so what I want to talk about today is fairness
fairness
fairness with respect to how people use language
with respect to how people use language
with respect to how people use language and it all has to do with the things
and it all has to do with the things
and it all has to do with the things that we assume to be true of people
that we assume to be true of people
that we assume to be true of people based on the way that they speak so I’m
based on the way that they speak so I’m
based on the way that they speak so I’m gonna start off by going over a couple
gonna start off by going over a couple
gonna start off by going over a couple of examples of linguistic variation
of examples of linguistic variation
of examples of linguistic variation variation and the way that people use
variation and the way that people use
variation and the way that people use language and then I will go over some or
language and then I will go over some or
language and then I will go over some or introduce some ideas or some ways in
introduce some ideas or some ways in
introduce some ideas or some ways in which people actually discriminate based
which people actually discriminate based
which people actually discriminate based on this type of variation then I’ll
on this type of variation then I’ll
on this type of variation then I’ll share some ideas of how we can confront
share some ideas of how we can confront
share some ideas of how we can confront this kind of discrimination so I don’t
this kind of discrimination so I don’t
this kind of discrimination so I don’t think it’s any kind of surprise to
think it’s any kind of surprise to
think it’s any kind of surprise to anyone that we all speak differently
anyone that we all speak differently
anyone that we all speak differently it’s one of the most fascinating things
it’s one of the most fascinating things
it’s one of the most fascinating things that people in my field study from a
that people in my field study from a
that people in my field study from a global context it’s observable and the
global context it’s observable and the
global context it’s observable and the great many number of languages that are
great many number of languages that are
great many number of languages that are spoken around the world that I’m sure
spoken around the world that I’m sure
spoken around the world that I’m sure many of you could could name maybe a
many of you could could name maybe a
many of you could could name maybe a couple of dozen of these but in fact
couple of dozen of these but in fact
couple of dozen of these but in fact there’s many thousands of them that
there’s many thousands of them that
there’s many thousands of them that differ from each other not just in terms
differ from each other not just in terms
differ from each other not just in terms of the words that they use but the
of the words that they use but the
of the words that they use but the sounds that they use to destitute to
sounds that they use to destitute to
sounds that they use to destitute to construct these words there are ways of
construct these words there are ways of
construct these words there are ways of arranging these words into sentences and
arranging these words into sentences and
arranging these words into sentences and their ways of organizing the world and
their ways of organizing the world and
their ways of organizing the world and describing the world into different
describing the world into different
describing the world into different categories linguistic diversity in the
categories linguistic diversity in the
categories linguistic diversity in the United States is a snapshot of this
United States is a snapshot of this
United States is a snapshot of this between the hundreds of languages that
between the hundreds of languages that
between the hundreds of languages that have always been spoken here and the
have always been spoken here and the
have always been spoken here and the hundreds more that have been brought to
hundreds more that have been brought to
hundreds more that have been brought to the United States by migrating
the United States by migrating
the United States by migrating populations there’s another dimension of
populations there’s another dimension of
populations there’s another dimension of linguistic diversity that I’m sure many
linguistic diversity that I’m sure many
linguistic diversity that I’m sure many of you are also familiar with and that’s
of you are also familiar with and that’s
of you are also familiar with and that’s just in the way that we all speak
just in the way that we all speak
just in the way that we all speak English it’s always been a source of
English it’s always been a source of
English it’s always been a source of wonder to me even as an adolescent I was
wonder to me even as an adolescent I was
wonder to me even as an adolescent I was curious about why a young Canadian like
curious about why a young Canadian like
curious about why a young Canadian like myself would say words like oh and about
myself would say words like oh and about
myself would say words like oh and about where many other people would say out
where many other people would say out
where many other people would say out and about and as I looked into this more
and about and as I looked into this more
and about and as I looked into this more as I pursued this type of knowledge the
as I pursued this type of knowledge the
as I pursued this type of knowledge the more I found out things like how a New
more I found out things like how a New
more I found out things like how a New Yorker would say parked a car or how a
Yorker would say parked a car or how a
Yorker would say parked a car or how a Bostonian would say pack the car or how
Bostonian would say pack the car or how
Bostonian would say pack the car or how someone from the south might pronounce
someone from the south might pronounce
someone from the south might pronounce words like quiz and dress or how a
words like quiz and dress or how a
words like quiz and dress or how a Californian would rhyme skull with foam
Californian would rhyme skull with foam
Californian would rhyme skull with foam here at UCSB I’ve spent some time
here at UCSB I’ve spent some time
here at UCSB I’ve spent some time conducting Murray some research into
conducting Murray some research into
conducting Murray some research into what linguists have called at the
what linguists have called at the
what linguists have called at the California shift
California shift
California shift this is essentially an observable change
