After receiving feedback about this essay I had to rework most of the essay. For starters, I had to completely remove a source about New York accents due to it not fully backing up my claim or connecting to my other pieces of evidence. And to replace it I added the academic source which I forgot to add the first time because I was too worried about the page limit. Second, my transitions weren’t on point with some of my sources so I had to go back and make a transition for each source. Lastly, I had to add in a thesis since I forgot to add one in my previous drafts.
Quick question, whenever you’re in a professional setting do you code switch to fit into the setting? Do you get self-cautious about writing “properly” for an assignment”? Or have you felt as if you’re not in control of your own writing since it’s in someone else’s words that don’t feel like your own? Majority of the time, English is rather used in a standard way. People from different cultures learn how to properly speak in schools. To them it’s like losing the person they
once were. Slang and accents became a different form of English that contains their identity further connecting to their roots through these variations of English. These different variations of English allows people to freely express themselves and share experiences with one another. Nate Marshall, an award winning writer, throughout their poem “Finna” they explain that slang contributes to one’s identity while it could also be used as a hope factor. Marshall supports this idea via using his own personal connection with the word and how it helped him throughout his life. Within the poem Marshall states “my hope is like my language is like my people: it’s Black & it’s brown & it’s alive”. Finna is a word which makes Marshall feel at ease while also feeling connected with his people using this slang. He also states “finna comes from the southern phrase fixing to like i come from my southern grandmothers & finna is this word that reminds me about everything next”. Goes to show how slang could be viewed as something more than just a different way of speaking English, but also could be viewed as something that contains cultural ideals and memories. The purpose of this poem is to encourage those who speak with slang to embrace their form of language since it could hold such value as finna. In relation to “Finna”, big time artist Kendrick Lamar, who recently won 5 grammys and song of
the year award, one of his biggest songs “Alight” discusses the topic of black resilience through black culture slang. Kendrick uses his own experiences in the song to explain this idea of black resilience. Within the song Kendrick constantly repeated the phrase “We gon’ be alright” shortening the word going to properly express the black culture resilience. This slang version of going reflects how language could connect people’s shared experiences and cultural identity. Kendrick also states ”Tell the world I know it’s too late Boys and girls, I think I’ve gone cray Drown inside my vices all day Won’t you please believe when I say”. Going over his past mistakes Lamar knows most of his actions are unredeemable but still makes an effort to redeem himself, the cray is shortened for “crazy” implying that people believe he’s crazy for trying to fix his actions. The artist’s intentions on making this song was simply to express the black culture’s resilience while also inputting slang to sound relatable.
Hip-Hop artist Travis Scott, founder of Cactus Jack Records and winner of multiple Bill Board Music Award, his song “Sicko Mode” which featured Drake uses slang to communicate about his upcoming success as an artist. “Made this here with all this ice on in the booth”. He uses the word “ice” to symbolize his watch and jewelry, it could also be used as a way to symbolize his wealth and success which most artists in this time do. “Sicko Mode” reflects on how hip-hop
artists use slang to express their status, identity, and or community belonging. Which brings the purpose of this song, Travis wants to let listeners know of his current position in the music world but not in a braggy way. He talks about how his transition to fame has been very chaotic hence why the first part of the song is “Sicko”. In an article titled “The New York City Accent: Perception vs. Reality” written by an unknown writer, discusses the topic of how people assume
the use of English in New York City only to be proven that their assumption isn’t the reality of the famous city. The article suggests that people shouldn’t just illustrate in their heads that there’s only one way of language within a city full with life, culture, and different perspectives on the world. Although this article doesn’t discuss the topic of slang it stills relate to these other sources due to having a different usage of English which expands the identities of the people of New
York. “So the New York City accent has changed over time, but have negative opinions of New York City English held up?”. Whoever the author is is attempting to explain how the English that New Yorkers use constantly changes throughout time in which continuously expanded the identity of New York and its inhabitants.
