Assignment 2: Response to Mellix

In Barbara Mellix’s chronicle of her struggles to master the transition from “black English” to “standard English” she explains that the struggle is not only over language, but her views about herself as well. Mellix transitioned between “black” and “standard” English easily as a child; she was raised to understand the use of “black” English was reserved for close friends and family, whereas “standard” English was expected when in the company of whites and the “proper” relatives. She expressed the ease of using “proper” English in the workforce as well, learning from her co-workers and customer letters.

It wasn’t until Mellix enrolled in her first college English course that she had feelings of inadequacy and expressed doubt in her ability to master the language of the “others”. Assimilating her writing required her to work to practice a language she was not comfortable with.” Mellix felt as if she had to abandon part of herself and her past; she claims, “I had the sensation of being split in two, part of me going into a future the other part didn’t believe possible.” As she progressed through her course, she became confident in her writing and herself. Through the assimilation process from “black English” to “standard English” Mellix not only became a stronger writer, she found a way to become a stronger person by finding her own voice as a writer.

Response to "Talking Wrong"

The author of the "Talking Wrong" article is opposed to her mother chaning the way she talks becuase the mother believes she talks wrong. The author feels that it is a part of her mothers identity and the fact that she is changing the way she talks because of where she lives and not what her roots are. it is clear that she opposes it at the end where she talks about her mother dreaming of perfection and heading for hell. The author makes it clear the differences between "Black" and "standard" english giving examples of how her mother talks and that her mother believes that it is wrong.

This was interesting because, i believe that this is happening and will be happening for some time. It seems that some people can relate to these articles and get a good sense of what the author is trying to say.

Homework #2: Smith and Melix

Mrs. Patricia Smith and Mrs. Mellix stories both show the struggle of "Black English". Even though both of these young African American ladies explain that they have communication problems based upon their foreign language. The two stories Mrs. Smith, "Talking Wrong" and Mrs. Mellix "From Outside, In" however have two different interesting outcomes which teach us a morally important lesson.

Mrs. Patricia Smith is making a critize. I know that Mrs. Patricia Smith is making this argument because, she explains the self-disciplining judgements that her mom for not speaking on the professional terms. However, Mrs. Barbra Mellix is making a interpret. I know that Mrs. Mellix is making this argument because, she describes how she adjusts to the different culture when needed.

Mrs. Patricia Smith is making a professional form of rhetoric because she explains that her mother spends her whole life devoting herself to develop the perfection of her speech to earn a stabelized income. Her discipline from her training and her old habbits explains to us that she strives to learn that what's best for her carreer.

Mrs. Barbra Mellix is making a cultural form of rhetoric because she adapts with the "Black English" and "Standard English" as if it were a second language. Even though "Black English" is not necessarily a foreign language pertaining to the two authors, I believe it is because according to the community the two cultures demand different input and output while interacting with each other.

Over all I think that both languages are very important to learn. Even though in professional areas whether you are a (Dean of a University or a Chief Executive Officer of a Company) "Standard English" is a very vital skill that everyone should have. However if you were a City Manager or a mayor you might want to learn "Black English", and other Foreign languages so that you can understand what is best for the public because in the public you will always see multicultural people and its very vital to learn how their beliefs operate so that they don't mistakenly offend there culture. "Black English" Should not be viewed as a "curse" as what Mrs. Smith's mom believe, but a "gift" if used in the right culture.

Response to Smith Article

In response to the Patricia Smith article that was assigned I will state that I agree that the adaptation of one's vernacular of language to another more formal and "accepted" one is a significant transition. In the article Patricia Smith goes on to explain her mother's trip north to Chicago to improve and change her current "slangy" dialogue to the accepted and proper way to use English language. Her mother even states at one point, "I want to talk right before I die". These I believe, are some strong words and help aid in the rhetoric and the telling of this story. It is quite evident to notice that Smith's mother wants very much to change her way of speaking and does so by the end of the article. The narrator does not seem to be totally comfortable with the change which brings in the question of the necessity to alter one's way of speaking or to somewhat "change" their history of tongue. It is difficult to answer whether this is right or not but, it does eventually fall into the hands of the individual and what they feel is best for them. An interesting article and topic.

Assignment One mchaup

In the Patricia Smith Article her mother wanted her to give up her accent. Some people think just because you talk a certain way (slang for example) that you are uneducated. I think that this is wrong and a stereotype. I have so many African American friends that talk with slang and they are strait A students who are going to school for things like chemistry, medicine, and a lot of other hard majors. I think that Patrica thinks changing the way she talks would be changing part of her personality as well, and i agree!

Response to Mellix article

I think that what Barbara Mellix is trying to aruge in her article about the assimilation process is that there are certain times and places where we need to be aware of how we use our language in certain situations in life. What she is basically trying to describe in her article is the times in her life where she had to use "standard English" instead of "black English". How we use our language in our personal homes is not going to be the same language we use when we are at our jobs or professional places. I know that this is her argument because she gives examples of when she is at home she used her "black English" but when she was at work she had to concentrate and remember to use "standard English" when writing back customers. I think that what Mellix is trying to get across is that mastering the "proper English" language occurs over a lifetime and not just in a few years. How we speak at different events or with differnt people is not going to be the same at all times but yet we progress with our language over a period of time.

response 2 Melix

When i read this i can personally relate to her situation. I understand that there are times for "black talk" or as i like to put it " Ghetto slang" and then those times where i am forced to speak what is considered proper English. The way that i feel about her assilimation is that it is easy for individuals to assimilate depending upon the sitiuation. For instance, when she worked for the insurance company all she did was copy what her co-worker wrote in response to her customers, also while she was a youth she knew she had to speak to the officer using proper English as opposed to while at home she could use "black talk". Another point that I will use to argue my point that I feel that she thought it was easy to assimilate is this, when she did move up North near her aunt and uncle she saw how they easily were able to switch from black English to standard English or they would mix it up depending upon the situation and eventually Melix learned to mix and match after awhile.

Her style is more of a personal rhetoric in which she reports events in her life from growing up, to high school, and to college with various aspects of her life involved in between. She also intends to instruct her readers to say hey this i what many black people have learned to do and some do it better then others. Again i know this well because there are times where for instance if am talking to my friends, i can talk ghetto, but when i am calling a business i have to change my voice per say and speak in manner that's more accepted in everyday living ie inquiring about an apartment. Those are some of the things i got out this reading.

Response #2

In the Patricia Smith article, "Talking Wrong" the author is saddened by the steps her mother is taking to get rid of her "native tongue." The author is trying to convey the loss that she feels through her mother's assimilation process. Although to many people talking "Northern" is a simple thing, the author is saddened by the process. To the author, talking "northern" is more than a way to speak, it is a part of her identity.
The loss of her mother's southern ways of speaking symbolize the loss that the author feels within herself. The absence of phrases such as, "ain't got" and "don't have" represent the transition that the author's mother made. These phrases brought comfort to the author. Although she is still the same person, the author's mother is viewed differently by the author due to the transition she made.

Smith response

In Patricia Smith article she is saddened by her mother's desire to give up her southern talking ways and speak "north." The author's mother wants to speak what she considers the right way before she dies and no longer sound what she thinks is inferior. By talking like educated white folks she thinks this will unlock all her dreams and make her successful.

The author totally disagrees and laments the loss of her mother's "sweet" way of talking likening it unto buttery cornbread. She also considers this change to be a betrayal of who she really is.