Ryan Persaud

UWRT 1102

10 February 2017

Kashtan

American Literacy

For the longest time English has been the dominant language in America. As the

color of the country changes, so does its language. Signs are now in spanish as well as

English. Technology is spreading ideas quicker. The forms of communication in

America has shifted. For people to understand each other, language has to adapt to

present times.

Source: (https://www.amcharts.com/visited_countries/#)

Forgive me if you are a geography buff, but I had to include a map. You wouldn't

believe how difficult a time Ive had explaining where my parents are from. For some

background information my mother is from Nepal (the little country highlighted above

India). My father is from Guyana (the other one). I was born in Queens, New York.
 When I started kindergarten at Public School 161, I considered myself a smart

kid. My father had taken me to many museums, and I loved watching science programs

on tv. I thought something like counting shouldnt be a problem for me. Its easy, one,

two, tree, four. My teachers and friends seemed to notice my mispronunciation. Its

tHree theyd say, overenuciating. Id repeat tree back to them. It took nearly a whole

year to get that right, but Id only speak that way at school.

For being a South American country, Guyana is not very good at speaking

spanish. In fact, it is the only English speaking country in all of South America. Long

ago during British Colonial rule, many Indians got on a boat to pick sugar cane for the

good ol Queen. Overtime, it became many brown looking people with Caribbean

accents instead of speaking Hindi.

At the time I was living with my fathers family. This meant at home, I developed

this accent, along with the mispronunciation of the number 3. The area where we lived

is called Richmond Hill, Little Guyana or colloquially Curry Hill. So as you can

imagine no one in my immediate vicinity had any issues with the way I spoke. They all

understood me fine. At school however, even if they understood what I meant, I had to

correct myself. I was living in America, being understood by other Americans, and yet I

had to correct the way I spoke because it wasnt normal.

My mothers family is divided between English and non English speakers, none

of them are native to this country so they all use a broken dialect at home. I cant

understand a word from my grandmother. When I visit her I have to use a type of

pseudo sign language, smiles, and nods to communicate with her. It isnt English but I

can still get my point across.

 My mother, who speaks normal english and can understand it perfectly well, will

speak with me differently than she does other people. At home, or when its just us, she

will use fewer words. I will instinctively use less words, uncomplicated ones, and use

more motioning and pointing. In public or around company, we will talk normally, her

pace is slightly slower, but there isnt much of a barrier. I think it takes less effort to

speak the way we do at home. We understand each other fine using a slightly broken

down version of our English, yet feel uneducated and foreign when we speak like that in

public. It doesnt matter if other people understand us, in order for our family to fit in

America my mother and I will use proper English.

On my own I speak English like most other kids from the U.S. I was born here,

its my first and only language, so I like to think I have a handle on it by now. Around

people of status, strangers, elders, or professionals I speak differently. I use more

educated sounding words, no slang, and enunciate. Around my friends I am far more

laid back, I use whatever word best fits the situation, explicit or not. I also feel more

genuine in the way Im communicating my thoughts and emotions. I feel like an

American using both ways of speaking.

I think of the differences of the way I speak not as a conscious choice of

American or non American. I dont wake up and choose not to speak like an American.

I also dont choose to go out and speak particularly American. I simply decide how I

speak based on my audience and how I feel. If the people I speak to are American, and

Im an American, and they can understand what I am saying; then I speak American.

The fact that Im free enough to speak without hesitation is all I need to prove I

am American. Freedom, the basis on which this country is formed, ties all of us
together in our communication. I speak freely, I write freely, and I express myself how I

like. No other person has the right to tell me how to do any of that. When I speak to

other people, I know they have to potential to say anything. I can curse, be offensive,

polite as an Angel. I can say whatever I like, and so can they. Im not afraid in the way I

communicate. I dont have to worry about being imprisoned,killed, or exiled for my

thoughts. I feel protected by this country and its beliefs when I speak with others.

English has changed so much, and so have the people who speak it. Maybe in a

few hundred years it will look totally different. It is the standard of what we speak in

America today, but that standard is clearly shifting rapidly. I speak in so many different

ways already. I have accents, slang, broken words. I even use gestures on occasion. I

can be informal or formal. I can speak a little spanish if Im desperate. It doesnt

change the fact that Im an American. None of that reduces my identity as a Citizen. If

you speak freely. If you live in this country. Even if you have to use sign language, or

an interpreter; if you are understood and can understand others who live here, you are

and American. No one should tell you any differently.