WHAT WOULD FREDERICK DOUGLASS THINK?

A loosely translated European aphorism asserts that an individual who speaks three of more languages is multi-lingual; that an individual able to speak two languages is bi-lingual; but, if an individual speaks only one language, he or she is an American. This observation is a commentary having more to do with defining America as a country of vast real estate where its citizens have no to communicate in another language; at least not until the latter part of the 20th century. American English is generally the same across the entire United States. Depending upon the whereabouts of ones hometown, southern drawls, northern dialects, regional colloquialisms, or the model mid-west elocution, is the seasoning of American English. It is the flavor of the colorful sayings, local witticisms, and idioms that contributes to a nationalistic pride in our American language.

France, another nation that takes enormous pride in the beauty of its language, is equally nationalist. Notorious to castigate folk who desecrate their Romatic lingo, Frenchmen regard those lacking proper command of their one language as non-conversant and unschooled.

Not so in America, or so it seems. Nonstandard English, once the cryptogram of high school hallways, has taken up residence in nearly every part of grown-up American culture. The ability to dialogue using correct grammar increasingly is becoming causality to a popular culture that doesn’t give a second though to vocalizing its dismal and twisted conjugations. Bad English has moved from the locker room to the offices of corporate America. Consider these recently overheard conversations.

Imagine this exchange between a 30-something hospital receptionist and her professionally dressed middle-age patient.
     “After they did your x-rays you is suppose to come for next appointment.”

     “I haven’t had my x-rays yet,” replied the patient.

     “I know, after you did your x-rays you come back “

     The patient responds, “I’m telling you, I haven’t had the X-rays yet.”

     “I know,” the receptionist said,” I mean after you did your x-rays.”

     “Oh. You mean after I have had my x-rays,” says the patient finally catching on.

     “Yee-a.”

The response of a mid-level manager to the head of the company during a staff meeting when queried as to the whereabouts of her staff.
     “We all be done showed up.”

A student, after being asked to schedule an appointment with his math instructor responds.
     “I been seen him.”

And this from a high school teacher to a parent:
     “Let me AX you this question…”

A preschool teacher, after making several unsuccessful written attempts to reach the parents, visits the home of her 5-year-old student to impress upon parents the importance of helping the child learn her ABC’s. Imagine her frustration of when met with this mother’s excuse for not answering the letters.
     “Why didn’t you say ABC’s. I ain’t knowed you mean by alphabet.”

I don’t be knowin…; I ain’t been gotten none of dis…; They is this; and He ain’t that, or We is got none ‘cause we ain’t geeet none: Is this the new American English new hot sauce?

Call it what you will: Ebonics, cultural differences, slang, or anything else to justify the illiteracy of a physically unimpaired individual to read, write, comprehend and intelligently communicate in the one language with which his or her nation functions. The fact is you are playing into what may as well be a newly fashioned self-imposed kind of slavery: Ignorance by design.

And to think, many of our ancestors suffered and died for want of education.

Lord, help us!!

              - By Grandmother aka, Sista’ Mean

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