The passage I feel that is most important to me would be “Poor
people and those from low-caste racial groups have less consistent, less
politically secured access to literacy sponsors – especially to the ones that can
grease their way to academic and economic success. Differences in their
performances are often attributed to family background (namely education and
income of parents) or to particular norms and values operating within different
ethnic groups and social classes. (Brandt, p.559)
This passage helps me to identify how the different classes
and cultures in today’s society are structured around language and its
interpretation through what is viewed as “one size fits all” and not
necessarily that which is diverse and acceptable to all.
Language and its interpretation can be forced and not
accepted.
Mary:
ReplyDeleteI like this issue and this question, and I think you'll have a good time looking through Gee, Brandt, and Delpit (perhaps even Bartholomae) to find your answers.
Be sure to carefully address what YOU mean by "language" and how that might differ-- or be the same-- as how your authors are defining it. The point will be to answer your question, using, of course, the course readings to do so.
In the passage you have quoted, the phrase that stands out to me is "grease their way to academic and economic success". What do you think Brandt means by this? I think it means that they have to "fake" it, using features of a discourse but not really adopting it.
I wonder, though, how this passage really gets at your question of what is language? If you see a real connection there, you'll have to spell it out for us, keeping in mind that you will also need to have a larger point you want to make for the essay.
If you have more questions, please do not hesitate to let me know!