In relation to these examples, my personal experiences connect to the majority of these sources. For most of my high school journey I was told to write in a specific way that creates a more professional paper or know when to code switch in professional rooms. These styles of writing and speaking don’t fit my personality nor is it the way I want to communicate it the future. This feeling of being kept in a cage started to take over whenever I had a writing assignment or a college meeting. The only times when I could fully embrace myself and culture was whenever I was around my friends or family. At school the disconnection felt worse since there were so many rules we students had to obey like dogs. I had to learn after high school that writing in your own style is completely okay to incorporate slang or whatever your style is onto your writing, this is what causes your own writing to be unique and authentic.
Similar to my experience, Amy Tan, winner of the 2021 National Humanities Medal, her autobiography “Mother Tongue” is centered around her mother’s usage of the English language. Throughout the autobiography she discusses how she overcame the embarrassment of how her mother speaks. She later embraces how her mother communicates in English while also applying the broken English into her life as well. The message Tan is trying to convoy is how people can
use any from of english that fits them while also causes a connection to grow with loved ones. She supports this statement by explaining to readers her experience dealing with all the responsibilities her mother had due to her not being able to not being fully able to speak English which caused the two to further bond. “I wanted to capture what language ability tests can never her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her
thoughts.” (page 4, Amy Tan). This line proves how “watered down” English could bring loved ones closer together despite not speaking the language correctly.
Across all these sources, the exhibit how English can be a living form of expression that constantly grows and shift with the people who use it. Weather through Nate Marshall’s heartfelt connection with the word finna, Kendrick Lamar’s powerful use of slang to represent Black resilience, the ever evolving accent of New York City, Travis Scott Use of slang to express identity, or the “broken English” Amy Tan embraces in her family. Each of these examples shows how language carries history, culture, and personal meaning. Slang, accents, and non-standard English aren’t signs of incorrect speech; rather they’re evidence of identity, belonging, and living experiences. My own journey mirrors this, as I learned my usage of the language matters just as much as any academic standard. These works reveal that embracing diverse forms of English enables people to stay true to themselves while still communicating powerfully. In the end,
language isn’t just about which way is the correct way; it’s more about connection, identity, and the freedom to be able to express themselves without losing their roots and or their identity. These variations of language is what shapes us which expands on our cultural identity
Translation 2
Voices of the People: Slang, Identity, and Many Forms of English
Quick question, whenever you’re in a professional setting do you code switch to fit into the setting? Do you get self-cautious about writing “properly” for an assignment”? Or have you felt as if you’re not in control of your own writing since it’s in someone else’s words that don’t feel like your own? Majority of the time, English is rather used in a standard way. People from different cultures learn how to properly speak in schools. To them it’s like losing the person they once were. Slang and accents are keys to assist one with expressing their identity, which expands who they are as a person. These different ways of communication became a different form of English that contains their identity further connecting to their roots through these variations of English. These different variations of English allows people to freely express themselves and share experiences with one another. Nate Marshall, an award winning writer, throughout their poem “Finna” they explain that slang contributes to one’s identity while it could also be used as a hope factor. Marshall supports this idea via using his own personal connection with the word and how it helped him throughout his life. Within the poem Marshall states “my hope is like my language is like my people: it’s Black & it’s brown & it’s alive”(Marshall, Nate. Finna. Random House Publishing Group, 2020). Finna is a word which makes Marshall feel at ease while also feeling connected with his people using this slang. He also states “finna comes from the southern phrase fixing to like i come from my southern grandmothers & finna is this word that reminds me about everything next”. Goes to show how slang could be viewed as something more than just a different way of speaking English, but also could be viewed as something that contains cultural ideals and memories. The purpose of this poem is to encourage those who speak with slang to embrace their form of language since it could hold such value as finna.
In relation to “Finna”, big time artist Kendrick Lamar, who recently won 5 Grammy’s and song of the year award, one of his biggest songs “Alight” discusses the topic of black resilience through black culture slang. Kendrick uses his own experiences in the song to explain this idea of black resilience. Within the song Kendrick constantly repeated the phrase “We gon’ be alright” shortening the word going to properly express the black culture resilience. This slang version of going reflects how language could connect people’s shared experiences and cultural identity.
