In the last many months Diane ‘Kyle and I have been talking about “precision of language”\u2026 I think it is one of our reactions to the last four years of incivility in the country\u2026 We are always trying to watch our speech for sexism, racism, ages\u2026 All these kind of things that we say and take for granted.\u2026 For example “you guys” which is something everyone up here says in the Northeast\u2026 Including me. I’m constantly reminded that not everyone I’m addressing our “guys”It’s funny because English doesn’t have an official second person informal plural. I grew up in the south where “y’all” is acceptable\u2026 In Pittsburgh they say Yunz. . In other languages like Spanish you have Vosotros . In Germany you have Euch or Sie.<\/p>\n
It’s funny how many things we say have those elements like “black list”\u2026Or “master bedroom”\u2026 Or like my role at work which is “fellow”\u2026 Though several (not enough) are women<\/p>\n
Anyway I was thinking about that today. I was talking to a professor at Virginia tech who was also a tribal Elder In the first people’s band down there. I was telling her about a project I’m working on that is looking at how to better serve “low resource” languages\u2026 That is languages that have very few speakers and little or no written or recorded record.<\/p>\n
The professor was wise and very helpful\u2026 Near the end of the conversation she had some advice to give me.\u2026 In the course of our conve rsation I had used Phrases like that we were trying to “capture languages” And “extract stories”<\/p>\n
She gently mentioned to me at the end of that at the moment any native American heard me use language like that the conversation would be over.\u2026 She also said most would not even tell me they were offended. She actually gave me a gift by letting me know how my unintended slip had sounded<\/p>\n
I think you’re very much for her advice\u2026 And I’ve been thinking about it all day sense\u2026 How often are we accidentally offending our friends and neighbors<\/p>\n
I truly appreciate The gentle correction I received today<\/p>\n
Night all, night sam<\/p>\n
-me<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the last many months Diane ‘Kyle and I have been talking about “precision of language”\u2026 I think it is one of our reactions to the last four years of incivility in the country\u2026 We are always trying to watch our speech for sexism, racism, ages\u2026 All these kind of things that we say and … Continue reading Friday night – Precision of language<\/span>