Don't Judge My African American English
Summary
TLDRThe transcript discusses the complex relationship between language, identity, and societal expectations. It explores how individuals, particularly African-Americans, often code-switch—using informal, grammatically incorrect speech with friends while adopting more standardized language in professional settings to avoid negative judgments. The speaker highlights how slang and informal speech can be a form of individuality and rebellion, yet societal pressures demand conformity to 'proper' English, especially in corporate environments. This creates a tension where individuals must navigate fitting in while expressing their cultural identity.
Takeaways
- 😀 People often adjust their speech depending on the environment they are in, using casual language with friends and more formal language in professional settings.
- 🤔 Slang and informal speech are seen as forms of individuality and expression, allowing people to communicate in ways unique to their community.
- 😎 In certain social contexts, using slang or informal terms helps to convey a sense of camaraderie and familiarity, like saying 'what's up' instead of 'hello'.
- 💼 In professional or formal environments, there is pressure to speak 'proper' English to be taken seriously or respected.
- 😬 There is a societal expectation that speaking grammatically correct English is a sign of intelligence and education.
- 🧐 Using slang or informal language in corporate settings can lead to negative judgments, such as being perceived as uneducated or a 'thug'.
- 😥 African Americans, in particular, may feel pressure to prove they are not 'lazy' or 'uneducated' by conforming to standard English speech norms.
- 🙄 Even within the African American community, people may face judgment based on how they speak, depending on the environment they were raised in.
- 😠 There is a twofold pressure: to fit into mainstream norms while also maintaining a sense of cultural individuality.
- 🌍 Language is one way that outsiders assess a person's background, education, and character, which can lead to biases and stereotypes.
Q & A
What is the speaker's view on using grammatically incorrect language in informal settings?
-The speaker feels comfortable using grammatically incorrect language or slang in informal settings, like when they're with friends, because they know they will be understood and there is no pressure to speak perfectly.
How does the speaker's language change in formal or business environments?
-In formal or business environments, the speaker makes an effort to articulate themselves well, using correct grammar to ensure they are understood and to avoid negative judgments from others.
What role does slang play in the speaker's communication with friends?
-Slang is a form of self-expression and individuality for the speaker when communicating with friends. It helps them connect with their peers in a unique way, and it also serves as a form of rebellion against societal expectations.
What societal pressures does the speaker mention when it comes to language use?
-The speaker discusses societal pressures to conform to 'proper' English, especially in formal settings. They feel that not using standard English can lead to being judged as less intelligent, uneducated, or unfit for professional environments.
How does the speaker describe the link between language and perceptions of intelligence?
-The speaker notes that if someone uses slang or non-standard English, especially African American Vernacular English (AAVE), they may be perceived as less intelligent or educated, even though this is not necessarily true.
What is the speaker’s take on the need to assimilate in professional settings?
-The speaker feels that in order to succeed professionally, especially in corporate settings, people are pressured to assimilate by speaking and behaving in ways that conform to societal expectations, even if it doesn’t reflect their personal identity.
How does the speaker address the stereotypes associated with speaking slang?
-The speaker mentions that using heavy slang can lead to being stereotyped as a 'thug' or a 'gangster' and being perceived as less educated or competent, regardless of the individual's actual intelligence or abilities.
Why does the speaker believe language plays a role in how outsiders assess individuals?
-The speaker believes that language is one of the main factors outsiders use to judge a person’s character, intelligence, and social status, which can influence how individuals are perceived in different environments.
What challenge does the speaker mention for African Americans in terms of language use?
-The speaker points out that African Americans often feel the need to prove they are not 'one of the bad ones,' using language as a tool to show they are intelligent, hardworking, and capable of fitting into mainstream society.
How does the speaker feel about the judgments made within their own community regarding language use?
-The speaker feels that even within the African American community, people are often judged harshly based on their language, depending on who they grew up around and the environments they were exposed to.
Outlines
🎤 Code-Switching and Language Flexibility Among Friends
This paragraph explores how people may use different language styles depending on the setting. The speaker mentions feeling comfortable using slang or non-standard grammar with friends in informal environments, knowing their friends will understand them. However, in professional or public settings like the bank or grocery store, the speaker stresses the need to articulate clearly and conform to societal expectations to avoid misunderstandings.
🤝 The Significance of Slang in Personal Identity and Rebellion
The speaker reflects on the use of slang within close social circles, explaining that slang represents a form of individuality and expression. Terms like 'what’s up son' or 'broki' reflect camaraderie and rebellion against standard language norms. This unique language helps individuals create a sense of identity and resist societal pressures to conform to 'proper' English.
📋 The Pressure to Assimilate for Success
This section discusses the balancing act between expressing individuality through language and the pressure to assimilate into the expectations of society. The speaker explains how people feel the need to adopt 'proper' speech patterns in business and professional settings to be seen as competent. Those who use non-standard English might be unfairly judged as less intelligent or uneducated.
