Delpit and Smitherman Reading

Deplit

Questions for Discussion and Journaling

1: It doesn't matter to me that Deplit doesn't identify her race because sometimes that shouldn't matter because when you do find out the identity of the author you might start to generalize what the article might be about or ask yourself since it's coming from a person with this race, should I believe it or not. It kind of goes against what I'm saying but for this article you might want to know the race of the author to see where they're coming from. I don't think the my perception of her identity changes. I find the last question kind of confusing because it is worded quite differently.

3: I agree with the statement Deplit makes about all discourses not being equal in status. I believe that argument where your are really just born into certain discourse communities is valid because people cant't help that they are born then pushed towards a discourse communities whether it be a middle class, upper class or even lower class. I believe that one of the shortcoming of the argument is that you should be able to get out of a certain discourse community if you want to, your not always stuck there if you try hard enough you can be accepted somewhere else.

Applying and Exploring

3: I do see generalizations in this article specifically when it talks about not being born into a dominant discourse and it being very difficult to join one if not impossible. It may seem that way, but with out a doubt I think you should be able to join any discourse you want, now it may be hard, but if you try hard enough to join a realistic discourse that has to do with you, you will be able to join it. Overall I think generalizations are problematic because when people generalize something they don't look at the big picture and when you dont look at the big picture you miss specific details.

Smitherman Reading

Before you read: Yes I have judged someone when I here them speak and I dont know what they look like. This will normally happen over a telephone call. If they have a southern accent I may say to myself, well this person could be a hick. I know it sounds bad, but almost everyone does it.

Questions for Discussion and Journaling

2: I noticed that Smitherman uses "BI" over and over again through the article. Sometimes when this happens and you see it and start to hear it all the time you usually start to understand it. This actually works for me most of the time because it becomes such a repetition I will understand it because its drilled into my head so many times.

Applying and Exploring

5: God don't never change isn't about being formatted or spelled correctly but more about the meaning/culture behind it that Smitherman tried to display. Our language doesn't always have to be correct and here is the perfect situation. For most people the second saying may sound confusing, but for some it sounds more correct. It really just depends on how deep you look into it. I'm still quite confused from the two saying but if I think about it for long enough I should understand it.