Comments on: y’all can light your candles now http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/ Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:59:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: cliffardo2001 http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-244 cliffardo2001 Fri, 27 May 2005 05:50:21 +0000 http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-244 I see where you are coming from. I suppose I have always valued a bit of flexibility when it comes to communication; that is to say that there is a time and place for certain modes/styles of communication. Also, when I speak of the ability to effectively utilize vernacular, I mean it as far as one can get what he wants/needs from that group of people. I would agree that it is important to learn, as perfectly as one can, the language of the land, and be able to employ it in its appropriate contexts (e.g., academic work in general, or any circumstance where there are grave consequences resting on every point of the communicative structure). However, academic speak would hardly get you along in certain other circumstances. It has been my experience that I get along better with people when I can "speak their language," so-to-speak. Also, along the way, I may gain a unique insight in to these peoples' perspectives on life or other things. Now, I must say that I am by no means a linguist (or largely informed on the matter) and must further admit that the preceding were merely conjectures based on my experience communicating with different people in different regions of the country with different backgrounds. I see where you are coming from. I suppose I have always valued a bit of flexibility when it comes to communication; that is to say that there is a time and place for certain modes/styles of communication. Also, when I speak of the ability to effectively utilize vernacular, I mean it as far as one can get what he wants/needs from that group of people. I would agree that it is important to learn, as perfectly as one can, the language of the land, and be able to employ it in its appropriate contexts (e.g., academic work in general, or any circumstance where there are grave consequences resting on every point of the communicative structure). However, academic speak would hardly get you along in certain other circumstances. It has been my experience that I get along better with people when I can “speak their language,” so-to-speak. Also, along the way, I may gain a unique insight in to these peoples’ perspectives on life or other things. Now, I must say that I am by no means a linguist (or largely informed on the matter) and must further admit that the preceding were merely conjectures based on my experience communicating with different people in different regions of the country with different backgrounds.

]]> By: Ryan http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-243 Ryan Fri, 27 May 2005 03:25:28 +0000 http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-243 Cliff - Yes, it is a disadvantage if I ever desired to appease a particular culture. I would not, though, call such degradation of language a sign of "brilliance". I am a purist when it comes to communication and am somewhat outraged by the persistent inconsistencies of people in regards to their native tongue. There are many in mainland Europe who know more about proper, correct English than do a great portion of the students in our high schools of today. I don't support beating a language into people, but a heightened appreciation for correctness could go a long way over the course of a few generations. Cliff - Yes, it is a disadvantage if I ever desired to appease a particular culture. I would not, though, call such degradation of language a sign of “brilliance”. I am a purist when it comes to communication and am somewhat outraged by the persistent inconsistencies of people in regards to their native tongue. There are many in mainland Europe who know more about proper, correct English than do a great portion of the students in our high schools of today. I don’t support beating a language into people, but a heightened appreciation for correctness could go a long way over the course of a few generations.

]]> By: cliffardo2001 http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-238 cliffardo2001 Thu, 26 May 2005 05:51:29 +0000 http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-238 Have you ever thought that speaking with perfect diction and grammar in certain contexts might be a disadvantage? For instance, wouldn't being able to speak the vernacular with the locals help the communication process considerably rather than forcing them to stumble upon the ivory laden speech that you wish to use? In my own honest opinion, I think the ability to condescend one self to effectively utilize what may be considered a lower level of communication (perhaps even thinking of it as a specialized method of communication) is indicative of brilliance. Have you ever thought that speaking with perfect diction and grammar in certain contexts might be a disadvantage? For instance, wouldn’t being able to speak the vernacular with the locals help the communication process considerably rather than forcing them to stumble upon the ivory laden speech that you wish to use? In my own honest opinion, I think the ability to condescend one self to effectively utilize what may be considered a lower level of communication (perhaps even thinking of it as a specialized method of communication) is indicative of brilliance.

]]> By: Kev http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-235 Kev Tue, 24 May 2005 04:57:22 +0000 http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-235 You guys should hear a real East Texas drawl; it gives even the "Jawja" accent a run for its money. You guys should hear a real East Texas drawl; it gives even the “Jawja” accent a run for its money.

]]> By: Ryan http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-234 Ryan Sun, 22 May 2005 19:50:43 +0000 http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-234 Jeremiah - Yes; yes, you're correct. Rianna - There's absolutely nothing intrinsically wrong with that type of accent. But, in my opinion, in the advanced stages of the <em>Southern accent</em>, as it may be, it causes communication to somewhat slow down. At least for me; it causes me to pause and reiterate what was just said to me. And I think that pause before response can be viewed as being impolite; yet, I wouldn't respond without knowing exactly what was said because that is dumb. So, I just think some Southern accents are a bit exhaustive for me. Jeremiah - Yes; yes, you’re correct.

Rianna - There’s absolutely nothing intrinsically wrong with that type of accent. But, in my opinion, in the advanced stages of the Southern accent, as it may be, it causes communication to somewhat slow down. At least for me; it causes me to pause and reiterate what was just said to me. And I think that pause before response can be viewed as being impolite; yet, I wouldn’t respond without knowing exactly what was said because that is dumb. So, I just think some Southern accents are a bit exhaustive for me.

]]> By: Rianna http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-233 Rianna Sun, 22 May 2005 17:57:49 +0000 http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-233 I don't see what's so wrong with having "slurs" and "combinations." :) I don’t see what’s so wrong with having “slurs” and “combinations.” :)

]]> By: Jeremiah http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-232 Jeremiah Sun, 22 May 2005 13:45:06 +0000 http://ryanharne.com/2005/05/21/yall-can-light-your-candles-now/#comment-232 You crazy northerners think you know how to do everything better than us. You crazy northerners think you know how to do everything better than us.

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