Abstract

Slang is the focal point for my Researched Critical Analysis Essay. Reading Emma Thompson’s statement on slang caught my attention and that is why I devoted this paper to it. My audience is Emma Thompson herself since I wanted to target her and her cruel words. My purpose is to inform this woman that slang is not a bad thing to utilize and to persuade her to change her views on this form of speaking.

The Beauty of Slang

Why is it that when a person hears the word “slang,” negative thoughts may run through their head and judgment may crawl upon their tongue? This is the case with Emma Thompson and her statement of people who utilize slang. According to an article titled “Actress Emma Thompson attacks use of sloppy language,” Thompson remarks “I told them just don’t do it. Because it makes you sound stupid and you’re not stupid” (“Actress Emma Thompson attacks use of sloppy language”). This woman is not in favor of people who speak this form of English and believes that it makes someone look unintelligent. Thompson thinks that the way in which you speak should depend on the setting in which you are in. She asserts the idea that speaking SAE is an advantage and it makes you better than people who don’t speak this way. She is a British actress that probably basis her views on how she was raised and the fact that she serves as a role model for others, especially younger people. In contrast to her way of thinking, I strongly believe that slang is not a poor way of speaking. It might be someone’s form of communicating with others and no one should have to follow the rules of language if it changes a person’s identity. The language myth that slang is inferior and should not be used is one that I am against. Slang is a diverse way of speaking, a form of expression, part of someone’s identity and it shouldn’t be criticized or looked down upon. A person’s identity and intelligence shouldn’t be questioned or judged by the way someone speaks, instead there should be more acceptance towards dialects.

Slang is another form of English and speaking this way doesn’t correlate with a person’s intelligence. Thompson visited her old school and told students to not speak this way because it made them look stupid. Her negative attitude towards slang is demonstrated through this action. But I have for Thompson, “why does that form of speaking make someone look unintelligent?” This woman doesn’t even know the students in a way to judge them based on speech. It is absurd that she went out of her way to tell them this. All she did was criticize the poor students without truly knowing them. In the article, titled “Excerpt From: African-American English: From The Hood to the Amen Corner” published in the year 1996, Geneva Smitherman, a professor emerita of English and former director of the African American Language and Literacy Program at Michigan State University who has dedicated her life to education and development of Black youth, asserts that someone’s intelligence shouldn’t be challenged by the way they speak and respect should be shown to everybody. In comparison to this way of thinking, I believe that no one should feel like they are lesser than others or that they are not capable of accomplishing great things compared to someone who speaks SAE. In addition, professional people may speak “broken” English at times and that doesn’t make them stupid. People may face many hardships and be denied certain opportunities for not speaking SAE and this is unfair. For instance, Lippi Green had to endure many obstacles such as being forced to take a speech therapy class in order to speak proper English. A person’s intelligence shouldn’t be judged on their speech because people express themselves in various ways. Speaking is not the way to judge intelligence if you are unaware of a person’s capabilities.

Slang can be part of a person’s identity and no one should have the right to take that away from anybody. People speak on a daily basis and it leaves an impression of who they are. There are people that look down upon themselves for not speaking the way society views as “normal” or some people might just learn to live with the criticism. Nobody should feel ashamed or the need to change in order to satisfy others. This means that if slang drives you “insane,” as it does for Thompson, then you should learn to be more accepting. If people were more open minded towards different dialects, perhaps there wouldn’t be so much judgment and negativity in the world. There is no reason for a form of speaking to make her crazy and even is she is a proper speaker herself, she shouldn’t make people feel that SAE is the superior language. Thompson should learn more from Lippi Green and her understanding of diverse dialects. In fact, Lippi Green is a credited author that has studied language throughout her life, which makes her knowledgeable about what she talks about. In one of Lippi Green’s chapters named “Language Subordination,” within the book English with an Accent, she points out, “We use variation in language to construct ourselves as social beings, to signal who we are, and who we are not and do not want to be” (Lippi Green, 66). Green clarifies why people speak the way they do and the importance of it. Accordingly, I believe that if someone speaks slang, it forms part of who they are which affects the way they view themselves and communicate with others. Someone who speaks slang shouldn’t change who they are because at the end of the day, they are altering a significant part of them. Negative comments, such as the one Thompson mentioned, should be rejected and acceptance of this form of speaking should be encouraged.

People have been using slang for centuries and some people like it and others hate it. There is history behind slang and the people who use it. It is constantly evolving and has created additions to the English language. Emma Thompson would probably be frustrated to hear that slang is not going anywhere, but it just keeps growing. In a video called “Is Slang Good?” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzlROlOz7Yw ) produced in 2010, Nicola Pearson, head of the English department in Top Valley School claims, “It creates a whole new language of their own and it has spread, been recognized across the country, and I have to give them credit for that” (Is Slang Good?”). I believe that slang was a good thing to occur. I say this because it’s a different form of speaking that creates diversity among languages. People don’t always want to speak SAE because it gets tiresome having to follow rules all the time. In addition, no language is perfect because everything has flaws. Thompson views SAE as the perfect language but contradicts herself when she says that she wouldn’t get plastic surgery because it’s “part of this ridiculous culture of perfection.” She makes a statement explaining how she is against “sloppy language,” which is considered imperfect and encourages people to avoid it and speak SAE. However, her stating not wanting plastic surgery counters her view of perfection. A question for her then might be “why does she want everyone to speak in an ideal way, but when it comes to physical appearance, being perfect is not important?” Speaking slang is based on our personal histories, background, and selves so getting rid of it or changing someone’s speech is not a good approach to fulfill others wants.

