Speak “Right” English: The Unconstitutional Standard English Language Ideology.
In this essay, I question the validity of Standard English Language Ideology. Moreover, I employ the researches done by Nelson Flores and Jonathan Rosa, Samy Alim and others to support my argument that the introduction of Standard English Language violates rights owned by American citizens, especially those minorities whose first language is not English. This includes the right of free speech, press and religion, the right of equality and non -discrimination, and the right to science and culture. By revealing such an unjustified case, I emphasize there is a problem caused by a single language ideology reproduced by educational institutions, resulting in depriving
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For those English learners, making a grammar or a spelling mistake must have happened at some point in their study. The judgement of mistakes is based on a common belief: Standard English Language Ideology (SELI), which is the form of English language used by Anglo Saxon people. At present, most of the educational institutions in the US regulate students to develop their English under this ideology. Consequently, it has become a part of the common sense for people to follow its rules in daily life. However, most people do not aware that Standard English Language Ideology violate the individual’s rights given by the constitution. The first amendment of Constitution says every citizen has freedom in speech, religion and press, but in reality educational institutions show the contrary. Educational institutions developed Standard English Language ideology and carry out national widely. However, Rosa and Burdick, in their book The Oxford Book of Language and Society, point out the ideology itself is similar to the religious rituals, which are public believes based on nothing (111). Therefore, it is unjustified to force everyone to accept it, …show more content…
Thomas Brown, in his book High Impact Teaching, emphasizes the importance to understand students’ background in the perspective of instructors in order to provide better education (35). The same reason can apply to language training centers. For example, there are many Asian international students study in UCI, whose mother languages are taught in current classes and recognized as a part of the academic achievement. Students in educational institutions studying bilingual classes acquire better comprehension of the knowledge. This can be explained by the fact that their home languages are also recognized officially, which avoids to alien those students from majority and provides them with
Rocio describes her classes being very basic and taught in Spanish which made her feel very comfortable. But after realized that she wished the system would have challenged her in English so she could be prepared for further education instead of simple catering her language. She hopes they challenge other students because, in the long run, it’s worth
In ““English Only” Laws Divide and Demean” Warren J. Blumenfeld discusses the laws that make the official language in the United States English, only. His purpose is to persuade the reader to sign the petition he created which is directed to the Iowa House of Representatives and more to abolish the “English only”. Although Blumenfeld does an exceptional job appealing to the emotions of his audience by using personal stories, he does a poor job presenting evidence and facts to persuade the reader to agree with him. Blumenfeld may have personal credentials, but he does not have many source credentials, also, he does not provide counter arguments for the arguments that are made against his.
The English Only movement has been around for a long time, but it has been overlooked by most. Most Americans speak English from the moment they learned to talk; many others learn English as a second language. For this reason, many Americans oppose to the existence of non-English languages being spoken in the United States. In Warren J. Blumenfeld’s essay “‘English Only’ Laws Divide and Demean”, the author speaks about the “English Only” Movement and how people who support and oppose it feel towards this situation. He uses rhetorical appeals such as ethos, logos, and pathos in order to make people understand the severity of the situation and for the writing to have an effect on its readers.
Review of Vershawn Young Discussion After reading “Vershawn Ashanti Young: Should Writers Use They Own English?” against Rebecca Wheeler’s “Code-Switch to Teach Standard English (Young 111. Wheeler 108)”. Each paper expresses a different opinion regarding the teaching of English in the classrooms. Each author writes with different agendas, different tones, and different purposes. Each acts upon their beliefs as they perceive them, and as a result are poles apart.
Ansari 1 Roshanak Ansari Professor Covington English 1101 November 23, 2017 Final Research Paper Over the past decade, the United States has become more diverse in different nationalities and cultures. If American high schools were to offer more options in foreign languages for the students to choose from, there would be an increase in their IQ’s and they would have better career opportunities. Some of the benefits of being bilingual or knowing another foreign language besides your mother tongue are better health, new and improved job opportunities and it can also improve your competitiveness in the job market.
