In the age of scarcity (for many) and excess (for the few), the language and policies of diversity become zero-sum. What another gets, you lose, so goes the polarized thinking that has turned our public square into a fever swamp of resentments and recriminations.
When I arrived at the University of Washington for grad school in Seattle in 1978 (after getting my BA from UNI), people gently criticized my accent (and this was in an Anthropology Department.) I think our language is more homogenized now, but still, if you go south of Highway 92 in Iowa you will hear the difference. I pronounced "Wash" and "Washington" "Warshington." I said, let's go to your "folkses," and "crick" for "creek." This was before the term "redneck" was popular, but I presume they thought I was a hick. The entering class of 10 was told that the person getting the highest grade point average would be awarded a TA. When I had the highest GPA, they denied me the TA, saying I didn't speak English well enough to teach. So, I bought grammar books, and linguistics books, and was very careful how I spoke around my professors. I used few words, and learned to code-switch. I now always say crick as an act of rebellion. I don't have the info here, but I have looked at the origins of the word creek, and "crick" may be the older pronunciation, I just need a historical linguist to back me up. When I do, I'm going to tell people that they are pronouncing the word "creek" wrong. The correct pronunciation is "crick." Great observation, and a great question for Obama. Thanks Doug.
Some good points to make in the diversity debate. Thanks Doug!
This piece can be summed up in a single word, "Bravo."
Thank you Doug. I enjoyed your thoughtful writing.
When I arrived at the University of Washington for grad school in Seattle in 1978 (after getting my BA from UNI), people gently criticized my accent (and this was in an Anthropology Department.) I think our language is more homogenized now, but still, if you go south of Highway 92 in Iowa you will hear the difference. I pronounced "Wash" and "Washington" "Warshington." I said, let's go to your "folkses," and "crick" for "creek." This was before the term "redneck" was popular, but I presume they thought I was a hick. The entering class of 10 was told that the person getting the highest grade point average would be awarded a TA. When I had the highest GPA, they denied me the TA, saying I didn't speak English well enough to teach. So, I bought grammar books, and linguistics books, and was very careful how I spoke around my professors. I used few words, and learned to code-switch. I now always say crick as an act of rebellion. I don't have the info here, but I have looked at the origins of the word creek, and "crick" may be the older pronunciation, I just need a historical linguist to back me up. When I do, I'm going to tell people that they are pronouncing the word "creek" wrong. The correct pronunciation is "crick." Great observation, and a great question for Obama. Thanks Doug.