Stereotypes Of English

I have never contemplated what my life would be like if my first language was not English. What if it were Spanish, German, Dutch , or even Swahili? Taking into consideration that I am African American, I reside in Alabama, and the school that I attend means that by now I would be bilingual. Something about African American people that are bilingual or speak a different language has always astonished me. Having English as my first and only language always seemed highly boring. Merely because English is all that I have ever known. When I see someone who speaks a different language it makes me feel typical and dull. Perhaps French people feel the same. I wonder if people that speak spanish feel that way. Spanish had always been very interesting …show more content…
This is a result of our long past of discrimination and inequality. One stereotype being how we speak or more specifically, how others think we speak. A lot of people of different races think that we are “hood” and that is how we speak. Or that we only speak African American Vernacular English(AAVE). This can also be called Ebonics for black individuals. Which are the words the African Americans say that have a “black” meaning. For example instead of saying “ He is working”, we say, “ He workin’ ”. That does not make us less capable of knowing how to speak properly.If Spanish were my first language I would be proving that stereotype wrong. By me speaking spanish some people would be absolutely surprised. Those who discriminate against my race often can not believe that we can be articulate, let alone speak another language, Showing them that our vocabulary is beyond what they may imagine. That would make me an advocate for showing people that African Americans are so much …show more content…
I only speak English so I do not have these advantages. If spanish were my first language I would now have two languages on my resume. Having more than one language on my resume would place me ahead of others. Honestly because I would have more qualifications to become a better asset to the company. Everyday nine to five jobs need individuals that speak more than one language. Some are banking, retail, and customer service require a person that can translate. With Spanish being my first language that would mean extra money on the table for me. I do not know anyone who would turn down a little extra money. Jobs with pay differentials based on bilingualism pay five to twenty percent extra per hour to bilingual employees. I would be earning extra money because my first language was Spanish. Especially with translators and interpreters being in the top fifteen fastest growing occupations. These companies need someone that can assist them when they become international and interact with companies of different cultures. It would give me the opportunity to help others who are in the business field that do not speak English. With Spanish being my first language it would open up many more doors for me than only speaking english