"The Cosmopolitan Tongue: The University of English," John McWhorter

I agree with the statement, “Not having the language does not make him any less true to what he is.”  Although, in contrast, I think in order to have a greater understanding of our lives and the things that mean something to us, our language is an invaluable asset.  

I remember a particular instance where someone was describing to me a word in German.  With this particular word, there is no exact, definite translation.  The closest we have come to describing this in English is through some variation of the phrase, “A beautiful moment, derived from an exquisite accident.”  This left me wondering if I could fully appreciate and value the meaning of the word I was trying to understand using language, or if, to truly gain the power of this word, I needed to be able to understand a completely new language.  This left me feeling limited and powerless.  I felt as if I could not truly grasp what this word meant.  I felt frustrated.

So, I believe that in order to truly understand the value of a word and to have a definite and clear meaning of what these words mean to us, we need language.  We must have a clear and concise understanding of the most complex, and the simplest words, simply to be able to appreciate them and understand their meaning.  To use them in conversation and to use other words to describe the more complex phrases.  Language is a gift and I think we need to seize our entitlement to utilize it.

Chase Hayes Team Yeti

Memories in my mind are extremely difficult to put together, and it is fairly rare that I can actually put one together in some sort of cohesive timeline.  I  like to say that I have a Dr Suess imagination.  One particular memory that I have that really stands out to me was the day I had finally saved up enough money to buy my project car, a 1977 white Stingray Corvette.  I had already been talking to the guy about it, so he had everything ready to go when I showed up with my check in hand.  To him it was just a car that had been sitting in his barn for the past fer years, but to me she already had the name "Stacey". The paint wasn't the greatest, but I still could see the sun glistening off the freshly washed surface.  The interior was hot from sitting outside for so long, and the red leather seats were extremely warm when I got in.  All that didn't matter, because as soon as I got in, the loud thud of the door closing made me even more excited.  I started cranking the car, and even though it sounded like it was having trouble turning over, eventually the loud, pounding roar of all 5.7 liters gave her life.  The steering wheel seemed to grip my fingers perfectly, and while the gearshift took some coaxing, when it made that familiar drop in the transmission I knew I was in business.  Every time I walk up to this car I get the same feeling.  I can still see the car as the first time I ever drove off in her.  The brown driveway and green bushes seemed dull in comparison to the bright white and flashy red interior of my favorite car I've ever owned.

McWhorters argument about how the death and evolution of language is more based on geography than culture seems to make a lot of sense to me.  When he mentioned that Native Americans would not feel any less of their culture just because they don't necessarily speak the language anymore,  I remembered a friend of mine in particular who is almost 100% Apache and Comanche through his families.  He is extraordinarily proud of his heritage and of his culture, even though he was raised in Florida and speaks fluent English.  Not having the language does not make him any less true to what he is.  When McWhorter says that he is sad languages are dying for aesthetic reasons, I'd have to say I agree.  it isn't particularly necessary for us all to have over 6000 languages all over the world, a d I would certainly be easier on people if we could more effectively communicate with each other, however the beauty of the languages is that they were made by the culture.  Even though the culture wont fail to live on, a part of it does die when the language fails.

Team Yeti-Jacob Salazar-Blog #2

It felt very uncomfortable, brown bulky boots, laced too tight with sand kicking in. The boots were too new and too unadjusted to provide any worn comfort. Thud, thud, thud as we entered the dark, empty building. It was comprised of only bricks, no windows, rectangle shaped, with the exit opposite the entrance. We slithered around the wall counterclockwise filling the walls, eventually doubling up a few areas of the wall. The single room was silent except for the noises our body made as we shuffled (pat pat pat pat pat pat ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch ch gulp) about. Fear and anxiety crippled me as the large heavy door sealed behind us...
ting ting
hiss sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
...
'WHAT IS YOUR NAME."
"WHAT IS YOUR NAME."
"WHAT IS YOUR NAME."
Two guys up, "this" guy fell to the concrete floor on his knees, grasping his neck and  screaming, "MY MASK ISN'T WORKING, I'M DYING, I"M DYING, I CAN'T BREATHE."

I found it humorous, but it wasn't my turn yet. The THUD, THUD, THUD was here, proceeded by "WHAT IS YOUR NAME."
I pulled the mask from my face to answer and get my first taste of the smoky gray tear gas that filled the room. It absorbed into my hair follicles, skin, clothes, sweat and now my lungs. It literally hurt to breathe, the motion of inhaling and exhaling became painful. Thick hot cutting smoke entered my body through my lungs. Spit, saliva, mucous and tears exited my face. The gas was irritating like friction between two hot surfaces. The real pain was from the feeling that I was unable to breathe. My body panicked and everything was telling me to get out. After some time it was if an invisible hand was placed on my chest to calm, control and guide my breathing. I could actually breathe in the gas, it just really burned, my skin, hair, throat and lungs. After a few minutes the exit opened. It never felt so good to return to normal...