Kendrick also states ”Tell the world I know it’s too late Boys and girls, I think I’ve gone cray Drown inside my vices all day Won’t you please believe when I say”. Going over his past mistakes Lamar knows most of his actions are irredeemable but still makes an effort to redeem himself, the cray is shortened for “crazy” implying that people believe he’s crazy for trying to fix his actions. The artist’s intentions on making this song was simply to express the black culture’s resilience while also inputting slang to sound relatable.
Many other black artists also use slang in their art to freely express themselves when rapping or singing. Hip-Hop artist Travis Scott, founder of Cactus Jack Records and winner of multiple Bill Board Music Award, his song “Sicko Mode” which featured Drake uses slang to communicate about his upcoming success as an artist. “Made this here with all this ice on in the booth”. He uses the word “ice” to symbolize his watch and jewelry, it could also be used as a way to symbolize his wealth and success which most artists in this time do. “Sicko Mode” reflects on how hip-hop artists use slang to express their status, identity, and or community belonging. Which brings the purpose of this song, Travis wants to let listeners know of his current position in the music world but not in a braggy way. He talks about how his transition to fame has been very chaotic hence why the first part of the song is “Sicko”.
In relation to these examples, my personal experiences connect to the majority of these sources. For most of my high school journey I was told to write in a specific way that creates a more professional paper or know when to code switch in professional rooms. These styles of writing and speaking don’t fit my personality nor is it the way I want to communicate it in the future. This feeling of being kept in a cage started to take over whenever I had a writing assignment or a college meeting. The only times when I could fully embrace myself and culture was whenever I was around my friends or family. At school the disconnection felt worse since there were so many rules we students had to obey like dogs. I had to learn after high school that writing in your own style is completely okay to incorporate slang or whatever your style is onto your writing, this is what causes your own writing to be unique and authentic.
Similar to my experience, Amy Tan, winner of the 2021 National Humanities Medal, her autobiography “Mother Tongue” is centered around her mother’s usage of the English language. Throughout the autobiography she discusses how she overcame the embarrassment of how her mother speaks. She later embraces how her mother communicates in English while also applying the broken English into her life as well. The message Tan is trying to convey is how people can use any form of English that fits them while also causing a connection to grow with loved ones. She supports this statement by explaining to readers her experience dealing with all the responsibilities her mother had due to her not being able to not being fully able to speak English which caused the two to further bond. “I wanted to capture what language ability tests can never reveal: her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts.” (Tan, Amy. Mother Tongue. Pearson, 2010). This line proves how “watered down” English could bring loved ones closer together despite not speaking the language correctly.
Although Tan was embarrassed to use her mothers use of English, lots of kids in the younger generation tend to use the same language as their parents or use it to create something new, something that separates the new with the old. Sarah Owusu is an editor at the spectrum who also enjoys politics and owns their own hairdresser. Her article “Slang: from appropriation to bringing communities together” centers around the idea of how slang can both unify people as well as assist in the identities of younger generations. Their objective when creating this article is to show how slang is like an amplifier. It brings people together then expands their individual identities. “slang as a way of bringing communities together, and as a way for young people to set themselves apart from older generations — or for any group of people to set themselves apart from others”. This line backs up what message Owusu is trying to spread, slang is a gateway to explore not only different communities but along with exploring yourself.
Across all these sources, they exhibit how English can be a living form of expression that constantly grows and shifts with the people who use it. Whether through Nate Marshall’s heartfelt connection with the word finna, Kendrick Lamar’s powerful use of slang to represent Black resilience, Travis Scott Use of slang to express identity, the “broken English” Amy Tan embraces in her family, or the use of how it brings others together. Each of these examples shows how language carries history, culture, and personal meaning. Slang, accents, and non-standard English aren’t signs of incorrect speech; rather they’re evidence of identity, belonging, and living experiences. My own journey mirrors this, as I learned my usage of the language matters just as much as any academic standard. These works reveal that embracing diverse forms of English enables people to stay true to themselves while still communicating powerfully. In the end, language isn’t just about which way is the correct way; it’s more about connection, identity, and the freedom to be able to express themselves without losing their roots and or their identity. These variations of language is what shapes us which expands on our cultural identity
