Michael Erard Street Talk Analysis

Street Talk Published on September 26, 2016 by Aeon Media Group, Michael Erard explains the importance of “bidialectal” people and their relation to bilingual people in his article “Street Talk.” Those who can speak more than one language are at a higher advantage than those who don’t. But Erard stresses that those who can speak multiple dialects from different cultures are on the same level as bilinguals. This “bidialectal” idea is as simple as one American speaking formal English as well as “ebonics,” the African-American Vernacular English. There are minor differences between the two dialects in pronunciation, word choice, and the style in which you form sentences. To differ from these two and use both in a given conversation increases …show more content…
He uses evidence from research and studies to do with different dialects and different cultures and languages. “Some neuroscientists, such as Franco Fabbro at the University of Udine in Italy, have even explicitly included bidialectalism as a form of bilingualism,” (Erard) this proves the close relationship of dialect and language. Including dialect as a form of language shows that dialect is not only about how things are said, but how they sound and form different meanings. To back up his evidence, Erard shows that bilinguals are better cognitive thinkers. His research reveals that going from language to language is easier. (This is the same for multitasking, and focusing on certain tasks, while later transitioning with ease.) Their executive functions were more mature, and the effects of aging were lessened. Since language knowledge improves brain health, the mind lives longer alongside multiple languages or dialects. Bilingualism in children proves this point, since children are learning two languages at once. Unlike adults, who usually learn one language at a …show more content…
If someone is not curious about the effects of linguistics or dialects, they will not be concerned about what he is writing about. The audience is specific in this case, seeing as there are only so many bilinguals and bidialectals. He could also be writing to anyone wanting to learn new languages or dialects, as this would motivate them to do so. His logos and pathos appeals could easily be used as motivation for the curious, and validation for the bilinguals and bidialectals. Erard’s article, “Street Talk,” argues the difference between bilingualism and bidialectism using appeals to pathos and logos. He stresses the knowledge we gain from learning multiple languages and multiple dialects, but questions which one is more sustainable. Erard ends the article with the pathos appeal, emphasizing knowledge of languages and different cultures in general. He explains that bilinguals and bidialectals alike, “shouldn’t have to prove themselves—they should be what they are.” His argument is effective among both ends of the table, seeing as he gives each a good