condescension. In looking at how this works, there are two types of data to
be considered: commentary made about matters of language, often
derisive or condescending and news reports which are language focused.
The following examples come from both broadcast and print new media.
The idea is to teach them how to speak English so that it sounds like
English, and not, as Henry Higgins might put it, like warmed-over
grits. Think of them as prisoners – prisoners of their own accents.We like Hahn, 34, who was born in South Korea and whose positions
on controlling growth are much like our own. Unfortunately, we think
his heavy accent and somewhat limited contacts would make it
difficult for him to be a councilman.
For all the damage now being done to the English language there are
people who continue to care about its health. Dr. Grammar is one of
them.
No matter how qualified a person is, a voice twisted by regional or
ethnic influences can be a stumbling block socially and
professionally. If others can’t understand you or your words are too
richly flavored with down-home spice, you could find all your skill
and intelligence thwarted by a telltale tongue.^4Newspaper headlines alone are sometimes quite sufficient evidence of a
particular slant on language issues: “Bad English Spoken Here”
(McKenzie 1992); “Language is the Guardian of Culture” (Nenneman
1992); “Speak English, Troops” (Hamel 1989); “Black English Not
Spoken Here” (Jarrett 1979a); “Oy Gevalt! New Yawkese an Endangered
Dialect?” (Sontag 1993); “Today’s Youth’s Inability to Speak Proper
English” (Quad-City Herald 2004).