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This essay, by Megan Luong, age 17, from Notre Dame High School in San Jose, Calif., is one of the Top 11 winners of The Learning Network’s 10th Annual Student Editorial Contest, for which we received 12,592 entries.
We are publishing the work of all the winners and runners-up over the next week, and you can find them here as they post.
Expectations of “Perfect” English Are Elitist and Unrealistic
The aroma of my mother’s homemade phở fills the air. I eagerly greet my mom and welcome mealtime in a melodic blend of Vietnamese and English, “Ăn cơm yet?” This linguistic mélange feels like home, and in my immigrant-filled neighborhood, it’s just one of the many unique flavors that English adopts. From Chicano to Tagalog English styles, each storefront and bus stop resonates with symphonic variations in slang, cadences, and intonations.
In broader society, the notion of “perfect” standard English is placed on a pedestal and worshiped as the only acceptable form of English. This elitist expectation hides behind arbitrary grammar and pronunciation rules while demeaning language that does not conform — upholding white privilege and stifling minority communities from classrooms to courtrooms.
Research by an HR consultancy reveals that nonnative accents are perceived as less competent, less intelligent and less trustworthy in professional settings. My mother, despite years of experience in her job, has been denied equal respect and opportunities solely because of her accent. One time, a superior even blatantly called her English “uneducated.”
This bias extends to African American English and Chicano English dialects, which actually have nuanced and accurate tense systems beyond standard English’s three tenses. Double negatives (such as “ain’t got no money”) and omitted copulas (like “he smart”) are commonly denounced despite being grammatical structures found in languages worldwide.
Conforming to a speaking style can be a constant struggle for those with complex linguistic backgrounds. Linguistic assimilation alone cannot heal the pervasive problem of cultural subjugation that has fueled colonization and ethnic cleansing for centuries. Eighty percent of English is derived from 300-plus other languages, ranging from African American English slang to Sanskrit-originating “guru” and “yoga.” The “pure” English concept actively erases cultural contributions and reflects the colonizer mentality. It’s time for society to move beyond these narrow preconceptions.
Language is not static, but a living entity, evolving with the ebbs and flows of humanity. Linguist John McWhorter notes in The New York Times, “There are things that strike people as mistakes, where a linguist just sees the language moving along.” Linguists widely agree that prescriptive grammar rules do not define linguistic competence; one’s ability to effectively convey meaning does. And while writing errors and slips of the tongue occur, if a linguistic community understands the message, it serves its purpose as language.
In our increasingly interconnected world, diversity is more important than ever. Labeling someone’s English “imperfect” is elitist and unrealistic, undermining the value of linguistic diversity. Before judging others based on their English, or any language, pause and reflect: Is it unacceptable or just unfamiliar? Acknowledging systemic bias and embracing language’s natural diversity is the first step to an inclusive society where everyone’s voice is valued, regardless of how it differs from our own.
Works Cited
“A Brief History of AAVE.” The Garfield Messenger, 26 Feb. 2014.
Bradley, Rachel. “Which Words Did English Take From Other Languages?” Dictionary.com, 1 Oct. 2018.
Kamm, Oliver. “There Is No ‘Proper English.’” The Wall Street Journal, 13 March 2015
McWhorter, John. “Some Hear Grammar Don’ts. I Hear the Future of English.” The New York Times, 2 Nov. 2021.
Pinker, Steven. The Language Instinct. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2000.
Ro, Christine. “The Pervasive Problem of ‘Linguistic Racism.’” BBC, 3 June 2021.
“Yale Grammatical Diversity Project: English in North America.” Yale.edu, 2023.
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