Analytical Reading for Standard Language Ideology-myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theAnalytical Reading for Standard Language Ideology. Answer: Ever since its inception, English has been regarded as a globally accepted standard language, and although a huge number of people do speak other languages as their mother tongues, the English speaking people have barely been considerate towards the errors being perpetrated by these people while speaking English. The standard language ideology has permeated the minds of a huge number of English speaking people and has established English as a language of supremacy and unquestionable supremacy. Consequently, while the non-English speaking people have been compelled to communicate in English and their failure to do so has only resulted in disdain and indifference towards them, the Englishmen have not put the slightest effort to improve their understanding of the foreign language. In case, a person from a different culture is unable to speak in English, his views and opinions have been simply discarded, even though in some cases such indifferent and apathetic treatment of the native spe akers has only ended in catastrophic tragedies. Language is no longer a mere medium of communication and exchange of thoughts, ideas or views. In fact, on the contrary, language has emerged to be a symbol of social power. Herein arises the concept of ideological power in which case the mightier and more influential section of the society may establish its dominance and coerce and deny any right to the weaker section of the society. English is no longer a language but is associated with the ideas of social power. The case of Robyn Kina clearly showed how the linguistic identity of an individual determines her access to legal justice. The ideological power of English language is now an all-pervasive issue that is permeating each sector of the society. The ability of an individual to speak English is determining whether he will get justice or not. Kina had killed her boyfriend simply as an act of self-defense and though the murder was absolutely unintentional, it is shocking that the English speaking law system punished Kina by lifet ime imprisonment. Kina undoubtedly tried to argue justifying her deed, yet she was not heard enough. The very reason why the law system turned a deaf ear to Kinas plea of getting a bail, was her inability to speak in plain, smooth, coherently structured English, the English lawyers are so much acquainted with (Eades, 1996). Even though an aboriginal by birth, Kina was innocent and had rights to justice as much as any Englishman. However, language power hierarchy denied justice to a girl who spoke in fragmented English which the English speaking lawyers could not decipher, nor made the slightest effort to decipher. Similarly, Amy Tan also showed how her mother would face indifference in America simply because her English was not flawless and smooth like the Englishmen (Tan, 1991). The people speaking non-standard English feel powerless, and intrigued as they are conditioned into believing in the accuracy and unquestioned supremacy of the grammatically correct, structured English. Som e people feel isolated and suffer from a loss of sense of being, especially in a foreign country, because they have been continually ignored, coerced and disdained by the English speaking class of people who might just be referred to as the authoritarian section (Green, 1994). Non-standard English is linguistically the equal of the standard version of English, and yet anybody speaking in that English is mocked at, ignored and treated unequally. Any language that can help one to communicate or express ideas and views should be welcome. Language has become more ideological influenced, and the biased attitude towards people speaking deviant form of English only exhibits a distorted mentality. Reference List: Eades, D. (1996). Legal recognition of cultural differences in communication: The case of Robyn Kina.Language Communication,16(3), 215-227. Lippi-Green, R. (1994). Accent, standard language ideology, and discriminatory pretext in the courts.Language in society,23(2), 163-198. Tan, A. (1991). Mother tongue.The best American essays. New York: Tickner Fields.