Chapter 6

Chapter 6 - Reading

Language, the universal way of communicating with those around you; language can be verbal or non-verbal. This chapter reminded me a lot of English 311 at Bradley, were it talked about all the different dialects and languages people can have and come up with. It is really hard for me to see a Standard English in the United States because so many different languages are being talked at any given time. It is interesting to see how someone’s culture can affect what you say and how it is interoperated by others around you. There are even a lot of different accents or dialects within one region of a state or a country. Some people from Chicago will not sound like the people from the Peoria area because of the different sounds and dialects that are used in the area. Language is able to be used for many different types of communication both verbal and non-verbal. Books and stories are a form of language that is read and that can be passed down from generation to generation. Teachers need to be aware of all the different languages that can be spoken and the different dialects that might be used and be able to emprise them as a positive and not a negative. A lot of what students bring into the classroom can become a lesson and educate not only the teacher but also the students as a whole. It was interesting for me to read about how language has progressed and developed over time; I do not know how I could talk like they did many centuries ago, but without the way of talking in those centuries we would not have some of the words that we use today on a regular or semi-regular basis. I believe that teachers need to be educated in more than one language, at least with some background of the language that could be or is prominent in their classroom. This way the teacher feels comfortable with his/her students and understands some of the struggles that the students could be having.

Chapter 6 - Questions
1.If Standard English is becoming the main language, how can people know what type of English is being spoken?
2.People come from all over the world to live in certain parts of America, how can the dialect they use be seen as good or bad? Why/why not?
3.Language is a universal setting, how can some language be misinterpreted for good or bad reasons?
4.Can your age, culture, and socioeconomic status influence the way you speak and communicate?