gender and language

People concerne about issues of social inequality. There is a relationship between our language use and our social reality. If we "erase" women from language, that makes it easier to maintain gender inequality. [M]ale-based generics are another indicator—and, more importantly, a reinforcer—of a system in which "man" in the abstract and men in the flesh are privileged over women. Words matter, and our language choices have consequences. If we believe that women and men deserve social equality, then we should think seriously about how to reflect that belief in our language use. The clear example of gendered language is the way the words "Mr.," "Miss," and "Mrs." are used. "Mr." can refer to any man, regardless of whether he is single or married—but women are defined by their relationship to men (by whether they are married or not). A way around this is to use "Ms." (which doesn't indicate marital status) to refer to women. Sometimes we modify nouns that refer to jobs or positions to denote the sex of the person holding that position. This often done if the sex of the person holding the position goes against conventional expectations. To get a sense of these expectations, think about what sex you would instinctively assume the subject of each of these sentences to be
The doctor walked into the room.The nurse walked into the room.
Many people assume that doctors are men and that nurses are women. Because of such assumptions, someone might write sentences like "The female doctor walked into the room" or "The male nurse walked into the room." Using "female" and "male" in this way reinforces the assumption that most or all doctors are male and most or all nurses are female. Unless the sex of the nurse or doctor is important to the meaning of the sentence, it can be omitted. Also good examples of using gender identity in language are the nouns: fireman, firefighter, mail carrier, letter carrier, postal worker, police officer, congress person, legislator, representative, freshman, congressman. There are much more examples of gender identity in language. Because of our historical development of the society, we have specific preferring the male identity in language. All work occupations we identify as a male opportunity. While a women always associated in our society as a weak beings, who don not have a social power. Because of that patriarchate culture the female identification in the work occupation on the lowest level.

Post 8--Gender and Language

Today in class, we had a very interesting discussion about gender and language. It actually surprised me that the claims about "male-speak" and "female-speak" were played out in the groups that we had. I was equally surprised when the mixed-gender groups got all loud and talkative, more so than the single-gender groups.

For your blog this weekend, I want you to observe language use over the next couple days and notice if/how gender plays a role in communication. Ask yourself "who is talking? about what? and how?" Are there interruptions, clarifications, hedges, questions, agreements, deferrals, arguments, etc?

Submit your own observations and then comment on the observations of others by Tuesday.

See you then.

Tiffany

Creative language

Da otha day, I was walkin down da street and thinkin bout ma ol frien Jackson. We'd been such good friens, then one day, he's like he aint want be ma frien no mo. It be sad. I fel really bad bout it for long time. Then, as I turned the corner I saw him. He aksed me, " How ya doin?" I say, "I'm Ok. How ya doin?" He say, "OK." I tell him that I be the new manager of ma sto. He say, "Congrats." He say he been working real hard at his job and he sorry he aint not talked to me in a while. He say I look good, and hoped we could get together some time. We shook hand and say goodbye.

This was interesting to attempt. I tried to shorten the words and the sentences themselves within the confinements of what our reading presented to us. I also just let the words flow out as I would imagine they would within that language barrier. For instance taking the "g" out of "ing" words and endings. Talking out the "d" on friend; replacing verbs of present tense with be or eliminating them all together.

I personally never knew or even considered the native language of African American's prior to the slave trade and even during that time. The developement of a pidjin must have then been handed down generation to generation and eventually developed into what is now known as AAE. With that basis it should be recognized and considered as a distinct dialect of the English language and I believe that focus on schooling and developing AAE should be funded and encouraged. Although I can see why it might be looked down upon. When considering AAE in a school of which teaches in Standand American English to students of whom are English speakers of which grew up in the environment of an AAE household its evident that they have the ability to learn the language of both and I think that while we shouldnt discourage the use of AAE that both parties can find that medium of understanding. They should enact classes that help to integrate both dialects into a manner in which a teacher might be able to understand an AAE speaker and vice versa. AAE students should have the same rights as any other student and if they show a difficult time learning or adapting to Standard English then considerations should be made to better enhance the communication between both the teacher and student or of whomever is involved. I dont feel that AAE should be suppressed in any way only that both groups work together to better understand one another.

