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Unit 12 If Black English isn't a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is? Slide 2 About the Author James Baldwin (1924-1987)American novelist, writer, playwright, poet, essayist and civil rights activist. Most of Baldwin's work deals with racial and sexual issues in the mid- 20th century in the United States. His novels are notable for the personal way in which they explore questions of identity as well as the way in which they mine complex social and psychological pressures related to being black and homosexual well before the social, cultural or political equality of these groups was improved Slide 3 Text Structure Section 1: Paragraph 1 Section 2: Paragraphs 2-4 Section 3: Paragraphs 5-8 Section 4: Paragraphs 9-10 Section 5: Paragraph 11 Section 6: Paragraph 12 Slide 4 Text Analysis The central theme of this essay is the political significance of black English which is part of the continuous struggle between the blacks and whites. The author discusses this political-linguistic issue from the origin of black English, its history and present roles in an attempt to justify its legitimacy and to assert the identity of its users. This justification poses a serious challenge to the biased white American's linguisitc criteria. Slide 5 Paragraph 1 The argument concerning the use, or the status, or the reality, of black English is rooted in American history and has absolutely nothing to do with the question (that) the argument supposes itself to be posing. The argument has nothing to do with language itself but with the role of language. Language, incontestably, reveals the speaker. Language, also, far more dubiously, is meant to define the other --- and, in this case, the other is refusing to be defined by a language that has never been able to recognize him. Slide 6 status n. 1. the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society; 2. a state at a particular time All he and the team want is to maintain the status quo. France has the unique status in the space technology development. Slide 7 pose v. 1. introduce; 2. pretend to be someone you are not; sometimes with fraudulent intentions; 3. behave affectedly or unnaturally in order to impress others; The workers' movement poses a direct threat to their interests After the wedding we all posed for a photograph. The great photographer posed them in front of a row of tenement. Slide 8 incontestably unquestionably, undoutedly He is incontestably fond of his country, yet preferring his family; incontestable (adj.) not open to question; obviously true But those justifications have an incontestable value in their own day. Slide 9 dubiously in a questionable or doubtful manner The demon caught the gift and studied it dubiously. The courier shook his head dubiously. dubious (adj.) open to doubt or suspicion; not convinced The police raided the club and arrested several dubious characters Slide 10 Paragraph 2 People evolve a language in order to describe and thus control their circumstances, or in order not to be submerged by a reality that they cannot articulate. A Frenchman..., to say nothing of the man from Senegal --- although the "common language of all these areas is French. But each has paid, and is paying, a different price for this common language, in which, as it turns out, they are not saying, and cannot be saying, the same things... Slide 11 evolve 1. work out; 2. undergo development The Chinese political system has evolved over a long period of time. To evolve is to surrender choices. evolution (n.) a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage) Slide 12 circumstance n. 1. a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity; 2. the set of facts that surround a situation or event; 3. information that should be kept in mind when making a decision; 4. formal ceremony about important occasions I don't think electrons can transfer energy in any circumstance. Variations in place and circumstance also can make a difference. Slide 13 submerge v. 1. sink below the surface; go under or as if under water; 2. cover completely or make imperceptible; 3. put under water; 4. fill or cover completely, usually with water The whole village and the fields have been submerged by floods. Try not to submerge the child's hands in the soapy water.It will harm the skin. Slide 14 articulate v.1. provide with a joint; 2. put into words or an expression; 3. speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way; 4. express or state clearly Be careful to articulate your words so that everyone in the room can understand you. The pupil articulated each word carefully. He is an articulate speaker. Slide 15 subtly adv.in a subtle manner These events were all subtly linked together. subtle (adj.) 1.be difficult to detect or grasp by the mind; 2. faint and difficult to analyze; 3. able to make fine distinctions; 4. working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way True magic is a very subtle thing. This is an extremely subtle diplomatic problem and needs careful handling Slide 16 crucially adv.to a crucial degree It also tries to answer other crucially important questions. crucial (adj.) of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis As history has proven, speed is one of the most crucial advantages in combat. The crucial distinction is between thought and action. Slide 17 apprehend v.1. get the meaning of something; 2. take into custody; 3. anticipate with dread or anxiety That's not the case, as I apprehend it. He can't apprehend the real nature of change. He disagreed with our decision to try to apprehend Aidid for the UN. Slide 18 pay a price for Whatever you get, you have to pay a price for it. Russia will pay a price for what its done. You might have to pay a price you didn't bargain for. You and your organization pay a price in wasted time, wasted efforts, and lost goodwill. Slide 19 to say nothing of He knows no English. to say nothing of French or German. . . I don't know algebra or geometry to say nothing of calculus. Even grown-ups can't lift it, to say nothing of children. Slide 20 as it turns out But as it turns out, creeds really do matter. As it turns out, the technical problems are a symptom rather than a cause. As it turns out, the bottle was a much-appreciated gift from a grateful patient. Slide 21 They each have... They each have very different realities to articulate. Each of them has very different realities to ariticulate We each have our private views about it. Each of us has his private views about it. Slide 22 Paragraph 3 What joins all languages, and all men, is the necessity to confront life, in order, not inconceivably, to outwit death: The price for this is the acceptance, and achievement, of one's temporal identity. This determination also feeds the flames in Ireland for among the many indignities the Irish have been forced to undergo at English hands is the English contempt for their language. Slide 23 confront v.1. oppose, as in hostility or a competition; 2. deal with (something unpleasant) head on; 3. present somebody with something, usually to accuse or criticize; 4. be face to face with The next big issue