It is important to realize that there should be a time and place to utilize slang. Thompson makes a valid point when she states, “There is the necessity to have two languages- one that you use with your mates and the other that you need in any official capacity.” I agree with this remark because people should be aware of when they speak this way. For instance, slang would not be appropriate to use at a job interview, communicating with your boss, or doctors visit. Instead, a more formal tone should be utilized in these situations. Even though I agree with this statement, I am in disagreement with her overall view that slang makes a person look stupid. There are people that feel that slang should be banned and it shouldn’t be used at all. According to an article written in The New York Times called “Girls’ Anti-Slang Society”, it is stated, “The members bind themselves to pay into the treasury 1 cent for each slang word or expression used in the hearing of another person” (“Girls’ Anti-Slang Society”). However, denying people to use slang is an unrealistic achievement because people utilize it in all sorts of settings. There isn’t anything wrong with communicating with others in slang and people shouldn’t feel as if their freedom of speech is taken away by listening to people like Thompson. The only thing to remember is that it is useful to know in what settings to use slang. It’s crucial to realize when it’s appropriate and when it’s not because people tend to strive for good impressions of themselves and since language is part of who you are, word choice is important in specific settings.

In conclusion, there is beauty in slang that is undiscovered by many people. Emma Thompson has her opinions towards this dialect and is cruel in her word choice for describing people that speak slang. Slang is a unique form of speaking in comparison to SAE. Lippi Green and Nicola Pearson comprehend that slang is something that shouldn’t be judged because its brought many advantages. SAE shouldn’t be the only way people speak, read, and write. People need to accept diverse English and see the positive aspects of it. It’s not correct for people to judge someone’s intelligence or ridicule their identity by the way they speak. An example of this is celebrities such as Cardi B, who grew up in the Bronx and speaks slang at certain times, that have been very intelligent and successful in the music industry. Additionally, slang has an important history that should be acknowledged and respected. The only part I am in accordance with Thompson is that slang should be used when appropriate. Overall, slang should be embraced by society and people like Thompson should change their views to more positivity towards diverse English.

Works Cited

“Actress Emma Thompson Attacks Use of Sloppy Language.” BBC News, BBC, 28 Sept. 2010, www.bbc.com/news/uk-11420737.

“GIRLS’ ANTI-SLANG SOCIETY.” New York Times (1857-1922), Jan 11, 1900, pp. 1. ProQuest, https://search-proquest-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/docview/95961305?accountid=9967.

“Is Slang Good?” YouTube, uploaded by utzenstorf, 9 October 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzlROlOz7Yw.

Lippi Green, Rosina. “Language Subordination.” English with an Accent, Routledge, 1997, pp. 66-76.

Smitherman, Geneva. “African-American English: From The Hood to the Amen Corner.” The Center For Interdisciplinary Studies Of Writing, University of Minnesota, 1996.

Cover Letter

Phase 3 introduced me to many new strategies that helped improve my writing skills and write a strong essay. One of the new aspects I learned to focus on throughout my essay was audience. Having a specific audience makes your essay more valuable in the sense that you are targeting them and you have a purpose. For the research critical analysis essay I chose Emma Thompson as my audience. I target her and the negative statement she made towards slang. This was a new form for me to write because I had never focused on one specific person. It was interesting to write for her because I brought up certain questions and commented on her choice of words. My purpose is to inform Emma Thompson that slang is not what she perceives it to be. Also, making that statement of “Just don’t do it. Because it makes you sound stupid and you’re not stupid” (“Actress Emma Thompson attacks use of sloppy language”) was unacceptable to declare. This statement was the core of my essay and my thoughts revolved around this. My goal was to make her understand a different view point and see the beauty of slang. The context of the example I chose includes themes of identity, intelligence, background of slang, and settings where slang may not be so appropriate. I touched upon these topics in my essay because I strongly believe that those are the most important ideas to remember when speaking about a language attitude. I focused on the positive aspects of the language myth that slang is inferior and shouldn’t be used. The tone of my essay was angry towards Thompson’s remark. I think that she is absolutely crazy for saying that people who speak slang drive her insane. People shouldn’t feel so much hate towards a diverse form of speaking. The strategies I used in my essay were credentials and research as evidence. I stated that Emma Thomson is a British actress and influences many people. Also, I mentioned why she probably stated the negative comment. I used Lippi Green’s credentials as well to back up my claims because she is a credited author. The sources I used mainly related to my argument and I used a counter argument as well. This made my argument stronger since I had support. In addition, I used examples with celebrities and Lippi Green herself to add on to my main points. One of the most important things I did was let my voice be heard throughout the entire essay. Using the sources was important, but stating my opinions was crucial.

I believe I achieved many of the Course Learning Outcomes. For example, I achieved to “analyze and discuss the role that race, ethnicity, class, gender, language, sexual orientation, belief, ability, or other forms of social differentiation play in world cultures or societies.” This essay helped me accomplish this because I was analyzing a language myth and stating different viewpoints about slang. I was able to do this by analyzing an example and connecting it along with countering it with my ideas. In addition, I learned to “develop strategies for reading, drafting, revising, and editing.” I did this by checking over my work several times since I knew there wasn’t going to be much time for revisions. I put in a lot of effort for it to run smoothly and not have grammar mistakes. Another Course Learning Outcome I achieved was to “locate research sources (including academic journal articles, magazine and newspaper articles) in the library’s databases or archives on the internet and evaluate them for credibility, accuracy, and bias.” I accomplished this by taking my time in looking for sources that connected to my topic of slang. I carefully read over these sources in order to see if they were worthy to incorporate in my essay or if they weren’t good enough to use. Lastly, I continued improving to “practice systematic application of citation conventions.” The way I did this was looking back at my notes to recall how to cite and making sure that my Works Cited was done correctly.