Have you ever been mistreated based on the way you talk? Have you known anyone who has? Why do you think people maintain distinct ways of speaking even if they might be mistreated for it?
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While I personally cannot recall a moment in time where I was mistreated based on the way I talk, there is a vivid childhood memory that has stayed with me. This memory involves my babysitter, an older woman from Puerto Rico who only spoke Spanish. One day, as she was at the supermarket, a distressing incident unfolded. A young boy kicked her to the ground, vehemently demanding that she start speaking English. The consequences were severe: she fell on her face, resulting in a broken chin and nose. Given her age, she had to be hospitalized, and when I finally had the opportunity to visit her, her frail body was covered in painful bruises.
This haunting incident underscores the resilience of maintaining distinct ways of speaking, even in the face of potential mistreatment. It serves as a poignant reminder that language is often far more than just a means of communication; it is a profound connection to one’s cultural roots. People are willing to endure such mistreatment because their language is a distinct way to anchor themselves to their origins, a testament to where they come from.
Language, in this context, assumes the role of a powerful tool for preserving cultural identity. It embodies the traditions, values, and heritage of a community, serving as a living link to their past. As a result, individuals and communities are unwavering in their commitment to preserving their distinct ways of speaking, as it encapsulates the essence of who they are and where they belong. It is a testament to the enduring power of language as a source of cultural pride and connection to one’s roots.
This is a very powerful post, Chayanne. Thank you! I think you have hit the nail on the head, as they say, in that language is more than just communication and signals. It is culture, it is familiarity, and it is belonging. Thanks for sharing.
I have been mistreated based on the way I speak. My family and I came to this country when I was five years old from Panama. In those times, ELA courses in Texas for foreigners did not exist. I learned English by watching TV, speaking to friends, and go to catholic school program to learn English. I retained the first grade due to my lack of understanding of the English language. When I finally bridged the language barrier, I had to get my parents up to par as I was the translator due to my siblings being older and away from the house. My parents speak Spanish and an English patois that sounds Jamaican. For a little history lesson, when the Panama Canal was being constructed, Panama brought immigrants from the Caribbean to build the canal hence the reason for the two languages. Not to mention, Panamanian schools teach English as part of the school’s curriculum. It was a foreign idea to anyone in Texas at the time as my parents look African American but didn’t speak any English and so most of their friends were Mexican immigrants. I was teased by kids for the way my parents spoke, how I spoke, and typically weird things about our culture that they did not understand. I was called black Mexican, Speedy Gonzales/Slowpoke Rodriguez, etc. until I grew up and could defend myself physically and verbally.
Texas at the time was not as diverse as New York City, but as time progressed our traditions didn’t change and the scope my friends stretch across many boundaries as I was becoming better at communicating in English and Spanish. Being bilingual gave me and my parents an edge later in life as we could communicate and hold many positions as bilingual translators despite the mistreatment for being afro Latino. My parents have been through many obstacles in this country as immigrants, and we are able to help others overcome their fears based on our past experiences, so it was well worth this journey in the end. Now, the newer generations make fun of us and tell us to speak English instead of Spanish, but we know better.
This is such an interesting and relevant post. I think it is important that you see and understand the power of your bilingualism (and it really is a power!) It’s also clear from this post that you understand how experience shapes our perspectives on language…how we value it. This is a very important contribution. Thank you!
I’ve never been mistreated because of the way I speak and I cannot recall anyone telling me about one. think a big reason why people would be and are treated differently is classism. I think it would be simple to say “racism” and that is also probably true, some people may attach the way one speaks/talks to how they were raised, upbringing, etc. A proper “way” of speaking and then everything else is the “wrong” way. This actually reminds me of the article/study for this week’s reading about the school in Senegal. But aren’t racism and classism(in an American context) closely intertwined, if not two sides of the same coin?
I think all of the “isms” often co-exist. I do think they are very much intertwined in the American context. I think that is an astute observation.
I believe most people can’t help but sounds different from a language perspective. I have been mistreated, and treated well for the way I speak. My girlfriend’s family, who’s first language is Spanish, were born and raised in the Bronx. They do not like the way I speak. I’ve been told by them that I sound too “Proper”, “Scripted”, and “Like a therapist” when all I’m doing is speaking in my natural inflection and saying the thoughts that appear in my head.
I’ve been mistreated for “being an American” and having that accent while traveling overseas. It made me not want to ask for directions, or participate in the day to day life of the place I was in. I did my best to research and learn the common phrases in the countries I visited, which is why I tend to show a lot of kindness and respect to people who have an accent and struggle with English here in America. A lot of people tend not to change their language, accents, and how they speak because they want to hold onto their roots, and they should. English can be difficult to fully grasp. Our differences is what makes individual experiences so fun and unique.
