I think the only reason prejudice exists is because we conditioned, not only in this country, but in many others, that there is a “right” or “wrong” when viewing people. Every culture is structured with a set of social guidelines that helps it’s members to be apart of the community. Every group is their own “gatekeeper”, in the sense that a person within a particular group considers another as, “In or Out”. This comes partially from the fact that human beings are naturally inclined to affiliate with others like themselves. However, in the United States, this notion is taken to the extreme. Whether it is on some T.V show or advertising, there is an obsessive emphasis on being “In”. We are encouraged to have the “right” things in order to be the “right” person. And what if we’re not the “right” person, are we the “wrong” person? When this type of “A or B” platform of judgment is used, it forces us to compartmentalize people in the most superficial form. We are encouraged to compete with others, implying that we are either ahead or behind another. We preach about our diversity but many strive to conform. Why? If we, as a whole nation really valued diversity in all of its facets, prejudice would not exist. I think it would be helpful for every group to look at other groups in a more anthropological way. What I mean by this in the simplest way is: Each person uses language in a way that is meaningful to them, therefore it is appropriate regardless of outside judgment.
Maybe I am more of a prescriptivist, maybe you are more of a descriptivist, or maybe you speak a dialect in which I completely don’t understand…and that’s OK. Respect does not just come from affiliation, it comes from diversity.

prescriptions in language

Prescriptions in languages.



From my own experience and background, because I’m myself a linguist in

Slovenian languages I’m a prescriptionist and prefer a correct using of languages. I don’t

think that is a big secret that our speech and writing reflect the intellectual development

and cultural level. If you want to know somebody more closely just try to analyze the

way how a person expresses his ideas. The correct language with a great, colorful

rich lexicon and correct grammar will tell you that you talk with educated and intellectual

opponent. However, poor lexicon, jargonisms with negative expression on semantical,

phonological and lexical layers can tell you a lot about that person. Uneducated, not

open-minded, sometimes with mental disorders in the cases of pathological linguistical

defects. Usually educated people very carefully choose the tools for communications and

information. Because, language is our reflection as a mirror of our souls. The great

science as a neirolingustical programming can describes the different methodological

pathways for explaining such kinds of phenomena as non-normative language. Usually

even on phonological level the messages, which we sent for our recipients contains not

just clear messages, but also give the statements and commands for mind (the sound’s

waives of Shuchardt).

So the using of the correct language with rich and positive emotional expressions

is the key for psychological wellbeing. Especially it is very important for children.

Because intellectual developing depends on different issues and as adults we suppose to

help to develop mental abilities of the children. In any genealogy of every language we

keep all mental, mythological experience and our expression toward that world. And than
more rich and expressive language we use than more high intellectual abilities we have.

Ethnography of Speaking

Hi Everyone,

This post has a simple request and a more complicated one. First, I want to be sure that you read the Ethnography of Speaking reading. To that end, please make a comment on what you found interesting about either the Pentecostal church meeting example or the Papau New Guinea example of the kros. This can be brief.

Then, to practice the mnemonic device that we will use in the Language Analysis #2, I'd like to ask you to do a real quick ethnographic analysis of our classroom speech situation. We looked at this very briefly today when we talked about 'respect' and how it is shown in our classroom--that fit under "N"--norms of interaction.

So, what I'd like you to do is use the mnemonic device--SPEAKING--and analyze a speech event that takes place in the speech situation that is our class. Then, comment on one interesting element that you have uncovered via that device. Remember, this may be hard since you are participants in this speech situation and what is a socio-cultural expectation may seem 'just natural' to you. Try to step outside of your assumptions and look at it from an observer's angle.

Please do a new post by Sunday at midnight, then comment on two other posts by Tuesday before class.

Thanks,
Tiffany

Prejudice

well talking about Prejudice, many people think about a race, more comminly about the black culture. but what I want to talk about is more at home, I have a friend who is physically disabled and she told me that sometimes when she gets in the elevator with her chair people get mad becauce she wont find another way to get where she needs to go, and because her chair takes up a lot of room they have to either take the stares, or wait for the next elevator.
there is a prejudice there for the physically disabled many people don't stop to think that they are people too with feelings and a brain. if society on a whole would change their out look on people who are different then we would see a change.
people are just people, it doesn't mattere if we are white black or brown or physically disabled.
physically disabled people are only handycapped when they allow themselves to be.
I think there is way to much prejudice in this world and I for one am going to change.

Discrimination

I hate discrimination but discrimination is every where around the world today. When ever you get a group of people that is different from another group of people then most likely they will discriminate each other. They will make up "racial slurs" or slander against one another. For example look at all the Asian countries most of them don't like one another. If you called a Chinese guy Korean then he would be offended and take it as an insult. So I believe discrimination will never stop, although racial slurs might change over time they will still have the same hateful meaning associated with it.

I would consider myself to be more in the middle with the whole prescriptivism and descriptivism concept. I just go with the flow. No need to judge the way people speak. I try not to use incorrect grammar but I am not going to lie, my spelling is terrible. Being in this class for two short weeks has already opened my mind to realizing that people are brought up and taught the way they talk and the language they speak. Prescriptivism seems a little judgemental, to me it seems like they would look down on descriptivists and think they are uneducated or ignorant. But I feel like descriptivists are more prejudice with the example for the girl in our class talking about the people in Florida that include white people in their context of "nigger".
It seems as though prescriptivism is more of a standard that most people don't meet. I have a brother that is black and he is from California. I don't ever think that he is uneducated because of the way that he talks. But there have been some times that my Mom or Dad have to ask him the meaning of a word. The funny thing is is i write the same way i talk, I don't add words or make any smaller. Well except for somethings i mumble together to make into one big word. I guess I am just going off somewhere with all of this but I think we need to keep some of the language in the "standard" but I don't think it should be a big deal when we talk in a different way.

Discrimination

I think discrimination is something that will be very difficult to get rid of. If you think about it, everyone has to discriminate in the choices they make everyday. To discriminate means to show partiality or prejudice towards something. For example, when we choose our friends, we are being discriminatory. When an insurance company refuses to cover the treatment costs of a pre-existing illness, they are being discriminatory. When a bank declines to give a loan to someone with bad credit, they are being discriminatory. When a mother decides to leave her son out of her will because she is afraid he'd use the money for drugs, she is being discriminatory. What I am trying to say is that we can't avoid discrimination entirely. I believe we should try to get rid of racial, cultural and religious discrimination where it exists. It is natural for people to have their own opinions on various things. That is what makes people unique. It seems like there are too many people who are offended easily and who are too quick to assume they are being discriminated against. Sometimes life just isn't fair. The challenge is to make the most of life and not to focus on the injustices. If you focus on them too much, you will find them all around you.