opportunity. The costs of democracy, of assimilation, are not spelled out in
the papers they must file to live here, but in the stories of people like
Henry Park. The narrator of the novel Native Speaker draws a vivid picture
of himself and all immigrants: “They speak ... not simply in new accents
or notes but in the ancient untold music of a newcomer’s heart, sonorous
with longing and hope.”
What the newcomer must learn for him or herself is the grim reality of
limitations imposed by a standard language ideology. For most this will
not be a surprise; we are not the only nation that promotes the idea of a
standard, homogeneous language.
Discussion Questions and Exercises
What is the connection between nationalism and
language?
The United States is not the only country which subscribes
to a standard language ideology. How (if at all) would
somebody studying Greek come to know and understand
the sociolinguistic clues embedded in Greek?
After six years of learning a foreign language exclusively in
a classroom, what can the average student not know?
Find a native speaker of a language other than English,
someone who is willing to talk to you. Using the following
examples, ask your informant these questions:I understand you grew up in Italy. Where exactly?
How many native languages are there in Italy?
Where in Italy is the best (standard) Italian
spoken? The worst?
What do you like or dislike about the best variety
of Italian? The worst?
Did your own Italian accent cause you any
discomfort when you were there? Did it provide
you with any advantages?