AAE

Da otha day, I was walkin' down the strea', thinkin' abou' my ol' friend Jackson. We use 'a' be goo friends, an den one day, ou' of nowhere, he said he di'n't wanna be my friend anymore. It was sad. I fel' bad abou' it for a long time. Then, as I turn the cornna, I saw him. He aksed me, "How are you doin'?" I said, "I'm aigh'. How you doin'?" He say, "Okay." I tol' him dat I am da new managa of my store. He said, "Congratulations." He said he been working really hard at his job and he was sorry dat he di'n't talk to me for a minute. He said I look good, and hope dat we coou' get togetha soona ratha den layta. We shoo hands and said goo'bye.

I think that those students who speak pidjin should not be treated as ESL students because the already know english. On the other hand they do need help to learn proper english before the whole country goes under because of it. It is not just black people but other peoples speak in that way of pidjin. I think learning proper english and doing away with pidjin will benefit all the people who speak it. Whether it is for jobs or school.

I feel bad for missing class last Tuesday... especially since it leaves me unprepared for this blog assignment. And though I completed the reading, I have to respectfully opt out of the translation portion of this post. I've never really been a participant in an AAVE speaking group and with a topic as racially charged as this, I guess I just don't feel right trying translate a paragraph of Standard American English to AAE/AAVE.

Funny though, as I think about it, I'd have no problem trying to translating the paragraph if it were the other way around.


This class has certainly helped me change my perspective on Education vs Intelligence. For too long I have accepted the idea that language use provides a direct correlation to intelligence which in turn somehow relates to formal education. Considering the historical factors that have affected the African American communities, to call any form of AAE deficient or ignorant is just that - ignorant.

But the historical factors certainly play a huge role in defining an approach to formal education. I do believe that AAE speaking children would benefit from an ESL approach in learning Standard American English. But how do we bridge a "nonstandard", minority language while balancing the hot button issues of race, culture, politics and social status?

So - here are some thoughts on the matter. While racism is far from over, I do believe that there is a higher level of tolerance and more acceptance of diversity within the US. With that, we have seen a greater emergence, acceptance and integration of "Black culture" - thanks to the various media outlets- Television, Music, Movies as well as through prominent Black athletes, elected officials, and community activists. Hopefully, as "our" cultural awareness and understanding increases, the linguistic issues presented in Oakland can be revisited without the hostility previously witnessed.


I'm sorry this post was late - My cable/internet went down Sunday Evening and wasn't back up and running until Monday afternoon.

AAE

Da othe day, I was walking down da street thinking about my old friend Jackson. We used to be such good friends, and then one day, out of nowhe, he said he didn't want to be my friend anymo. It was sad. I felt really bad about it for a long time. Then, as I tuned the coner, I aaw him. He asked me, "What's up?" I said, "Chillin. What's up with you?" He said, "chillin." I told him I am the new manage of my sto. He said, "Dope." He said he had been working really hard at his job and he was sorry that he hadn't talked to me in a while. He said I looked good, and hoped that we could get togethe sonne rathe than late. We shook hands and said goodbye.
I did this the best I could by cutting off the r's and using slang words where necessary.

I believe it does have effect on how speakers are perceived. They are perceived less intelligent because they don't speak proper english to "the man" the white person who is perceived to be ahead of them. But now in the schools of AAE children they are trying to integrate right english into the schools so that when they leave they have that basic knowledge to help them in the real world.

AAE Post

The other day, I was walking down the street thinking bout old Jackson. We use to be such good friend, and then one day, out of nowheres, he says he don't want nothing to do with me. I was sad. I felt really bad bout it for a long while. Then, as I turned the corner, I saws him. He asked me, "how ya doing?" I says, "I'm okay. How bout you?" He says, "Okay." I told him that I was the new manager of my store. He says, "Congratulations." He said he had been working real hard at his job and was sorry that he didn't talk to me in a while. He said I looked good, and hoped that we could get together soon. We shook hands said goodbye.


Yes, because I think they were looked down upon because they took their language and English and formed their own language to communicate with one another, and the English speakers couldn't understand. I think this has carried on and our negative view still carries from that.


Well I think they should be treated the same. However, if you think about our nation, and the school environment and profits (in my opinion) ESL and AAE speaking children should be treated differently. ESL are coming from other countries most likely and I believe that will up the profits to the school environment and add "diversity" that schools now-a-days seem to be so desperate to grab and add to their schools. I think they will not help AAE speakers special programs to bridge their program because of the fear of the past, and how that is still kind of ingrained in us.