Manners In Language Essay, Research Paper
Manners In Language
Is there a certain way that we must talk? Yes and no. The way we talk could depend on a situation that we are in or where we are located, at work or home. We should enforce speaking English to everyone that doesn?t already speak it. Also because it is a type of manner we all should follow so there is no type of mis communication in our daily lives.
We already have many different ways we are supposed to do things. Should we have more? For example, everyone in the United States is supposed to be aware of which fork is used for each course of the meal. I don?t know this is so because there are many people I know who don?t have a clue there is even a separate fork for salad. This may lower someone?s opinion of them, but should it bother them if it does lower their opinions. Hopefully not, because there is not a law that tells anyone how we have talk or eat, but it is just to help us out. Having certain manners helps us fit in and understand everyone else a little better.
We need to speak a special language because it?s proper and politically correct. Proper and politically correct meaning, this language is appropriate for everyone to listen to. So many people think speaking the same language will make people feel much more comfortable. If everyone spoke English, the language of the United States, will we all understand each other? No, not exactly because there are so many different types of languages in our country today. The correct language that should be used is English.
In Mirta Ojito?s article ?Language Etiquette. Say What?? she explains ?The etiquette issue brings up some of Americans? most deeply rooted anxieties about language. The chief one: that someone is saying something about them in a language they do not understand and that is not very nice?(29). Agreeing with Ojito?s statement, it is very annoying when you here someone talking a separate language and you don?t know what they are saying.
This is why we should understand one language, just English. Even in English alone there are many different terms that people do not understand. But in general we still understand the idea. For example, cuttin the rug many of the younger generations may not understand this phrase. Just in case some of us don?t know, it means to dance. This is just one example that teenagers may not understand. Teenagers and children also have their own language now. A mother may ask her child what he did tonight. The child?s reply just chilled. More than likely the mother knows he wasn?t sitting in the cold or anything, but does she really know and understand what he means. Though there is no dictionary for my definition of ?just chilled? it is just the meaning a young adult. He/she could be saying they went to a friend?s house and just sat around or they went to a movie. Teens just know what just chilled means. There really isn?t a Webster definition for that phrase along with many others. It is their special language.
There are a lot of different cultures in the United States. So should everyone else accommodate to everyone needs? Just to make it easier to communicate for everyone. From the article Ojito states? In New York, where nearly 3 million people claimed in the 1990 Census a native language that was not English?(Ojito29). This proves not everyone speaks the same language. Many people in the United States speaking a language other than English, should suggest to us that we need to enforce a specific language. But why should everyone in the United States, that speaks English learn another language. The people speaking any other language should learn our native language, English.
With the exceptions, anyone speaking another language should be given the opportunity to speak their native language. They may speak it during their own conversations. In Brooklyn two co-workers were talking outside across the street and were fired for speaking their native language(Ojito29). Should the employer have gone to that extent? We don?t have all the details, but if they were not at work it should have been acceptable. Your native language should be allowed, especially with your friends.
I would think that it is a benefit to speak multiple languages. It is usually a good thing to be bilingual. Most people go to college or learn in high school a separate language. This could be a bad thing, but also good. If you work with foreign countries, then the employer needs an employee that?s bilingual. Though having more than one language accepted at work could bring up some problems. Such as, employees not being able to understand each other at work. One may get mad at the other and a fight could start. Which will waste the employers money because it took up work time to solve the problem, between the two fighting.
Another example of miss communication is if someone?s at work and spilled coffee on their blouse. A couple co-workers are talking and laughing at something as the person walks past. The person will automatically think that they are talking about them. Even though one of them could have just told a joke before they walked past. The person could go to their boss because they don?t know what the men laughing were saying. It doesn?t even cross our minds that they could have just said a joke. It is just an instinct that many people have. To think the worst of people
Should we do anything about this or just let it go? An option is that we could can just go up to them and ask them what they are discussing. They will probably think it?s foolish if we tell them we thought they were talking about us. Many people know more than one language, it would not be very smart to make a joke about someone. No one knows what languages everyone else knows. And if you would know the language they?re speaking, I think they would feel more embarrassed than anyone about the whole situation.
Another solution we could do is to pretend we never even heard it. Just go on with our business. In most cases of pouring coffee on ourselves, the person usually does get teased anyway. It was a silly mistake that deserves some type of joke. Maybe even make a joke about it when we walk in, before anyone else gets a chance too.
Language etiquette can mean so much. It has to accommodate to everyone?s needs. When we?re at work, unless it is the job description, we need to speak English. So other people at work don?t get the wrong impression. Or just sticking up for yourself in situations that you feel uncomfortable. In conclusion, I firmly believe that everyone should learn English so there is no chance for any type mis-communication.
Ojito, Mirta. ?Language Etiquette: Say What?? New York Times July 27, 1997:29