Multiple Voices Concerning Language Usage - Essay Example

Language has changed drastically in the past ten years since the usage of the internet has increased among students. I have made use of a case study of a teacher Jacqueline for the readers of my written pieces to make them understand how writing the English language has changed. Students have started using shortcuts of words that they use while instant messaging or texting. Some of the common words that Jacqueline has marked during the correction session are U, 4u, abt, etc. I have come across a difference in approach towards writing language. I have both Asians as well as natives in my classroom and they all seem to make mistakes i.e. using instant messaging and texting the English language. I have even given an ultimatum to my students that if they will not stop using inappropriate English language then I will have to deduct their marks. I want my students to learn English in the best possible and academic manner because language is a way through which one may judge others (Ober).

Tan: I would not agree more. Language has changed to a great extent. I must say that language is a very powerful tool within a society. It is no more an astonishing fact that language has rather become an element in relationships. I would present my mother’s experience here being an immigrant. Since we are not native English or Americans, my mother had trouble speaking English. However, with time, she learned her way to speak the English language fluently. My mother made use of different television channels to learn the English language as well as magazines. One fact that I noted all this time was that people judge others based on how others speak the English language. My written piece “Mother Tongue” is an evident example of the experiences that I and my mother had been through. People do not consider immigrants to be able to speak English well even though they learn their way to speak English fluently. I would also mention here that there is not just one way to speak English because everyone has a different approach to using language. Some people make use of very short sentences that do not even sound correct. Nobody will correct these people because it may be being spoken by a native. My mother on the other hand uses academic language which is a brilliant job (Dong).

Lee: I will rather make an addition to the language argument. I will state that other than adding instant messaging and texting, there many other objects that are making their way into English composition. These objects are either emoticons that the users may use while chatting with others on instant messaging. Other than that, I have also observed students make use of exclamation marks in bulk when they try to make proof while composing their writings. All such aspects have widely resulted in irrelevant and non-academic ways of composing essays. This is one of the reasons why it is becoming difficult for teachers to manage their students in the most appropriate manner (Ober).
Tan: Agreeable! Herein, I can let you know about the fact that my mother is an extremely smart woman who knows everything because she keeps on reading and understanding concepts from different mediums of communication. It is merely her way of speaking the English language that makes her categorized among less smart people. At times, I used to be irritated with the fact that my mother is unable to speak correct English. However, with time, I got to understand that my mother is very smart as she knows about concepts and methods that even I tend to miss out on. Thus, it will be unfair to judge people based on language when natives themselves are not able to make use of proper English and writing academically.

Lee: Obviously, there is a lot of difference between academic and slang usage of words in written and spoken English. The fact remains that the spread of English slang has been given rise to or enhanced by people of all ages and ethnicities. It is rather expected that people make use of complete words instead of shortcuts on texting and instant messaging so that people can practice academic manner of writing once again. On the surface, writing slang or shortcuts might be easier or provide flexibility to people but in real terms, it is making them liable for texting language. The practice of composition is thus needed to be done. Great stress needs to be put on students’ manner of academic writing.

Through the above analysis, it can be well stated that both the authors are not in favor of the change i.e. addition of instant messaging and text in the English language, both, speaking and writing. The above dialogue between the two authors makes it evident that they have experienced differences in the English language. At one point Lee discusses that language change has resulted in inefficiency in students who do not consider writing effectively. Lee has been observed to lay stress on the fact that language allows people to present themselves and communicate with others. Similarly, the author Tan has also mentioned that people have rather made language as a way to judge others. Read More