Language is a multidimensional view of reality which identifies both individual and collective identities. To Americans, their accents, words or sentence structure are typically used as the symbol of their cultural identity; they are also used in showing social class, economic status or even personal identity. This video is a stimulating study of “speaking black or white” within the context of the American language. These videos help to show that language goes beyond the means of communication; it’s also a place where people make their standpoints and negotiate them with each other. In addition, this paper is developed by bringing in individual opinions. Thus, one is able to recognize the link between culture, languages, along country image, which shape one life and community dynamics.
The videos became the perfect visualization of the persisting stereotypes and ideas built into the American vocabulary. This language, “Talking black or white”, originates due to historical and cultural surroundings, which augment the fictitious idea of the indestructible relationship between voice and race/ethnicity (Ueland, 2020). This serves as an evident portrayal of the institutionalized stigma of African American Vernacular English and the glorification of SAE as the norm. By highlighting these inequities, the videos stimulate some important reflection on the hidden biases in language exchanges, which influence cultural equality and human interaction on a global scale.
The videos underscored a crucial insight: even though language has communication as its primary function, it is also an indicator of cultural background. Everyone’s speech is individual and combines what one has learned throughout one’s life through upbringing, education, association and one’s personal experience. African American Vernacular English is not just a means of communication for African Americans but a precious heritage that they can hold with pride (Insider, 2018). However, the clips depict the sad truth that there are areas where this kind of discrimination is still alive and well, and this perpetuates unequal treatment and prejudice. This insight forces one to reflect on whether language is respected or suppressed, thus guiding societal attitudes and continuing inequalities.
On the other side, a manner of speech called Standard American English (SAE) tends to be associated with professionalism, intelligence, and social acceptance. SAE speaking is what is considered the peak of verbal communication styles in academic, professional, and media environments, and so it resonates with the pre-established norms and protocols (The Language and Life Project, 2020). This video shed insight into the fact that people who are good at speaking SAE tend to be thought of as highly educated or competent, regardless of the actual level of their knowledge of SAE. This diverse attitude increases the institutional discrimination and inequalities in American society, which are the manifestations of the deeply rooted difficulties for those who have unconventional and inferior skills.
For me, in a broader aspect, aside from my innermost thoughts, “saying black and white” refers to my life as a multicultural, fluent person. Due to my Nurture, I was able to live in multiple linguistic landscapes where language was a means to show identity as well as an individualistic attitude. Navigating between these realms, I’ve gained insights into the dual nature of language: not only a way of cultural consciousness or empowerment but also a procedure that can generate discrimination and prejudice. Through this experience, I have developed a profound knowledge of the complexity of languages and have also identified important problems and inequalities that language diversity reveals in social structure.
The language and character features of the American culture are tightly connected with race, class, and power issues. They form one of the central subjects in the society. The movies demonstrate how language can be used as a collective tool for people to either manipulate and oppress or for liberation and empowerment. Besides linguistic evaluation, speech is analyzed in terms of social hierarchy, political intention, and history of the country, which determines the status of different dialects and accents (Woolard, 2020). As a result, the underlying nature of linguistic discrimination is exposed, and the racial, gender, and cultural biases that remain untouched continue to shape the society in the American land.
In conclusion, the specific studies on those videos reveal the multidimensional role of language, culture and identity in the US. The term “talking black or white”, in essence, is a depiction of the long-existent discrimination and prejudices in the social system. The above fact suggests that closer attention should be paid to language diversity as well, and a higher level of awareness and empathy should be demonstrated regarding this language diversity type. Furthermore, acknowledging these differences can build a world that is united and where everyone is welcome. In addition to that, it contributes to the formation of a level and fair society where people, men or women, get the possibility to consult and listen to their concerns as well as opinions. Consequently, we should consider it a first step towards building a society where languages are equally valued irrespective of race or nationality. A shield, which is a symbol of unity, will break the obstacle.
References
Insider, (2018). Is “Talking White” Actually A Thing? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VRZdJl9GRk
The language and life project, (2020). Talking Black in America. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QFpVgPl9tQ
Ueland, A. (2020). Language and identity: A study of African American Vernacular English and its status in American society (Master’s thesis, University of Stavanger, Norway).
Woolard, K. A. (2020). Language ideology. The international encyclopedia of linguistic anthropology, 1-21.
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