Thursday, September 15, 2011
The Power of Speech
While growing up, we are all introduced to a form of English that many in the professional world would consider to be "broken", however I like to call it casual. Without realizing, the words we say (and the way we say them) can prove to be harmful in the job searching process. Some people believe a person's usage of words is based on the environment of said individual. Many will argue that it's based solely on the language of a person's home environment, while others believe that it's based more on the social environment and the need to fit in with fellow peers. For me, I was a rebel against my family and hated their uneducated speech, but I never felt the need to talk exactly like my peers growing up. I decided to educate myself by reading "National Geographic" and watching nature documentaries, which helped me escape my own reality. I've noticed Casual English varies with every individual and mine just so happens to be a combination between what many in our society consider "broken" and "proper". Either way, in spite of the office environment's demand for a more formal use of words, I feel confident in my ability to quickly adjust and adapt. I've been reading and writing at a 12th grade level since I was in 4th grade. I do notice that sometimes I'll say something that's not exactly appropriate for the business world, but its a growth area I'm working on.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree growing up we all are born into broken English. I also agree that the words we choose can be harmful in the job searching process because the way you speak shows on your resumes and applications and are bound to come out during interviews. I think language is based on how you are taught by parents and teachers because in the growing and learning stage the mind you are around parents and teachers the majority of your life; those people are going to instill the best language as well as action in you. I too grew up around my aunt who cursed like a sailor however i never developed the habit. I also know how to code switch especially when im around peers. Its automatic. everyone has growth areas when it comes to speech!
ReplyDeleteJulius, I can see where your coming from in your post. I was also a rebel in my family, but I was a little different coming up then you were. A lot of my family is very educated;ex. teachers, college graduates, and business oriented people. But I was the one in my family that spoke in slang or 'broken' English and the rest of my family would look at me differently, as if I were the black sheep in the family. I still agree with your post though because some people are effected by the environment they grow up in as well as the fundamentals that their family bring on them to. Even though sometimes it can also depend on how the person looks at life and how they want to be able to speak themselves.
ReplyDelete