Language discrimination can be defined as the prejudical treatment against individuals who are unable to precisely get their message across as a result of what society views as "poor" or "limited" English. This is the reality for many people to whom english is a second language. Unfortunetly these individuals are disadvantaged by one of two things; their accent and/or non standard grammar. This is evident in Amy Tan's article Mother Tongue as well as Diane Eades Legal Recognitiong of Cultural Difference in Communication: The Case of Robyn Kina.
Tan's article Mother Tongue allows the reader to explore and interpret language discriminiation through the use of personal experience. She does this using her mother as a primary example.She states …show more content…
An Australian Aboriginial woman "who had a limited education she had little idea what was happening" (Thomas, 2006). Kina was incarcerated and sentenced to life in prison as a result of language discriminiation. In court Kina's lack of eye contact and silence was interpreted by the judge and jury as hostility and unwillingness in giving information, when in fact was merely a part of respect in aboriginal culture. She was seen to be "communicating in an Aboriginal way" (Eades, 1996). And failed to effeciently communicate with her lawyers as well as being unable to defend herself in court. “She did not give evidence, and no witnesses were called to give evidence to support her case.” (Eades, 1996). This emphasises the importantance language discrimination plays in the lives of individuals who suffer from it.
Individuals are intrinsically placed into categories of social hiaracy based on their linguistic abilities. Lippi-Green addresses the link between language and social identity through the personal experience of Sulochana Mandhare. Mandhare was discharged from work due to her accent dispite she having studied English for almost 20 years. She was "stunned and angry" (Lippi-Green, 1994). She sought out her options and filed suit. This is just another example of how language discriminiation functions in the lives of some
Tan's article Mother Tongue allows the reader to explore and interpret language discriminiation through the use of personal experience. She does this using her mother as a primary example.She states …show more content…
An Australian Aboriginial woman "who had a limited education she had little idea what was happening" (Thomas, 2006). Kina was incarcerated and sentenced to life in prison as a result of language discriminiation. In court Kina's lack of eye contact and silence was interpreted by the judge and jury as hostility and unwillingness in giving information, when in fact was merely a part of respect in aboriginal culture. She was seen to be "communicating in an Aboriginal way" (Eades, 1996). And failed to effeciently communicate with her lawyers as well as being unable to defend herself in court. “She did not give evidence, and no witnesses were called to give evidence to support her case.” (Eades, 1996). This emphasises the importantance language discrimination plays in the lives of individuals who suffer from it.
Individuals are intrinsically placed into categories of social hiaracy based on their linguistic abilities. Lippi-Green addresses the link between language and social identity through the personal experience of Sulochana Mandhare. Mandhare was discharged from work due to her accent dispite she having studied English for almost 20 years. She was "stunned and angry" (Lippi-Green, 1994). She sought out her options and filed suit. This is just another example of how language discriminiation functions in the lives of some