Tuesday, February 26, 2019

"My Three Englishes"

My three Englishes include speaking with family, friends, and speaking/writing in school. When speaking to these different groups or environments, I speak differently using formal or informal language choices along with using different vocabulary with each of these groups.

My most casual form of speaking is with my friends. While with my friends I often use certain jargon and I do not always speak with proper grammar. I don't worry about being judged on how I speak because when speaking with people my own age we generally speak the same way using the same jargon and grammar. Along with speaking with my friends, texting is also very casual and informal. In texts, I often use abbreviations and incorrect grammar, I rarely use punctuation, and I do not correctly capitalize.

My most formal speaking and writing is in school and with my teachers. While speaking with teachers, I always use correct grammar and try to use a deeper vocabulary. I also write very formally in papers and assignments for class. I try to use sophisticated language while writing and always check my grammar and spelling before turning an assignment in.

My other form of English is speaking with family. When speaking with my family, I often find I use a combination of how I speak with friends and teachers. I talk somewhat casually with my family but I don't use the jargon that I use with my friends. This is due to parents or other family not always understanding the jargon and terms people my age use and it can be difficult to describe the terms to them. By refraining from using this jargon, I use a different vocabulary similar, but not as formal, to the vocabulary I use with teachers.

With these three Englishes I use during different times and with different audiences, I think I have the most power while speaking with friends and others that are the same age or younger than me. I think this because while speaking with friends they don't judge the way I speak but focus on what I am saying instead of how I say things so they focus on the idea I am trying to express instead of how I express it. I feel I have less power while speaking with teachers or other people that have a higher authority because they often focus on your grammar, language choices, and whether your speaking formal or informally. By teachers focusing on those details, they are less focused on what you are saying and you cannot fully express your ideas.

By using my three Englishes, I am able to change the way I speak with different groups of people to try and express my ideas to their full extent. With using these languages I am able to obtain different levels of power to portray my opinions and ideas successfully.

3 comments:

  1. While reading your piece, I really liked your way of explaining this topic of the Englishes that you speak. I agree that the three most distinct groups of people in my life that affect the way I speak are friends, family, and teachers. I think it was interesting how you connected power with comfort and age. By saying that power in speech comes from being most comfortable with friends that are closer in age, seems to make the most sense due to the extent of understanding one another. How do you think your teachers or family would react if you decided to change how you spoke with them to a less formal way? Do you think this skill of speaking different Englishes is a necessity in life for everyone?

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  2. I like how you talked about the importance of what you are saying, rather than how. I also am most comfortable speaking around my friends because I don't feel judged. I also like how you said that people your own age understand the terms and jargon you use better than parents or teachers do. Why do you think adults care so much more about speaking in a sophisticated way than people our age?

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  3. I enjoyed reading about your different Englishes and how you use each one with specific groups of people. I also thought it was very effective how you explained the different language choices by the people in each group, like parents not knowing teen jargon. The power paragraph was also interesting to see your perspective on the importance of how people speak and what they say. Why do we, teens and kids, decide to use this type of jargon rather than how we would talk to adults or teachers?

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