For my second project, I hope to explore Barack Obama’s translingual abilities and how they help him in his position. I will probably use chapter one and maybe two of Articulate While Black. I will examine how his use of Black English allows him to relate to African Americans, while his Standard English gives him credit in the professional world. He is able to appeal to black and white Americans because ‘he sounds White, but not too White’ (Alim 22). Chapter two goes on to describe the meaning of "articulate" when referring to Blacks, as if they must speak just like a proper white person to be accepted in the political world. I might draw on this chapter as well because it explores the discrimination associated with dialects, and the social pressure on minorities to master "Standard English." I will draw on examples from Young as well, forwarding his idea that seperating Black English from Standard English perpetuates discrimination. I hope to find other examples of professionals who are competent in Standard English and other dialects or languages, and how their translingual practice helps them remain successful. I will argue that these professionals are the gateway to making other dialects and languages more acceptable in schools, and in the professional world.
Alim, H. Samy, and Geneva Smitherman. Articulate While Black. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.
Young, Vershawn Ashanti. Should Writers Use They Own English? N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Alim, H. Samy, and Geneva Smitherman. Articulate While Black. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.
Young, Vershawn Ashanti. Should Writers Use They Own English? N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.