Interesting response. What do you mean by the first sentence?
As someone who does not have English as their main primarily language, I do see the difference that sometimes might happen regarding how people will approach you. Luckily, I did not get a bad experience in America so far for having a bit of an accent, or the beginning of my last 3 years here, that came with a bit of difficulty on my part on how to express myself better. I found myself surrounded by really thoughtful people, who gave me the opportunity of learning and evolving my vocabulary through speaking and writing. But I have found that usually have accents are definitely seen differently than a native speaker depending on the person.
We can be defined by our accents, and by the misconception that we don’t really speak the language that well. Most people try to get rid of their accent due to this, with the goal to sound like a native. I used to think that I should not have an accent at all, but that changed completely when I met multiple people in New York that shared the same experience as me regarding learning a new language or mastering it. I found that having an accent represents uniqueness. It represents our way of speaking, and also the certainty that the person might speak another language as well, which should valorized.
It’s good that you seem to have been around some very supportive people! Thanks for sharing.
Have you ever been mistreated based on the way you talk? Have you known anyone who has? Why do you think people maintain distinct ways of speaking even if they might be mistreated for it?
I have never been mistreated based on the way I talk. Unfortunately, I went out to eat with someone I am no longer in contact with, thankfully, and when the waiter came over and had a difficult time speaking english, the person I was with got annoyed and started blabbing about how “…when people move to this country, they should learn to speak english. My family did it and there’s no reason everyone shouldn’t”. It was jaw-dropping and repulsive. We were in a well-known spanish-speaking neighborhood, and we could both easily communicate with the server in spanish as well. Also, he spoke english at first, it was just difficult with so much pressure from the nasty energy of the person I was with. I think people maintain distinct ways of speaking despite mistreatment because the strength of culture and the benefits and support found within cultural communities outweighs the mistreatment by ignorant, arrogant people. I also think people maintain distinct ways of speaking because it is usually extremely challenging to alter one’s accent without intense, constant practice, especially as an adult.
Yes. This is a good response. Thank you for posting.
Fortunately, I was born in America so I picked up English as my first language. I didn’t realize the importance of cultural values until I became a teenager and developed interest and curiosities in my cultural background. I wasn’t able to speak mandarin and fujianese as well as other Chinese people but they didn’t make fun of me either, just considered me as more “Americanized”. I didn’t see it as a bad thing but I decided to learn to speak it better and to work on my accent. I believe that people maintain their distinct ways of speaking because they want to be a part of their culture. It is very important to understand where you’re from, especially family.
Do you have specific events from your life experiences that can illustrate this?
I haven’t necessarily been mistreated based on the way I talk. I would say though, in New York, I have been made fun of a bit for not knowing slang words or for having very proper English. While slang words are definitely used where I’m from (Colorado), there are many differences between the slang words used here and when I first moved to the city I didn’t know many. It’s been three years and I am still learning new ones every day!
I have seen people being made fun of for the way they speak, whether it be because of an accent or because they are foreigners and don’t know all the correct grammar that the English language has. It is a difficult language to learn with many words sounding similar but that have different meanings so it makes sense that someone who doesn’t have English as their first language would have a difficult time. Luckily, here I think because it is such a diverse place, people seem to be less judgmental about the way others speak. I also think people are proud of where they’re from so they will keep speaking the way they were raised to and not be influenced by mainstream trends.
I haven’t been mistreated based on the way I speak, but I have witnessed it. Not everyone will speak the same as others. Or some slang that is said here has a different definition in different places of the earth. I’m from the Dominican Republic, I grew up here in the U.S, but my mother and father always had problems reading or writing or speaking English. We had a dentist appointment. It came to the time where my mother had to speak to the doctor. He proceeded to laugh in her face. From there on , my mother has never let me or my siblings correct her English or laugh at her English. I would call this mistreatment due to the fact that that laugh really made my mother feel insecure about her English. Making her quit on learning English.
I think people do maintain distinct ways of speaking even if they might be mistreated for it by looking for someone they race and speaking to them. That is where the race and language relationship comes in. If I am new to the U.S and I need help on something, either directions in the train, I won’t stop a person who might not know the language I speak back home. Instead I would stop someone who will try to understand me or someone who looks like they speak my language. Judging a book by the cover with this one. But back to the point, I strongly believe that people have distinct ways of speaking because of the fear of someone not understanding them and making them feel really dull witted.