I thought it was proper grammar vs. slang??
I didn’t know color had anything to do with the way someone spoke…
Grammar is the set of structural rules that govern the composition of sentences, phrases, and words in any given natural language.
It is often used to identify with one's peers and, although it may be common among young people, it is used by people of all ages, gender, color, race and/or social groups.
Has someone you know/known been stereotyped by this stigma or even yourself for that matter? If so, how has it made you feel or them feel when they’ve encountered this? Better yet, are you one of those people that would tell a person something like this? If so, why??
Growing up in Catholic school you dare not use the wrong grammar. I got teased from the other kids in the neighborhood for calling my mom "Mother" or pronouncing my words correctly. OH! how I hated being teased for it!! I remember visiting Atlanta and my czn's and friends teased me for saying "hello" instead of hey. They stated I spoke to proper, and I sounded like the white folks, so I was considered I guess a goody two shoes. I hated it to where I started to copy how they spoke. When I got back home to California. My "Mother" was having none of that!! As I got older I started to put a little twist on things with a twang if you will and now its you speak too black. Go figure. The moral of the story is; Damned if you do and Damned if you don't!
ReplyDeleteAnyone can be proper spoken and anyone can use slang. Color has nothing to do with it. People say I remind them of a cartoon because I am animated and some people say I have a personality of a white girl because they think they can get over on me. NOT!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, this is a funny subject for me as I am white and socialized during highschool with mainly black kids. I still am about 1/2 and 1/2 on the friends black vs. white. I am and always have been comfortable with both worlds, if you will. Having been in the business world for so long now, I speak "proper" English but can't wait for the moment I can slip back into my LA street kid roots. I think that during high school, it was a way to fit in. All too comfortably some may have thought.
ReplyDeleteI love people, I will always love people and I truly feel that I am a bit of a camelion (sp) when it comes to joining in coversation. Much to the shock of most of my friends... my husband is Filipino! So are my kids!