Selective Use of Other Languages Other Than Standard Academic English in Essays

Although part of culture, language is much more important than any other aspect of society. In most cases, one expresses their culture through language. Additionally, culture can be defined as the way of life of a particular group of people. It  comprises of beliefs, values, language, and customs. Similarly, language plays a very crucial role in expressing the other aspects of culture, which includes beliefs, values, and traditions. Language is, therefore, an essential aspect because it instills a sense of belonging and solidarity to the speakers of that language. Furthermore, it emphasizes patriotism because most people believe that the language they use is superior to others. In a multilingual country like the US, it is essential for learning institutions to allow students to express themselves in their native language, while maintaining a standard language that encompasses everyone.

The US College instructors should, therefore, allow selective inclusion of other dialects other than “Standard Academic English” in students’ essay writing

Why should students include dialects other than “Standard Academic English” in their essays?

Completely denying one an opportunity to identify themselves with a culture as expressed through the language they speak is tantamount to robbing them of their identity. According to kaufman, identity is the conscious experience of one’s self inside (Anzaldúa, 84). When one completely cannot express themselves through their language, they lose the meaning of who they are and become enslaved to another culture and language. America is a multilingual country whose people belong to different ethnic groups. There are African Americans, Asian Americans and Indian Americans among others. As such, while promoting national unity and pride among American people, the education system should also promote cultural inheritance of different ethnic groups that make up America. If schools force students to both communicate and write purely in English, they are forcing them to be acculturated and leave their own cultural identity. The implication here is that for one to be fully accepted as an American, they have first to be English speaker which is not the crucial fact. For Indian American, the fact remains that they were initially Indians before America became a nation-state from which they got the adjective America. The fact that they were initially Indians needs to be respected and preserved by allowing the students to selectively use their cultural languages in their essay writing. Acculturation brought about by denying minority ethnic group expression through their language brings about borderline conflicts within themselves. According to anzaldua, it brings some kind of psychological conflict-dual identity within oneself in that a Mexican-American cannot identify him or herself with Anglo-American culture and neither can they identify themselves with Mexican culture (Anzaldúa, 85). In that sense, the two cultures within oneself cancels out each other leaving the individual technically cultureless. To avoid this state of confusion, students should be allowed to selectively use their cultural words while writing essays. It is then that the student will feel that while respecting the general culture practiced by all Americans, the American society respects his or her cultural inheritance and the ethnic group they come from. It will also lead others to respecting his or her culture and the American society will be founded on respect for one another despite where they come from. Just like Suresh Canagarajah and Guofang Li argue, allowing students to mix their dialects and standard academic English reflect a changing face of society and undeniable fact that the world is more multicultural than ever Forgione & Ariana). Everyone likes being appreciated and loved within a larger society and being in position to freely express oneself in their cultural language is the beginning of that and love.

Conclusion

American learning institution should consider allowing students to selectively incorporate dialects other than “standard academic writing English” in their essays. By so doing, the students’ right for the need to belong will be satisfied. The problems created by forced acculturation through being forced to completely use English in learning institutions will be diminished and students will have a clear idea of who they are. It will promote both respect for ethnic groups and appreciation for general American culture.

Works Cited

Anzaldúa Gloria. Borderlands: the New Mestiza = La Frontera. Aunt Lute Books, 2012.

Forgione, Antony, and Ariana Radcliffe. “Multicultural Literacies.” Http://Multiculturalliteracies.qwriting.qc.cuny.edu, multiculturalliteracies.qwriting.qc.cuny.edu/the-debate

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