confronting the workers is the question of wages. We must confront the future with optimism. Slide 24 inconceivably unthinkably; unimaginably She was inconceivably wealthy. The task proves inconceivably more difficult than we have imagined. inconceivable : (adj.)totally unlikely A circle without a center is inconceivable. Slide 25 outwit v.beat through cleverness and wit We have outwitted a dangerous enemy. You should not be proud because you outwit him. Somehow he always manages to outwit his opponents. outnumber, outweigh Slide 26 temporal not eternal; of or relating to or limited by time "When" is a temporal conjunction. It can be applied to the temporal relationship between different plants. Place your sword upon the ground, and rest in the temporal peace. Slide 27 indignity an affront to one's dignity or self-esteem Anxious not to suffer the indignity of another bidding failure, Chinas leaders waited for a more opportune moment. dignity : the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect To man,the most important thing is dignity. Slide 28 undergo go through (mental or physical states or experiences) The city has undergone many changes during the last ten years. The explorers underwent much suffering. You cannot create experience, you must undergo it. Slide 29 contempt n. lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike; open disrespect for a person or thing Such conduct is beneath contempt. . He interpreted the silence as contempt. contemptuous (adj.) contemptuously (adv.) Slide 30 Paragraph 4 (part 1) It goes without saying, then, that language is also a political instrument, means, and proof of power. It is the most vivid and crucial key to identify: It reveals the private identity, and connects one with, or divorces one from, the larger, public, or communal identity. There have been, and are, times, and places, when to speak a certain language could be dangerous, even fatal. Or, one may speak the same language, but in such a way that one's antecedents are revealed, or (one hopes) hidden. Slide 31 proof any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something Tears are no proof of cowardice. The best proof of love is trust. Have you got any proof that you own this car? Slide 32 divorce (n.)the legal dissolution of a marriage (v.)1. part; cease or break association with; 2. formally terminate a marriage Mrs. Jones divorced her husband. Has somebody tell you about their divorce? Can you divorce life from art? ? Slide 33 communal (adj.)1. for or by a group rather than individuals; 2. relating to a small administrative district or community She recently moved out of the communal living quarters, in part to fight this tendency. In college we had a communal kitchen. They live in communal groups, in harmony with the nature of their planet. Slide 34 fatal (adj.)1. bringing death; 2. having momentous consequences; of decisive importance; 3.controlled or decreed by fate; predetermined Her wounds were not fatal. Success is Never Final and Failure Never Fatal. An fatal accident took place at this cross three years ago. Slide 35 antecedent (n.)1. someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent); 2. a preceding occurrence or cause or event; (adj.)preceding in time or order Events antecedent to the war failed to serve as a warning of the threat. the coreferential relation between a reflexive pronoun and its antecedent. Slide 36 Paragraph 4 (Part 2) This is true in France, and is absolutely true in England: The range (and reign) of accents on that damp little island make England coherent for the English and totally incomprehensible for everyone else. To open your mouth in England is (if I may use black English) to "put your business in the street": You have confessed your parents, your youth, your school, your salary, your self-esteem, and, alas, your future. Slide 37 reign a period during which something or somebody is dominant or powerful The Queen of Britain reigns, but she does not rule or govern. The first major wall was built during the reign of the First Emperor of the short-lived Qin dynasty Slide 38 coherent marked by an orderly, logical, and aesthetically consistent relation of parts; capable of thinking and expressing yourself in a clear and consistent manner I devised a coherent system for living. In coherent writing, every sentence is connected in thought to the previous sentence. Slide 39 incomprehensible (adj.)1. incapable of being explained or accounted for; 2. difficult to understand The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is at all comprehensible. To the lay mind, these technical terms are incomprehensible. , Slide 40 confess v. admit to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure Now, I must confess that I'm at my wit's end. I confess to having heard about it. He confessed to the priest before he died. confession (n.) confessor (n.) Slide 41 alas (adv.) by bad luck; (interj.) oh, (indicating sadness, worriedness, etc.) Alas, I do regret, they forever cry tears of sadness. , , . If the stone fell upon the egg, alas for the egg! , ! The conclusion, alas, is depressing. Slide 42 Paragraph 5 (Part 1) Now, I do not know what white Americans would sound like if there had never been any black people in the United States, but they would not sound the way they sound. Jazz, for example, is a very specific sexual term, as in jazz me, baby, but white people purified it into the Jazz Age. Sock it to me, which means, roughly, the same thing, has been adopted by Nathaniel Hawthorne's descendants with no qualms or hesitations at all, along with let it all hang out and right on! Slide 43 descendant n.a person considered as descended from some ancestor or race adj.going or coming down As a descendant of several men who fought in the War for Independence, I hesitate to criticize my forebears. Boer is a Dutch colonist or descendant of a Dutch colonist in South Africa. Slide 44 qualm n. 1. uneasiness about the fitness of an action; 2. an uncomfortable feeling of doubt about whether you are doing the right thing. The doctor seemed seized with a qualm of faintness. He felt a qualm in his stomach, and it was more in memory of his loneliness. Slide 45 Paragraph 5 (Part2) Beat to his socks which was once the black's most total and despairing image of poverty, was transformed into a thing called the Beat Generation, which phenomenon was, largely, composed of uptight, middle- class white people, imitating poverty, Slide 46 despairing adj.arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope He received the news with a despairing sigh. , With a despairing cry the woman banged her head against the wall. , The despairing man jumped off the crag. Slide 47 transform change in outward structure or looks; convert (one form of energy) to another A little paint will transform this old car. Most of all, we can transform technology into productivity as quickly as possible. . The magician transformed the girl into a tiger. Slide 48 uptight adj.being in a tense state She was uptight about the interview. My ex-boss was a very uptight person. But luckily my new boss isn't uptight at all. Slide 49 End of Unit 12 Part I To be continued