 

 It took me a long time to get over this.

 

In "The Cosmopolitan Tongue: The Universality of English," John McWhorter claims that language death is a natural process and is based more on geography then culture. This means that you can have two groups of people, each with the same culture, norms, and traditions. If group A migrates to the Himalayas' Mountains and group B migrates to the Miami coastline, over time due to chance or usage necessity these two groups with the same underlying culture may pronounce words differently or even invent new words. Necessity usage may be due to climate/seasonal changes that is the direct result of  differing geography. For example group A may develop a word,"bigmount," to describe a big mountain. Likewise, group B may alter the pronunciation of women to "wooooomen" to describe a hot girl at the beach.  With thousands of years passing these languages become completely different and foreign to each other. I believe that this holds true today, however I feel due to technology and the ease with which we can communicate language death due to geography is limited to rural and isolated areas.

 

In the same article, McWhorter claims that a language death "is mostly sad for aesthetic reasons." As disheartening and callous as this claim is I have to agree with McWhorter. McWhorter is stating that no real physical pain is caused nor is language death insurmountable for any culture or people. Language is an everyday reminder put to use of one's culture and roots. However, when one's language dies it does not also indicate the death of its culture. He explains this as putting the "cart before the horse," and he is right. If a culture dies then the language must also, but if a language dies then only part of the culture has died, but the rest of the culture may continue. The culture's people, history, traditions and beliefs will remain intact in the adaptation of a new language and for these reason I agree that language death is "mostly sad for aesthetic reasons." In fact language death has already happened to Native Americans and Black Americans as cited by McWhorter, and he is correct that these cultures are still alive today.

Team Minotaur-Courtney Blog #1

"Words", Radiolab

 3. I believe that the type of peace Jill Taylor describes is something we cannot fathom without actually having the experience. The idea of this really brings me to thinking about meditative practices that have become popular in cultures across the world. The idea of meditation is to help silence the mind and its stressful thoughts we experience day to day. Through practice and lots of concentration, this sort of peace can be achieved. However, I believe Jill experienced the ultimate silence. I think that although it would be terrifying to have no thoughts, memories, beliefs; I also believe that this sort of silence is something primitive to being a human and something we should embrace from time to time to help us during stressful and "loud" times. Furthermore, I believe Jill would agree in saying that everyone should search for this inner peace and to sometimes forget who "I" am as a being: with this we can become one with the world around us and not just ourselves. 

4. Illdefonso without language reminds me of the children they spoke about. It was said that we do not connect the "blue wall" and "left" until around age 6. As an adult, it's hard to think back to anything before that age. I couldn't tell you what I thought about or who I felt I was as a child. I believe this is the sort of thing Illdefonso experienced. I think that once he connected language and communication his life suddenly made sense. He could now express what was on his mind. With this comes thoughts and constant inner language. Language is necessary for a functioning society and it is a lot of what seperates us from other animals. In this way, yes I believe developing language was a good thing for Illdefonso. However, I think his inner peace and quiet was sacrificed just as we sacrifice it when we grow older.

"How to Tame a Wild Tongue", Gloria Anzaldua

1. In my opinion, it was comfortable to switch between the two languages while reading. I am not fluent in spanish and did not know many of the words. However, it felt more realistic that the author used their own two languages and it was interesting to hear of these issues that I had never thought of. It brought to life the difficulty of handling one language when you may know more than a few. As well, the random spanish words were easier to understand based on the context of the english portion of the sentences. I learned a few of the words just from reading this. 

4. Language is a huge part of our own identity. Our first language is comfortable and easiest to understand. In this way I feel it is wrong to rob someone of their first language. It is robbing them of communication. Across the world their are many different languages. It seems in other areas of the world, besides America, countries that are side by side speak many different languages. They do not have to conform to just one because many are accepted and their isn't one above all language, like English is for Americans. The world is full of many different cultures and communication is a key component of that identity. If we do not agree with forcing culture and belief onto others than we should also respect other languages. Going against this freedom of speech should be treated as an act of violence, just as restricting religion would be treated.

