4.1: Studying Different Linguistic Communities--Readings and Videos

Introduction to this module: Analyzing Language in Different Settings

Do you find that you change the way you dress depending on what you are doing? Do you wear different clothes when you go to work versus when you relax at home? What about if you are going to a wedding or a dance club? What about a first date or an interview for a new job? Most people change their clothing choices to match their context or setting as well as their purpose (like when we "dress to impress"). We make these changes in our clothing because how we present ourselves communicates something to everyone who sees us: if we do not dress appropriately for work or for an important event like a wedding, others may think we are communicating disrespect. On the other hand, if we dress formally for a relaxing evening with friends, it might communicate that we are not comfortable with them or that we are "trying too hard." 

While our clothing choices tend to be pretty conscious, we also may make other changes to how we present ourselves. As the name suggests, body language is also a form of communication. When we are in an interview for a job, for instance, we may want to make sure we are sitting up straight and making eye contact to communicate confidence. When we are on a date, we may want to lean in to communicate interest and comfort. We often make these changes unconsciously--without realizing it. Imagine high school students who are joking around with friends during class. Their body language probably conveys that they are relaxed. If the teacher calls on them, without realizing it, they're likely to sit up taller and face their body to the teacher to communicate respect and attention. 

Just as we change our body language, we often change our spoken language--the words we use as well as the tone and volume of our voice--based on context. Sometimes these changes are very subtle and unconscious. Other times, we may be making these changes very consciously. Sometimes these changes feel comfortable and natural. Other times, they may feel awkward or uncomfortable. Just like with clothing, we all have a personal style that feels natural and allows us to feel more like ourselves. Sometimes, it can be challenging to modify our clothing or language to fit a situation while still feeling like we are being ourselves.

In this module, we will observe and analyze how people change their modes of communication based on context. We will also discuss the challenges that sometimes come with these changes. As you develop as a communicator (speaker and writer), you may find that it becomes easier to vary the ways you use language while also maintaining a personal style that feels authentic to you. On the other hand, you may find that there is always a tension between how you are expected to communicate in certain contexts and how you feel comfortable communicating, and this is important to notice as well. 

What you will learn in this module

An anthropologist is a social scientist who studies society and culture. This module is an opportunity to conduct research and take field notes just as an anthropologist would. (Field notes are the notes that social scientists like anthropologists take when they are observing people.) This module will help prepare you for future classes in the social sciences. Specifically, you will get experience doing the following:

• Considering all the ways we communicate (including body language, styles of dress, and other ways we present ourselves).
• Conducting anthropology research by observing language in several different settings and taking field notes.
• Observing your own language use in different settings. 
• Analyzing what you observe.
• Writing a composition about your findings that uses specific examples quoted from your field notes.

 

Vocabulary for this module

Anthropologist: a social scientist who studies societies and cultures and works to understand what makes people human

Articulate (adj): demonstrating the ability to express oneself well through verbal language 

Context: the circumstances that form the setting for an event (this can include elements such as where, when, who, why) 

Code-meshing: a communication approach that combines different codes, languages, dialects, or ways of speaking (e.g., Spanglish)

Code-switching: the practice of alternating between two or more codes, languages, dialects, or ways of speaking (e.g., translating between two languages)

Field notes: notes from a researcher's observations to help them document and think through what they are studying

Linguistic: related to language

Linguistic community: a group of people who share a common language, dialect, or way of speaking

Linguistic diversity: a broad term that describes the variety of languages or ways of speaking that occur within a society

Spoken word poetry: a form of oral poetic performance art (to learn more, about the history of spoken word, watch this 2-minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4HV3t1nZgo) 

Style-shifting: when a speaker changes their speech style in response to the context (similar to code-switching, but less abrupt)

 

Steps for completing this module

1. After reading this module introduction (above), you will be ready to view the video below. 
2. You will then complete the activity, which includes an in-class component and an out-of-class observation and journaling component. (These are your field notes.)
3. Last, you will write a paper addressing the question: How do you notice your language change when you are speaking with different people? You will use specific quotes and details from your observation journal, so be sure to take a lot of detailed notes! 

 

VIDEO: “Three Ways to Speak English” 

Background provided on the TED website:

Jamila Lyiscott is a "tri-tongued orator;” in her powerful spoken-word essay “Broken English,” she celebrates — and challenges — the three distinct flavors of English she speaks with her friends, in the classroom and with her parents. As she explores the complicated history and present-day identity that each language represents, she unpacks what it means to be “articulate.”