💼 Language, Assimilation, and Corporate Perceptions
The speaker elaborates on how language use, particularly slang, affects one's image in corporate environments. Using heavy slang may lead to negative stereotypes, with people being perceived as 'thugs' or 'gangsters,' which can hurt career opportunities. The speaker emphasizes that this judgment is often rooted in the environment someone grew up in rather than their actual intelligence or abilities.
👥 Community and Internal Judgment Based on Language
The speaker touches on how judgment also exists within their own community. People may judge others harshly based on their background or the social circles they belong to, even within the same community. This internal pressure to conform or prove oneself adds another layer of complexity to the relationship between language and identity.
🔎 Proving One's Worth as an African-American
This paragraph delves into the experience of being African-American and how outsiders often assess them based on language. The speaker feels that African-Americans must constantly prove they are not part of negative stereotypes like being lazy or unfit for success. Language becomes a key factor in this judgment, determining how outsiders perceive their worth and capabilities.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Grammatically Incorrect
💡Individuality
💡Slang
💡Articulate
💡Rebellion
💡Assimilate
💡Corporate World
💡Judgment
💡African-American Language
💡Pressure to Conform
Highlights
Slang is often used in informal settings, like when speaking with friends, because people feel more comfortable and expressive.
In more formal settings, like a business environment, people consciously change how they speak to fit societal expectations.
Using grammatically incorrect language or slang is sometimes a way to express individuality and rebellion.
There is a social pressure to articulate oneself 'correctly' to be understood and taken seriously.
The way people greet each other using slang (e.g., 'what's up son') is a form of expressing camaraderie and familiarity.
There’s a stigma around using slang or informal language, which can lead to perceptions of lower intelligence or lack of education.
People feel a dual need: the desire to maintain their individuality and the need to conform to societal expectations.
Speaking 'proper English' is often seen as a requirement to succeed in professional and corporate environments.
Using heavy slang can lead to being stereotyped as a 'thug' or 'gangster' even if the individual is educated.
African-Americans often feel pressured to prove they are not one of the 'bad ones' to counter stereotypes.
The environment one grows up in plays a huge role in shaping language and communication style.
Within the African-American community, people can face judgment based on how 'proper' or 'slangy' they speak.
Speaking in a way that fits into mainstream culture can sometimes feel like suppressing one’s true identity.
Language is a primary factor in how people are judged or categorized in society.
The use of slang or informal speech does not indicate a lack of intelligence; it reflects cultural and environmental influences.
Transcripts
if I'm in the comfort of my own home if
I'm I'm with my friends or whatever I
may say something that I know is
grammatically incorrect or that you know
that isn't a word or but I don't care
I'm with my friends they know what I
mean but when I step outside my house
depend on where I am you know if in this
type of environment or any business
environment or if I'm at the bank or if
I'm at the grocery store you know I got
to make sure I articulate myself well
for society reasons for the fact that I
need to make sure they know exactly what
I'm talking about or they understand
exactly the point I'm trying to get
across two guys walk up together and
they might dab each other off and say
what's up son but that mean homeboy
what's up brother you know you might be
my ride or die you know my homie my Ace
you
know my broki you know we say stuff like
that and they'll be like okay why you
can't just say friend Hi friend you
know it's like we we we F to talk our
own own way you know and it's just like
we have to have some form of
individuality you know in the way that
we speak and so using slang or using
this so-called inferior English as they
would say is definitely a form of some
type of form of rebellion um and it's
also just a form of expression for us to
be able to express ourselves in some
type of unique way trying to be
successful in this world you feel as
though you have to you have to be able
to speak on their terms and behave on on
their terms so it's it's it's twofold
it's it's a it's
um um it's this need to fit in and there
also pressure put on from the other side
that if you if you don't
speak um and and appear in in ways that
are similar to us then you probably are
not that good if you speak in that other
um you slang words and you you um speak
in you know in an
African-American um then you maybe not
that's maybe not that smart maybe not as
educated um so you you're forced to
assimilate in trying to speak with
someone else that's like in a corporate
world they would look at those kind of
things you know and that depends on what
kind of jobs that you're looking for and
grammar is a big thing in this Society
So speaking correctly that's proper
English you know um a lot of a lot of
Corporations or a lot of jobs and stuff
like that if you speak too too heavy
slang you like a lot of slang terms like
they'll look at you like you a thug or
they'll look at you like you know what
I'm saying like you a gangster and that
you not properly educated or that you
not as smart and a lot of times it don't
really have anything to do with that
it's just um the environment that they
was brought up in I I I feel like even
in our own Community you get a lot of
people that judge us or that are harsh
on us just because of where they were
grown up or who they grew up around or
who they surround themselves around if
you are born african-amer you have to
prove that you are not one of the bad
ones you have to prove that you are not
um lazy that that you can fit in that
you can do this so and and and how
people
how people how The Outsiders
assess um what type of person you are is
based on a lot of things one being
language
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