Do you think Susan treatment of Friday is similar to people's prejudices against language learners? As in they must be stupid, or people condescend to ELLs when they come from non-European backgrounds?
I certainly feel that is true. As I mentioned before, I experienced it first-hand. The woman had difficulty with my accent. I don't even want to imagine her reaction if my grammar were broken as well. As soon as some people hear your accent, they start to assume you don't know things they know. I have a lot of personal examples to support this idea.
Even with the first language, don't we sometimes feel that those who have bad grammar or can't spell are intellectually inferior? I have noticed this more than once in blogs, e.g. comments to the effect of "learn to spell, then comment".
I think it is true about European-non-European opposition as well. Differentness in general is fertile ground for prejudice.
Sometimes I can talk to someone for some minutes before they "get" I have an accent....and as soon as they do two things come along: the question "where are you from" and, suddenly, they start speak slower...it is quite funny to see this, because I assume I would do the same thing with a non-portuguese speaker, or should I say, a "Portuguese learner"??
I was just now reading an article for my other class that talks about the schooling of native-Americans during the 1700's...they try to show us that when they began to teach the indians how to speak English, a "cultural transformation" was happening. But from my point of view, a "cultural genocide" actually happened...
Not so different from my point of view over Friday losing his tongue....
Unfortunately, I agree as well. Susan gets frustrated and has little patience with Friday at times as far as communication or lack of communication goes. People sometimes assume the worst about one's abilities without having all the facts.
Yes. a strong accent and different appearance in today's society expose one to prejudices, usually that they are inferior beings.
I am surprised to see how Susan looks at Friday as pitiful or subhuman, despite her apparent concern for him. I mean, he lives in the basement for Christ's sake. If that is not a metaphor, I don't know what is. The basement is a place of darkness, and a place for in which we hide things - dark secrets, forgotten treasures, memories. The word cellar comes from the Latin verb celare (to hide or conceal). The basement is where out society likes to keep minorities and those who are different.
Dylan, nice remarks about basement! I think we judge Susan from our 21st century experience. She is, however, only a child of her time: she holds viewpoints of a white 18th (19?) century woman with means (or else how could she afford her travels?). She must have felt it her moral duty to care for the less fortunate Friday, and in her attitudes she represents her time and class. Have you read "Alias Grace" by M. Atwood? I can't help thinking about women in the novel, wives and daughters of prison officials, who feel it their duty to patronize female inmates. To them inmates, especially women, were subhuman as well, possibly dangerous, too, yet they felt the moral duty to educate them in a way. Isn't it the white man's burden we are talking about?
I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but I feel sorry for Friday. It seems like he becomes a slave to be used however his "owner" chooses. Perhaps, that contributes to his silence
Hi all, After reading all your posts I came upon a realization that people do react 'oddly' when they see me and hear an accent. It is usually followed by a "where are you from?" and when I answer Texas they're not satisfied. Then they prod further and ask for my nationality. Which in turn makes me super scrutinize my own conversation making sure I don't goof up grammar-wise in fright that they may blame my Hispanic nationality. Does that happen to anyone else or am I just too analytical for my own good? Posted by Rosario
Marisa, I also tend to feel sorry fro Friday, but then I remind myself that he is controlling his situation pretty well, too. He is strong! I think we needn't be sorry for him.
Rosario, I am constantly asked where I am from.:) Well, considering that I will never get rid of my accent, it is small wonder that people ask. I try to convince myself I enjoy telling my story. :)
I do get asked the same question a lot. Most of the time I think people do it out of pure curiosity but some times they use it a an excuse to be discriminating, it has happened to my sister at work. When someone comments about my accent, it doesn't offend at all, I'd rather have an accent because I speek two languages than don't have one because of the lack of a second language.
I'm afraid I'm one of "those" people. The curious kind. I am intrigued by accents and different cultures. I am Cuban and Polish, an interesting combo, so I am told over and over again. But my last name (married name) is Italian. Everyone assumes that I am Italian because of my name and my features. I can't wait to tell them "I'm not Italian, I am Cuban." I get various reactions. I am very proud of my heritage and love to talk about it. So when I notice a person's accent, I gently probe to find out more about them. I can say, my "nosiness" has never offended anyone, YET! I find people to be very open about sharing where they are from. This is America, the "big melting pot". I'm am proud to to be living in a country with people from such rich and diverse/backgrounds. There is so much to share and learn from each other.