Lace Senegal of Team Unicorn's Blog #1

"Words"

2. Elizabeth Spelke was extremely interesting in the fact that she believed that language creates links in the brain, while some many completely disagree with this theory, I find it to be quite accurate in the sense that we all know the individual terms of “left”, “blue”, and “wall”. We can all agree that we understand the meaning these simple words, but when you are to combine them for example “left of the blue” these individual terms not only become one statement, but they take on a different meaning. It is through language that we understand this concept. Furthermore with Ann Senghas on the more complex words for thoughts results in thinking more complex thoughts, I also agree. When it comes down to the older students not knowing where the toy would’ve been hidden, I don’t think it's because the younger students were thinking more complex, I simply believe that it was mostly because of familiarity. The perfect example would be like our generation knowing much about technology such as smart phones, social networks, ipad, etc. Our parents trying to figure out these items would be more difficult than it is for us because we are more familiar with these items.


3. Now Jill Bolte Taylor also had an interesting story she lost her ability to think words basically. The way she describes the feeling is in a very positive light to where she actually enjoyed being in this state. I must say that I was completely shocked to hear the way she explained her encounter with the silence. It makes me think about a lot of things but most of them are questions rather than statements. Why did she feel joy? What was so great about this feeling that actually make the experience of complete silence joyful? She was disconnected from the world yet never felt closer? How does that even occur, this ridiculous paradox? Would this feeling be the same for everyone? That's where I would truly have to disagree, I feel that if I would have went through this crazy silence, my feelings would be quite the opposite of joy. Terror, alienation, fear, and exile would cloud my mind, thus changing me forever, even if it only was for a few hours. She spent hours trying to figure of who the President of the United States was, a question that should be easily answered. Connecting images from a silhouette to a map just seems exhausting.



"How to Tame a Wild Tongue"

1. The text in the article was easy to understand except for when the Spanish parts came about. Now I know my fair share of Spanish, granted I really didn’t know much of what was in this article. While I didn’t find myself uncomfortable while reading it, I did find myself struggling to understand just exactly what was going on in the story for example, I would be reading the English parts an understand completely what I had just read, but once I reached the Spanish areas an actually frown came upon my face because I was so confused, so much so that after passing the Spanish parts I was unsure in what the English parts were trying to tell me, that was my main struggle with this story.

4. When Anzuldua claims that denying a group their language is against the first amendment and also an act of violence, I couldn’t agree more. Who gives someone else the authority to say I cannot speak my native language, that is just unjust and in a way prejudice. That truly is just inhumane to tell someone they cant speak the language they were born with, I see it almost as destroying a part of the culture or in more realistic terms ignore it. I agree completely that, doing this so utterly wrong.

Team Minotaur by Melisa

“Words” Radiolab

3. Jill Taylor claimed to have felt a sense of peace or joy as she describe when she lost access to her life experiences without language. Although I could certainly relate to a temporary since of peace, I believe this would create more fear then joy if such an event occur in my life. Often times my memory will fail me and I struggle to remember part or sections of my life. This is very scary when it happens and you can feel the brain struggling to identify the command. This world is becoming a constant and steady environment with demanding instant gratification. Because of this, I can relate to the sense of peace she claim to experience but when I stated temporary, I don’t mean days I mean minutes. I would feel lost and scared if my entire life story was now a huge blurr.

4. I couldn’t imagine a world without language and the fact that Ildefonso’s life became so exciting once he began to make the connection is proof this was a great life changing moment.  Language is necessary for anyone who needs to connect with others and to grow in knowledge. Ildefonso was not aware of what was missing in his life, only that he didn’t believe he was very smart. It appeared he knew something was missing so I do believe he was able to think about it.  Once he began connecting words with objects, people, etc, his life evolved to a higher level and was thinking more and progressing more. Much like life in college, we come here to grow and it’s often hard to let go of the knowledge you acquire from attending. Ildefonso now had the tools to allow growth in his thoughts, language and lifestyle giving him a better quality of life. So I would say it was a good thing!

 

“How to Tame a Wild Tongue” Gloria Anzaldua

1. This was a tough article to read with the mixture of the two languages from someone who does not know any Spanish. It is often hard to connect the entire article with the combination of the two different languages leaving me feel as though I am missing pieces that help the flow of the message. It creates what I like to refer to as holes in the story and it’s hard to make a connection to the writer.

2. I can certainly relate to how she feels being trapped in a world with the language conflict in this article. I believe she wrote it intentionally in this manner, to give the reader a sense of what she had experienced by allowing us to have a direct effect of going from English to Spanish and still attempt to keep up with the message.