Before watching this TED talk, you may want to spend a few minutes thinking about the different linguistic communities you belong to. A linguistic community is a group of people who share a common way of speaking, so one linguistic community you might be a part of is your family, another might be a group of friends, another might be your work environment or your school, and so on. How do you speak differently with these different groups? Why do you change the way you speak in these different contexts?

After you watch, consider the questions posted below the TED talk. You can also review the transcript, which is also included below. 

TED talk: 

Questions to consider after watching:

1. What does it mean to Lyiscott to be "articulate"? Does she feel it is positive when people call her "articulate"? Why or why not? 
2. Lyiscott chose to present her TED talk in the form of spoken word poetry. Why do you think she does this? How does it impact the audience for her to convey her message this way rather than through a more traditional TED talk lecture? 
3. Lyiscott illustrates the three ways she speaks English. She also plays with using these forms of English outside their natural context to make a point. In the transcript below, identify at least one place where she uses a form of English outside its natural context. What is the impact of doing this? 

Transcript 

3 ways to speak English, Jamila Lyiscott, TEDSalon NY, February 2014

 

Today, a baffled lady observed the shell where my soul dwells

And announced that I'm "articulate"

Which means that when it comes to enunciation and diction

I don't even think of it

 ‘Cause I’m "articulate"

 

So when my professor asks a question

And my answer is tainted with a connotation of urbanized suggestion

There’s no misdirected intention

Pay attention

 ‘Cause I’m “articulate”

 

So when my father asks, “Wha’ kinda ting is dis?”

My “articulate” answer never goes amiss

I say “father, this is the impending problem at hand”

And when I’m on the block I switch it up just because I can

 

So when my boy says, “What’s good with you son?”

I just say, “I jus’ fall out wit dem people but I done!”

And sometimes in class

I might pause the intellectual sounding flow to ask

 “Yo! Why dese books neva be about my peoples”

 

Yes, I have decided to treat all three of my languages as equals

Because I’m “articulate”

 

But who controls articulation?

Because the English language is a multifaceted oration

Subject to indefinite transformation

 

Now you may think that it is ignorant to speak broken English

But I’m here to tell you that even “articulate” Americans sound foolish to the British

So when my Professor comes on the block and says, “Hello”

I stop him and say “Noooo …

You’re being inarticulate … the proper way is to say ‘what’s good’”

Now you may think that’s too hood, that’s not cool

But I’m here to tell you that even our language has rules

 

So when Mommy mocks me and says “ya’ll-be-madd-going-to-the-store”

I say “Mommy, no, that sentence is not following the law

Never does the word "madd" go before a present participle

That’s simply the principle of this English”

 

If I had the vocal capacity I would sing this from every mountaintop,

From every suburbia, and every hood

 ‘Cause the only God of language is the one recorded in the Genesis

Of this world saying “it is good"

So I may not always come before you with excellency of speech

But do not judge me by my language and assume

That I’m too ignorant to teach

 ‘Cause I speak three tongues

One for each:

Home, school and friends

I’m a tri-lingual orator

Sometimes I’m consistent with my language now

Then switch it up so I don’t bore later

 

Sometimes I fight back two tongues

While I use the other one in the classroom

And when I mistakenly mix them up

I feel crazy like … I’m cooking in the bathroom

 

I know that I had to borrow your language because mines was stolen

But you can’t expect me to speak your history wholly while mines is broken

These words are spoken

By someone who is simply fed up with the Eurocentric ideals of this season

And the reason I speak a composite version of your language

Is because mines was raped away along with my history

I speak broken English so the profusing gashes can remind us

That our current state is not a mystery

I’m so tired of the negative images that are driving my people mad

 

So unless you’ve seen it rob a bank stop calling my hair bad

I’m so sick of this nonsensical racial disparity

So don’t call it good unless your hair is known for donating to charity

As much as has been raped away from our people

How can you expect me to treat their imprint on your language

As anything less than equal?

 

Let there be no confusion

Let there be no hesitation

This is not a promotion of ignorance

This is a linguistic celebration

 

That’s why I put "tri-lingual" on my last job application

I can help to diversify your consumer market is all I wanted them to know

And when they call me for the interview I’ll be more than happy to show that

I can say:

 “What’s good”

 “Whatagwan”

And of course …“Hello”

 

Because I’m “articulate”