languages" as well. Just in this first week I have had the pleasure of speaking with people from Germany, England, Portugal, and the African Coast. This college, not to even mention this world, is a truly diverse place where everyone is different. Though many of us share the common language of English, we all speak our "own language" and that is what makes this world the great place that it is.
In high school I studied both English and Spanish. Since English is my primary language, I took speaking fluent English for granted; however studying deeper into the English dialect gave me a new respect for my complex language. From the new complexity of English I learned the basics of Spanish. In today's society it is necessary for us U.S. citizens to learn Spanish because so many hispanic immigrants are flooding into the United States. School has taught me many different ways to approach the English language. My array of teachers each expanded my knowledge and terminology. For example, my tenth grade Literature teacher was a very intelligent young man. He would make us do weekly activities that would help further our vocabulary. Whenever we would read was when his teachings helped me most because of all the practice he made us repeat every week. Then my eleventh grade year I had a different teacher by the name of Mr. Stevens who was a very ingenious man. Every day it was a ritual for his vernacular to be very advanced if you will. He would try and further our vocabulary by making himself say big words every time he spoke. Even now when I see his blogs on facebook I am astonished by the way he uses words and what words he uses. Of coarse he was a professor at University of Georgia so that explains why. He alone broadened my mind and vocabulary just because it seemed natural to me every day when I was in school. As natural as it is for us to use simple non-complex words, we should try and use more advanced words because maybe it will help one day with whatever occupation we have. The teachers I have had not have only educated me with words but also taught me how to use them and use them correctly. It just showed me how much we really should appreciate our language and not take it for granted.
Carol Raterman
English 1101: “Language Controversies”
Dr. Hughes
Week 1, Day 3 Blog
I have been exposed to a little bit of many different languages. English is my main language and is the language my family speaks in our house. Although English is my main language, my dad has traveled around the world with his job and teaches us a little bit of what he learns from every place that he has been. It is very important to my family to try to learn and understand person’s language because that is way to get to know a person better. As I learned a little bit of each language from my dad’s trips, it would allow me to be able to say thank you at a Chinese restaurant in Chinese and the people working there would think it was impressive I knew how to say thank you in Chinese.
Twice every week in class at my elementary and middle school, we would have Spanish class to help us learn Spanish and more about the Spanish language. In high school, I had a Spanish class everyday. In elementary school, we learned everything from the letters, numbers and food to how to have a conversation with someone. If someone wanted to have a conversation with me in Spanish, I would be able to start a conversation by asking them how they are doing, but not very much more. When I was taking classes everyday I was able to have a longer conversation with a person.
Although English is not my best subject because I do not like the grammar and everything, I do enjoy writing stories. I like just making up random stories or stories inspired by my life or what I see in everyday life.
Both, my mom and dad, a majority of their family live up in Ohio. I have noticed over the past 18 years that we people from Georgia and people from Ohio have different accents and say words differently. In the south, I have always called any carbonated beverage a “Coke”. In the north, any carbonated beverage is a “pop”. When we are all hanging out together, we have come to an agreement to call the carbonated beverage a “soda”.
English 1101: “Language Controversies”
Dr. Hughes
Week 1, Day 3 Blog
I have been exposed to a little bit of many different languages. English is my main language and is the language my family speaks in our house. Although English is my main language, my dad has traveled around the world with his job and teaches us a little bit of what he learns from every place that he has been. It is very important to my family to try to learn and understand person’s language because that is way to get to know a person better. As I learned a little bit of each language from my dad’s trips, it would allow me to be able to say thank you at a Chinese restaurant in Chinese and the people working there would think it was impressive I knew how to say thank you in Chinese.
Twice every week in class at my elementary and middle school, we would have Spanish class to help us learn Spanish and more about the Spanish language. In high school, I had a Spanish class everyday. In elementary school, we learned everything from the letters, numbers and food to how to have a conversation with someone. If someone wanted to have a conversation with me in Spanish, I would be able to start a conversation by asking them how they are doing, but not very much more. When I was taking classes everyday I was able to have a longer conversation with a person.
