The “Becoming Black” article really caught my attention on a number of levels, within the first page the quote “where and how they saw themselves was reflected in the mirror of their society” made me want to keep reading because it can be applied to multiple races as well. As I continued to read it was interesting to learn more about the African American vernacular, since I did not have very much previous knowledge prior to this article when the author explained the differences between BSE and BE or Black English. He explained that BE or Black talk has its own grammar and syntax. BSE on the other hand refers to ways of speaking that do not depend on a full mastery of the language. I also got a good laugh about the section that they described the apparel that goes with the rap lifestyle that had such an impact on their language. The styles have really changed since the article was written!
I had to agree with the question the author posed about the investment that Puerto Ricans would have in learning BSE. I never got the impression that these individuals would have the need or want to learn this language but then again what gives me the right to question anyone’s desire to learn a language? They also mention in the article that rap was a very influential aspect of their language learning which could really be both negative and positive. Rap worldwide has a variety of messages and purposes but I have hear a fair share of rap songs with extremely vulgar ideas and words and if people are using this as a reference point of how to talk to another person could display an image they may or may not mean to. It could be positive as well though because music is an extraordinary form of education and if putting expressions to a tune helps students learn another language then I think it could be very beneficial.
The quote used in the Ibrahim article “being is different from becoming” correlates to the ideas expressed in the Arab TESOL Students’ Experiences of Racialization and Othering in the United Kingdom because it expresses how the mindset should be before even meeting another person. I understand the quote to mean the following: I think that a person defines themselves as their own individual with their own set of personal characteristics, thus being. If someone “others” another individual they take their ideas towards a type of person so much that the individual becomes someone they may not even be anywhere near similar to. Understanding that every human being has their own set of characteristics ensures that they do not become someone they are not accidently in the onlooker’s eye.
No comments:
Post a Comment