My mother was an “officer” in the “Grammar Police Force”, for as long as I can remember. She never allowed the kids in the family to speak “like slaves”, if she was within earshot. If you were fortunate (it was a blessing, as I think back on those days) enough to get caught on the wrong side of grammatical law, you got corrected with a quickness.
Now, I am not a member of the force, myself. However, I do feel a need to “represent” rightly, as an African-American. Too many think that black folks, as a whole, aren’t too concerned with developing basic communication skills. Too many are surprised, when they find out some of us are indeed “black”, when meeting us for the first time, after numerous phone conversations.
People evaluate your level of intelligence, by how well you communicate. It’s no secret. It’s fine to be a little lax, when you’re around friends — as long as you can tighten up and talk right, when you need to.
A Nappy Girl
Being an English teacher, I tend to push speaking “proper English,” particularly around my students. However, as a linguist by nature, I believe in “code-switching,” the idea and ability to switch the way one speaks based upon whom he or she is around. To this day, I still wish my accent was as proper as it was when I was around 5 or 6. Unfortunately, I let my peers influence a change in that when I grew into my adolescence, in addition to living in the south. At least I still have my diction to brag about! :)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I understand “code-switching”, and I practice it. If you can switch back, when you need to (based on the audience), then that’s great. Some folks can’t do that.
I was a really “proper” six year-old myself. My aunts and uncles used to laugh at me!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’ve always considered some expressions we use are uniquely ours … despite that they are considered “bad” english. But, YES, I’m a stickler for the King’s English as well. My daughter uses these other grammer expressions regularly and I freak out!! Did not my influence carry over on her????? I notice that the expression “you was” “they was” is very common now and I.can’t.stand.it.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hey NEA, I like reading your blogs (a fellow Christian here *smile* )
I must say though. I am a member of the ashamed to speak proper English club. (somewhat) I have always spoke proper English and my parents STRESSED the importance of speaking proper English to show your intelligence…..but then folks would take my “Black card” away from me. Just like Toni, I let folks influence me (in that way) and now I am just so cautious of what people would say when I opened my mouth. I really wish I didn’t care what others thought. :(
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Very interesting topic, and I’ve been in several conversations about people typing how they talk;) People send me comments or messages using jive slang, and I’m like, what in thee hell are you talking about. Literally, it is a pet peave of mine when people don’t know how to switch it up in order to conduct business with a clear understanding of where each other is coming from. It’s kind of like when a white man tries to give me “dap” or a “pound” instead of just shaking my hand in order to show me he is down and understands where I’m coming from, but it leaves of sense of awkwardness and uneasiness on my part. It is the same thing when people use slang in the wrong setting.
Said all that to say this, the art of communication has been lost, and most people have forgotten how to express themselves in a sort of universal (proper if you will) way, where everybody can understand each other. Of course, I am fluent in ebonics, but I also am a former English Teacher w/ a B.A. in English. There is nothing wrong with being well rounded, but one should learn how to effectively use both codes of the American language.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
the only two subjects i emphasize with my children: english and math. master those two things and you can do anything you want in life.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
my wife’s grandma was also on the “force”…now my wife is on the grammer police force as well!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think it is sad that so many of us feel that it is “acting white” to speak correctly. I was always teased growing up because not only did my parents encourage me to speak properly, my name isn’t the most Afrocentric one in the world. But now that I am older I can appreciate both my name and my upbringing.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This issue has become even more important to me than it was before after having become a father. I want my kids to know the proper way to speak, in part so that they will not have to be intellectually prejudged in the broader world, so we make an effort to not butcher the language around Max. Besides, I found that english and grammar were easier subjects because my parents spoke properly, and most of the answers on grammar tests were, for me, kind of common sense. (Ironically, I use run-on sentences here!)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0