His dissent was exaggerated of the result of permitting rights of free speech in schools. His way of using an exaggeration weakens his argument considerably. He further pointed out his worries that state supported-schools’ students could defy and flouts orders of
Jake Jamieson wrote “The English-Only Movement” while he was a student at the University of Vermont. In this essay he discusses the issue of legislating English as the official language in the United States. He strongly beliefs that the government should not fix an issue that is not broken. Throughout his writing he uses outside resources that support the idea of English-only; even though he was trying to explain the differences about both side it seems like he is being bias at first. Jamieson could have made his paper stronger if he would have stated what he believed instead of saying others believe; although his arguments are based on people’s rights and emotions towards being obligated to speak English in America his argument contains evidence and communication abilities to get his point across.
The parent’s perspective towards bilingual education was like the student’s opinions because both individuals felt immersion classrooms benefit the students and the parents. The father of Jason was proud his son was the first in his family to read, write, and speak in English. Jason’s father knew his son would have many career opportunities by learning English at school. Learning the English academic language was not the only proud language Jason’s father encouraged for Jason to learn but also the Spanish language as well. Jason’s father only speaks Spanish so if his son was to lose his home language, a language barrier would form between father and son.
The Language Police, by Diane Ravitch, meticulously documents the authors search for solving the political mystery behind the unorthodox reasoning behind K-12 education. She always believed that textbooks were designed to help students gain beneficial information, and that tests were assessed on the knowledge from what they had learned throughout the year. Over many years, testing was reflected on a controversial language of screening and affairs that negatively were associated with all personable groups. What once had been commended had now developed far beyond the method of censorship. It was now, restricted as an approach for masking the reality of literal knowledge from students.
Most Americans speak one or two languages. However, with 162 languages spoken in the United States, English is often not a common language. If America were to have a national language, it could create connections that can help the nation and stop the discrimination non-English speakers. A common language that is spoken in a nation can bring different cultures and traditions together. To have English as America’s main language can increase economy.
The Modern English language has a rich history, it develops and changes like many other world languages. The English language has mainly been influenced by Latin, Germanic and French over a period of two thousand years. The English Lexicon includes words from over 120 countries, however Latin, Germanic and Latin account approximately less than 30% each. The English language is second to none in the variety and amount of lexical words. The most penetrating influence on English in history is French during the Middle English period after the Norman conquests.
Questions of abandoning or maintaining one’s home language affects education policy in all immigrant receiving nations. Because of the consequences of colonisation, migration, nation-formation, traditions of exogamy, and modernisation, some degree of bilingualism is typical of most people in the world.” Today the most advanced nations realise that they can no longer be ignorant of the languages and cultures of other people on this planet. This is why bilingual-multicultural education was initiated. It was believed that this approach will build closer ties between the students’ community, their language background, and the educational plan of the school.
Therefore, teachers must accommodate students who do not necessarily speak the same languages (Moodley, 2013:74 -75). To ensure that student’s education is not compromised, a target language needs to be implemented to ensure that the subject being taught is acknowledged by the learners. However the “language barrier” would also create an opportunity to code-switch, which will benefit learners to a great extent. It will not only eliminate the isolated feelings of students but accommodate their language and cultural backgrounds. Furthermore, a teacher will be able to teach their class to the extent where they will be motivated to learn.
Bilingualism is slowly becoming a popular “trend”. Those who are able to speak a second language at an advanced level and not only, are clearly considered by the society intellectually capable of great things. As a bilingual, the individual must not only know the grammar rules or achieve a high level in communication. He also has to study the cultural background of that specific language. Knowing a second language has a major impact on one’s life.
Today, issues of social class are not straightforward as they once were; increased educational opportunity and economic prosperity means that more and more young people are exposed to standard English than ever before. Nevertheless, linguistic prejudice still exists, particularly amongst employers, some politicians and sections of the general public. as