Blog Response by Annie Gonzalez - Team Unicorn

“Words”, Radiolab

3. Jill Bolte Taylor discusses the loss of silence when reaching a certain point in relearning language after experiencing a stroke. She says that she misses the calm, peacefulness associated with lack of communication. Since she had no memories or ability to think the way adults do, she reverted back to a child-like state, only experiencing the world with her senses. This state of being sounds appealing, maybe for a PhD in neurology who has achieved 10+ years of university and has to return to that same academic environment, surrounded by people anxious to speak to her about her experience of ‘rebirth’. Personally, I would rather possess language, the ability to communicate my thoughts and feelings. Taylor talks about the frustration she experienced when she still could not link words in her head together to make comprehensible phrases. In this situation, where one is not deaf and can hear but not speak, I feel as though I’d choose to live a life full of relationships in which complex interactions are exchanged. The company and contact of other humans is what brings happiness in life.

4. Susan Schaller’s student, Ildefonso began as a shy, introvert in deaf classes. While mental silence might be appealing to some, I believe that after 27 years Ildefonso craved what he learned through language. Even though he cannot remember his thought process before words and phrases clouded his mind, must have yearned for the ease which communication brings. He kept returning to classes day after day, whether for his uncle’s sake or his own. He eventually grasped the concept of communication and continued to explore the realm of thought. One cannot be forced to learn, he wanted to. Just as he cannot return to his friends and communicate with them, Ildefonso found language necessary and abandoned the solitude he previously experienced.

“How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua

3. Just like Anzaldua identifies as mestiza, so do I. My father is Anglo American, a clusterfuck of Nordic ancestry, and my mother is Mexican, the real Mexican of Spanish and Native American heritage. My grandmother on my father’s side comes from Branson, Missouri where we’d spend summers riding our bikes around Long Beach and jumping in the lake, then going to Silver Dollar City and spend all day riding rollercoasters. Summers spent in Laredo, TX were between aunts, uncles, and abuela’s houses doing their manual labor, making caldos in Tia Nani’s kitchen, and listening to chisme about our family. This has created an awkward inbalance of culture. On one hand, I speak Spanish and enjoy a little cumbia now and then. On the other hand, my Spanish is choppy and I’m no Selena. However, when asked what I am, I proudly answer Mexican. Despite that I’m not from Mexico, I am from El Paso. I will always be a border-town girl, a Chicana. I look ‘white’, I act ‘white’, people don’t believe I’m anything other than ‘white’. I negotiate between these identities by feeling one in my soul, my true identity, and merely being the other because that’s how society has shaped me.

4. Denying a group of people their language is a violation of the first amendment. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness lay the foundation for this country. If people want to speak Spanish and it makes them happy, so be it. The Constitution provides that freedom. Denying a group of people their language is also an act of violence. Students have been whipped, beaten, and bullied in schools for speaking Spanish. Violence is defined by physical anguish intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. The alienation of a people causes pain and suffering, of the mind and heart. I agree wholeheartedly, the oppression of an ethnic group violates the supposed unalienable rights our country guarantees.

Blog #1 Team Unicorn-Brandy

I want to begin with Jill Bolte Taylor and the experience she encountered after having a stroke. Though it may have been an extremely traumatic time in her life she describes it almost blissfully as if she enjoyed the silence that was the effects of the stroke. The picture she paints is a kind of “lala” land, which if it were my own experience, would seem incredible. I could imagine it as feeling innocent again, like a young child, not knowing what is right and wrong. The story about Ildefonso, however, is very much the opposite of Jill Bolte Taylor and in a way makes her sound somewhat unappreciative of what she has had the majority of her life. It’s amazing that after not having language half his life, Ildefonso could no longer contemplate or imagine not having it. I don’t believe it was necessary for him per say based on the idea there are other ways to communicate without language. Having language is just a matter of association, like putting a name with a face. His ability to think did not depend on his adaption to our language, because from what she described about his friends they had already adapted their own way to communicate with each other which tells me that they could indeed think for themselves. I don’t think learning our language was necessarily a good thing nor a bad thing, it only opened eyes to a more in depth way of communicating and approaching life.

I feel like I can relate to Anzaldua in the sense that I too consider myself a mixture of different cultures. I have constantly moved from region to region since I was a young child and gained various traits that have become part of who I am from the different places I’ve lived. I actually consider myself somewhat of a chameleon because of my ability to relate to different people in different social groups. As I’ve gotten older I have become very well rounded and able to incorporate all the different sides of me no matter who I am around. As far as Anzaldua’s claim that denying a group their language is a violation of their rights, I completely agree. The first amendment was put into place for a reason and not only that but no one should be denied the right to be different. Some children make up secret languages amongst there friends that make no sense at all but are deemed “silly” and “child-like” but they are not shunned for them. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it is an act of violence but it is extremely unjust and unfair.

Welcome To College Writing I

This is where we will be posting our blog entries and reading responses. You will also be responsible for commenting on your peers' blog entries. Bookmark this website so that you can easily access it in the future.

I look forward to reading your ideas and getting to know your writing!

Best,

Shiloh