14 comments:
I certainly feel that is true. As I mentioned before, I experienced it first-hand. The woman had difficulty with my accent. I don't even want to imagine her reaction if my grammar were broken as well.
As soon as some people hear your accent, they start to assume you don't know things they know. I have a lot of personal examples to support this idea.
Even with the first language, don't we sometimes feel that those who have bad grammar or can't spell are intellectually inferior?
I have noticed this more than once in blogs, e.g. comments to the effect of "learn to spell, then comment".
I think it is true about European-non-European opposition as well.
Differentness in general is fertile ground for prejudice.
Vera, I totally agree with you.
Sometimes I can talk to someone for some minutes before they "get" I have an accent....and as soon as they do two things come along: the question "where are you from" and, suddenly, they start speak slower...it is quite funny to see this, because I assume I would do the same thing with a non-portuguese speaker, or should I say, a "Portuguese learner"??
I was just now reading an article for my other class that talks about the schooling of native-Americans during the 1700's...they try to show us that when they began to teach the indians how to speak English, a "cultural transformation" was happening. But from my point of view, a "cultural genocide" actually happened...
Not so different from my point of view over Friday losing his tongue....
Ok, Fabiola, I see you, but how come I don't get comments in the mail? Blogger drives me nuts. :(
Rowena, how do you make a new post here? I can't find it.
Unfortunately, I agree as well. Susan gets frustrated and has little patience with Friday at times as far as communication or lack of communication goes. People sometimes assume the worst about one's abilities without having all the facts.
Yes. a strong accent and different appearance in today's society expose one to prejudices, usually that they are inferior beings.
I am surprised to see how Susan looks at Friday as pitiful or subhuman, despite her apparent concern for him. I mean, he lives in the basement for Christ's sake. If that is not a metaphor, I don't know what is. The basement is a place of darkness, and a place for in which we hide things - dark secrets, forgotten treasures, memories. The word cellar comes from the Latin verb celare (to hide or conceal). The basement is where out society likes to keep minorities and those who are different.
Dylan,
nice remarks about basement!
I think we judge Susan from our 21st century experience. She is, however, only a child of her time: she holds viewpoints of a white 18th (19?) century woman with means (or else how could she afford her travels?). She must have felt it her moral duty to care for the less fortunate Friday, and in her attitudes she represents her time and class.
Have you read "Alias Grace" by M. Atwood? I can't help thinking about women in the novel, wives and daughters of prison officials, who feel it their duty to patronize female inmates. To them inmates, especially women, were subhuman as well, possibly dangerous, too, yet they felt the moral duty to educate them in a way.
Isn't it the white man's burden we are talking about?
I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but I feel sorry for Friday. It seems like he becomes a slave to be used however his "owner" chooses. Perhaps, that contributes to his silence
Hi all,
After reading all your posts I came upon a realization that people do react 'oddly' when they see me and hear an accent. It is usually followed by a "where are you from?" and when I answer Texas they're not satisfied. Then they prod further and ask for my nationality. Which in turn makes me super scrutinize my own conversation making sure I don't goof up grammar-wise in fright that they may blame my Hispanic nationality. Does that happen to anyone else or am I just too analytical for my own good? Posted by Rosario
Marisa, I also tend to feel sorry fro Friday, but then I remind myself that he is controlling his situation pretty well, too. He is strong! I think we needn't be sorry for him.
Rosario, I am constantly asked where I am from.:) Well, considering that I will never get rid of my accent, it is small wonder that people ask. I try to convince myself I enjoy telling my story. :)
I do get asked the same question a lot. Most of the time I think people do it out of pure curiosity but some times they use it a an excuse to be discriminating, it has happened to my sister at work. When someone comments about my accent, it doesn't offend at all, I'd rather have an accent because I speek two languages than don't have one because of the lack of a second language.
Betzaida, I also find comfort in the fact that I am multilingual. So what if I have an accent in almost all of them.:)
I'm afraid I'm one of "those" people. The curious kind. I am intrigued by accents and different cultures. I am Cuban and Polish, an interesting combo, so I am told over and over again. But my last name (married name) is Italian. Everyone assumes that I am Italian because of my name and my features. I can't wait to tell them "I'm not Italian, I am Cuban." I get various reactions. I am very proud of my heritage and love to talk about it. So when I notice a person's accent, I gently probe to find out more about them. I can say, my "nosiness" has never offended anyone, YET! I find people to be very open about sharing where they are from. This is America, the "big melting pot". I'm am proud to to be living in a country with people from such rich and diverse/backgrounds. There is so much to share and learn from each other.
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