Although English is not my best subject because I do not like the grammar and everything, I do enjoy writing stories. I like just making up random stories or stories inspired by my life or what I see in everyday life.
Both, my mom and dad, a majority of their family live up in Ohio. I have noticed over the past 18 years that we people from Georgia and people from Ohio have different accents and say words differently. In the south, I have always called any carbonated beverage a “Coke”. In the north, any carbonated beverage is a “pop”. When we are all hanging out together, we have come to an agreement to call the carbonated beverage a “soda”.
As the daughter of two service technicians, those are the people that come to your house when you have a problem with your phone or Internet, for Bell South, now AT&T, language, communication, and any problems that arise with those have always been a huge part of my life. My parents lived and worked in Miami for over 15 years, and they were exposed to just about every different accent, dialect, and language while there. They always brought home stories about who they met, and then they attempted to mimic that person's way of talking. My mother now claims to be an expert on knowing where a person is from after just hearing them speak. My parents' interest, and amusement, in different languages has given me the foundations to really admire all sorts of accents and have respect for people who don't speak the same as me.
Due to the fact that Miami has a large Cuban population my dad picked up some basic words and taught them to me and my sister as we were growing up. This piqued my interest for the Spanish language, and once I started high school, I knew I wanted to take Spanish classes. I started my freshman year with Spanish 1, then continued to Spanish 2, 3, and then senior year I took AP Spanish. What a delight that was! Taking those Spanish courses gave me an appreciation for people who speak multiple languages and it also let me know that English is one of the hardest languages to learn, which makes me feel lucky that it is my first language. In addition to taking the AP Spanish language course my senior year, I took Advanced Composition. I had no idea that I would stand so much writing. I'm glad that I took it last year because it really helped me get past any big problems I had with writing about many different subjects and in many different formats. Advanced Composition showed me how to enjoy writing, even if I don't enjoy what I'm writing about. School has definitely shaped the way I feel about languages in all forms.
When preparing to start this chapter of my life at YHC, I realized that I would probably come in contact with quite a few people with heavy southern accents. What I didn't realize was how quickly I would pick those accents up. I already find myself putting a twang on my vowels. The best part of the language in this part of the world is talking with someone who has lived here their whole life. On Monday, two service men came into my dorm room to fix the bathroom door. When they were done, one of the men asked to borrow my broom, but it sounded like he asked if he could borrow my brain! That was probably the funniest experience I have ever had with misunderstanding someone's accent, but I look forward to having many more of those experiences throughout my life.
Due to the fact that Miami has a large Cuban population my dad picked up some basic words and taught them to me and my sister as we were growing up. This piqued my interest for the Spanish language, and once I started high school, I knew I wanted to take Spanish classes. I started my freshman year with Spanish 1, then continued to Spanish 2, 3, and then senior year I took AP Spanish. What a delight that was! Taking those Spanish courses gave me an appreciation for people who speak multiple languages and it also let me know that English is one of the hardest languages to learn, which makes me feel lucky that it is my first language. In addition to taking the AP Spanish language course my senior year, I took Advanced Composition. I had no idea that I would stand so much writing. I'm glad that I took it last year because it really helped me get past any big problems I had with writing about many different subjects and in many different formats. Advanced Composition showed me how to enjoy writing, even if I don't enjoy what I'm writing about. School has definitely shaped the way I feel about languages in all forms.
When preparing to start this chapter of my life at YHC, I realized that I would probably come in contact with quite a few people with heavy southern accents. What I didn't realize was how quickly I would pick those accents up. I already find myself putting a twang on my vowels. The best part of the language in this part of the world is talking with someone who has lived here their whole life. On Monday, two service men came into my dorm room to fix the bathroom door. When they were done, one of the men asked to borrow my broom, but it sounded like he asked if he could borrow my brain! That was probably the funniest experience I have ever had with misunderstanding someone's accent, but I look forward to having many more of those experiences throughout my life.
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