Southern Dialect and Language Style - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages Here is the thesis statement: “The influence of language is so imminent I can’t stop thinking about it, the way it arouses feelings, simple truths, visual image, and complex ideas” (Tan 633).

There are some truths to her allegations regarding the influence of a language style. Although I am not multilingual, people have perceived me differently due to my pronunciation and language style. That particular misconception is so strong that any links to the southern region qualify to predispose someone to suspicions. Therefore, how people regard southern folks, available opportunities, and self-assessment all depend on the language.

Notably, others will judge the person by the way he or she speaks and never by intellectual capacity. The notion is so rampant because someone can form an opinion about you even when you meet for the first time. It is possible to relate to the encounter her mother had with the stockbroker and how she felt oppressed. The irritation is evident in her voice when she rants, “Why he doesn’t send me a cheque, already two weeks late. So mad he lie me, losing money” (Tan 635). Although the language of the mother isn’t perfect, the lady understands why the stockbroker is mistreating her. He is mistreating the lady, probably due to the way she struggles with the language.

The response shows the way natives quickly notice the accent, which then quickly escalates to mistreatment. I have also come to realize that my accent and southern descent have made people view me differently. The most annoying part is the way natives can freely make fun of my intonation and demean my intelligence. Sometimes, they make it look like they a far smarter than me, which is never the case. Perhaps, that is because they don’t know I take superior programs at my school. After they learn more about me, their perception changes because they recognize I am more intelligent and more proficient than they assumed. Sometimes, it feels reassuring to notice how those individuals react once they acknowledge my potential and treat me as their equal.

The first impression also influences the way people undermine someone. A good example is how the hospital worker treats her mother. The staff fails to provide her with vital info regarding her health status since she used broken English. Similarly, I had the same experience once while walking in the company of friends. Despite commenting and giving my opinions, they would persistently ignore them like I said nothing.

Similarly, Tan reflects on her life because she thought her mom’s accent might have influenced opportunities in her life. At least, she can remember the way her language abilities had influenced her SAT, Achievement, and IQ tests. However, the girl managed to record good results in math because of her limited knowledge of the language. Their excellent performance in math and sciences misled her teachers to believe she was weak in creative subjects. Somehow, my experience in school is a reflection of her since my language style has impacted my accomplishments in academics. Particularly, the results I obtained in oral exams and language assignments were not impressive.

My instructors have also noticed the coincidence between my southern accent and language style. Besides, my mother was ignored for good opportunities previously which can be attributed to the southern dialect. For example, my mother recently lost a chance to get hired by a lesser qualified candidate, albeit having a college degree and twenty years of experience. Likewise, her mother noticed the missed opportunities were attributed to her accent and language use, and that made her change her perception of herself. So, she changed the way she answers calls and made Tan take them to avoid people who exploit her. Also, I often keep quiet around people not from the southern part due to fear they would get the incorrect notion about me. Although Tan talks about her mom’s experience, it is a revelation of the way people with accents get ill-treated around the world. It also highlights the challenges these people experience in academics due to their accents.

Maybe, people would learn how their behavior affects people with diverse language types and dialects. Instead of concentrating on an individual’s accent, we should look into their prospects and what they can offer. Otherwise, people will continue to underestimate those special groups and deny them opportunities that make them worthless and frustrated. Today, little has changed since the way an individual speaks could determine the chances he or she gets. In summary, my life and encounters befitting her story on the strength of a language and the opportunities we miss due to background. ...Download file to see next pages Read More