Who Own's Language

I think this movie was so powerful for most of us in the class because all of us who are here have faced similar questions and situations in our own lives. In fact, being in a PhD program has challenged my own identity in ways that I didn't quite expect. My colleagues are constantly remarking that I am using language with more confidence, but I know that this also reflects me becoming further distanced from those family members and friends that aren't as educated.

There were some fascinating statements made in video that I want to log here. I have included a one sentence reflection for each one.

Language is “a method by which we do things together."
Here language is tied to action and performance. As a definition, it both expands on how I would define language and it limits it.

Our first language as the language in which in “almost all meaningful things have happened.”

But so many meaningful things happen in one's other languages.

“The language to speak to a child is Pennsylvania Dutch.” It is not English.

I am reminded here of Heath's Ways with Words and how the language spoken to children and how children are spoken to conveys cultural values that aren't always expressed in adult conversation.

“No one owns language, but people are very possessive of it.”

I am enjoying the play with conflict in this statement.

“English was owned by the dictionary and by the teachers at school.” “Pennsylvania Dutch was owned by us.”

Did other people see the dictionary in the same way as a child? I certainly did. It was a magically book that could give you everything you needed to get by.