Abstract

    To challenge a specific language myth or language attitude of a video, cartoon, or writing. Students must use their knowledge learned and taught from previous phases to show their understanding in their critical analysis essay.

Code switching?

     Do you use code-switching? What is code-switching? Code switching is the skill to alternate between two or more languages in a conversation and in writing. If you speak one language, you might say no. But in fact, you do use codeswitching daily. The way you speak to a supervisor, teacher or in some cases an elder is different from the way you speak with family and friends. Then, why am I discussing about code-switching? Well, in American society, standard English is superior to English dialects and accents. In America, many people use code switching daily to meet society’s norm of language. Then why has people not done anything about this? Well, there are many people who have tried like linguist Rosina Lippy-Green, and the tv show “Insecure.” But it has not made much of a difference, some people like African American youtuber Jouelzy views code switching necessary to ensure all people have equal footing in the work force. People have the right to speak in their own dialects and accents, the United States should not be a monolithic Standard English society. The United States must start embracing language differences, for the times are changing; we have become more global.

African American blogger, vlogger, and author Jouelzy has a social media platform, YouTube targeted for women of color in which she discusses “complex cultural issues ranging” in diverse topics to inform her audience on historical and political context trending in pop culture to help women, define success. (Jouelzy, About) One day after the airing of episode 3, “Racist as F-” on 23th of December 2014; in a YouTube video Jouelzy discusses about the new character, Rasheeda on the television show “Insecure”. In episode 3, Rasheeda is an African American lawyer who speaks in Black English. Her co-worker tells her that she must speak in standard English to succeed in the work field. Rasheeda tells her coworker there was no need for her to hid her “blackness” or black English since her senior partners had no issue of her dialect. Jouelzy praises the television show “Insecure” for including a character who embraces her blackness. However, Jouelzy discusses the reality check of the solution the character was in, if this solution played out in real life. Jouelzy emphasizes code-switching by stating, “…in the necessity of the code switching, is this really just inherent of our race like why people have to do this like the answer is yes in the work environment certain causalities of your personality get left back at home like this is not the backyard barbecue..” (Jouelzy, 1:36-1:50). Jouelzy supports the usage of code-switching for color people is necessary to prevent discrimination. Jouelzy discusses society’s portrayal of Black women as loud, fierce, and inferior. Jouelzy conforms to society’s norm of language as millions of color people, in order to be hired, to prevent pay deduction and to not get fired. Thus, Jouelzy emphasizes the importance of code switching, explicitly the boundary between the language you speak with your friends and the language you use at work.  But for Jouelzy to support code-switching is ironic because she is vlogger who encourages women to define and to become successful. Is she insisting that speaking a dialect or an accent does not lead to a path to success? Clearly seen in the television show “Insecure”, Rasheeda a successful lawyer who was named editor if the law review with her “Blackness” and those in real life. Then why does dialect and accents prevent success?

The language attitude, I’ll be discussing is code switching between standard English and dialects of English. The cartoon above depicts the language attitude of code switching in the work field. It supports YouTuber Jouelzy’s claim of the importance of code switching. It shows that everyone must use code switching in the work-flied regardless of race. Linguists and professor Rosina Lippi-Green challenges linguists and society’s view of accents and dialects in her book, English With an Accent: Language, Ideology, and Discrimination in the United States. Linguist Rosina Lippi-Green busts the myth of standard English. She does this by challenging the ideology of standard English as a superior language by emphasizing the fabricated belief that standard English defines intelligence. Green states, “The idea of a standard language is constructed and re-constructed on an on-going basis…” (Green 57) In other words, the ideology of standard English is bogus because language is always changing. This norm was made by elites to maintain order and power; it causes prejudice and discrimination. This connects to Jouelzy perspective of code switching. Green doesn’t see code switching important because people are fabricated to believe language defines success. There is no justification as to why standard English must be the norm because it’s a myth made to mode people into society’s ideal civilian. This can be can see with Jouelzy’s strong opinion against Rasheeda who uses black English in the workforce. For society to embrace dialects and accents is a long run from home. People are assembled with the prejudice of dialects and accents due to society’s standards. People use code switching on a daily basis to meet these expectations and to maintain footing in society.

Code switching is used daily. Code switching has become necessary, in order to maintain ‘face’ in society. To maintain the appearance of an educated civilian due to the prejudice of dialects and accents. This is seen with African American you-tuber Jouzely’s perspective of the importance of code switching in the work force in her video, who experience backlash for using her dialect in the workforce. This causes her to have a strong opinion of the television show character Rasheeda who embraces her blackness. Jouzely discusses language discrimination, with the possibility of paid reduction, and the dismal of workers. Linguist Rosina Lippi-Green discusses language discrimination in her book, English with an Accent: Language, Ideology and Discrimination in the United States to spread awareness and to prevent it from occurring. Green includes the backlash experienced by those who spoke with an accent and dialect. Language discrimination needs more media accents, people are feeling inferior to standard English speakers. Language is always changing, it’s the tongue of the people. A homogeneous standard English society is a long path away.

Citations

“About.” Jouelzy, BHK LLC, https://www.jouelzy.com/about/.

Cullun, Leo. “This is Daddy, honey. That was daddy’s office voice.” The New Yorker, 15 Nov. 1999.

Jouelzy. “HBO Issa Rae’s Insecure Eps 3 Code Switching-Review | Jouelzy”. Online Video Code. YouTube, 24 December 2016. Web. 18 November 2019

Lippi-Green, Rosina. English With an Accent : Language, Ideology, and Discrimination in the United States. London ; New York :Routledge, 1997.