American Language

WHAT would you think if you asked someone what language they spoke and "American" was their response? Shockingly, (at least to me) there are people who think that "I speak American" is synonymous with "I speak English." But, let me just get to it. "American" is not a language. Now, let's talk about the English language. Because of the diversity of the United States today and historically there is an equally diverse make-up of the language. All across the country people speak English and all across the country people speak English differently. The English language is one that is full of colloquialisms that have their regional homes. English has so many variations that it would be hard to keep up: there is British English, Canadian English, Australian English, and God knows how many other variations abroad and in the U.S.A. The important thing is that we are all able to communicate. I don't get the big fuss about language. If we can communicate with each other, then why are so many people trippin? The answer is that there is an ego in a lot of people that tells them everyone should speak the way they do, especially when it comes to "Black English" and Ebonics. Everyone assumes that because you speak like Flavor Flav instead of Professor White at Harvard University's English Department that you are ignorant! Well, I'm not even going to touch on that because I can easily nullify that point. Honestly though, has anyone ever considered what it would be like if the powers that be were flip-flopped. What if somehow through history it worked out that the people who speak Black English were the people running the country for the past 500 years? The answer is Black English would be the "standard" today. This goes to show that the selection of what is considered correct and incorrect English is totally political. You can tell me that I'm wrong, but I won't believe you.

"It's a strange world of language in which skating on thin ice can get you into hot water."
- Franklin P. Jones