this is essentially an observable change
this is essentially an observable change in progress that’s been happening over
in progress that’s been happening over
in progress that’s been happening over the past three or four decades or so
the past three or four decades or so
the past three or four decades or so that amounts to a new dimension and
that amounts to a new dimension and
that amounts to a new dimension and accent variation in the United States
accent variation in the United States
accent variation in the United States accents differ from each other in part
accents differ from each other in part
accents differ from each other in part just by their vowels people pronounce
just by their vowels people pronounce
just by their vowels people pronounce vowels differently acoustically we can
vowels differently acoustically we can
vowels differently acoustically we can measure vowels along a couple of
measure vowels along a couple of
measure vowels along a couple of different dimensions that roughly we can
different dimensions that roughly we can
different dimensions that roughly we can call height and backness the words I’ve
call height and backness the words I’ve
call height and backness the words I’ve got up here on this chart show how high
got up here on this chart show how high
got up here on this chart show how high or how back their vowels are when these
or how back their vowels are when these
or how back their vowels are when these words are pronounced accents differ from
words are pronounced accents differ from
words are pronounced accents differ from each other because the same catagory
each other because the same catagory
each other because the same catagory vowel might be relatively higher or
vowel might be relatively higher or
vowel might be relatively higher or lower or relatively more or less back in
lower or relatively more or less back in
lower or relatively more or less back in different accents in the California
different accents in the California
different accents in the California shift a series of vowels is
shift a series of vowels is
shift a series of vowels is incrementally lower and farther back
incrementally lower and farther back
incrementally lower and farther back than it is in other American varieties
than it is in other American varieties
than it is in other American varieties this one’s right here no it doesn’t by
this one’s right here no it doesn’t by
this one’s right here no it doesn’t by itself mean anything it has nothing to
itself mean anything it has nothing to
itself mean anything it has nothing to do with the moderate weather that we all
do with the moderate weather that we all
do with the moderate weather that we all enjoy it has nothing to do with the
enjoy it has nothing to do with the
enjoy it has nothing to do with the relaxed attitude of people who live here
relaxed attitude of people who live here
relaxed attitude of people who live here it’s simply an example of how language
it’s simply an example of how language
it’s simply an example of how language can change over time language can vary
can change over time language can vary
can change over time language can vary in ways beyond pronunciation so it can
in ways beyond pronunciation so it can
in ways beyond pronunciation so it can vary in words as well so you might call
vary in words as well so you might call
vary in words as well so you might call something a freeway that someone else
something a freeway that someone else
something a freeway that someone else might call something the same thing an
might call something the same thing an
might call something the same thing an expressway you might call it a potato
expressway you might call it a potato
expressway you might call it a potato bug or a Rolly pulley you might call it
bug or a Rolly pulley you might call it
bug or a Rolly pulley you might call it a fountain or a bubbler you might say
a fountain or a bubbler you might say
a fountain or a bubbler you might say that it’s hella cold or that it’s wicked
that it’s hella cold or that it’s wicked
that it’s hella cold or that it’s wicked cold grammar can vary too so where I’m
cold grammar can vary too so where I’m
cold grammar can vary too so where I’m from it’s actually possible to say I’m
from it’s actually possible to say I’m
from it’s actually possible to say I’m done my breakfast where I’m done my
done my breakfast where I’m done my
done my breakfast where I’m done my homework and other places you can say
homework and other places you can say
homework and other places you can say this house needs painted or you can say
this house needs painted or you can say
this house needs painted or you can say these thank-you notes need written
these thank-you notes need written
these thank-you notes need written everything I’ve given you so far is an
everything I’ve given you so far is an
everything I’ve given you so far is an example of regional variation saying the
example of regional variation saying the
example of regional variation saying the same idea but with different
same idea but with different
same idea but with different pronunciations or with different words
pronunciations or with different words
pronunciations or with different words the variation can also happen along
the variation can also happen along
the variation can also happen along different dimensions beyond space can
different dimensions beyond space can
different dimensions beyond space can happen along dimensions of age or gender
happen along dimensions of age or gender
happen along dimensions of age or gender or ethnicity when you think of all the
or ethnicity when you think of all the
or ethnicity when you think of all the ways in which two people who speak the
ways in which two people who speak the
ways in which two people who speak the same language can nevertheless differ
same language can nevertheless differ
same language can nevertheless differ from each other it’s kind of a wonder
from each other it’s kind of a wonder
from each other it’s kind of a wonder that they can understand each other at
that they can understand each other at
that they can understand each other at all
all
all and you’re very curious about how this
and you’re very curious about how this
and you’re very curious about how this can happen on the one hand variation can
can happen on the one hand variation can
can happen on the one hand variation can happen simply because the link between
happen simply because the link between
happen simply because the link between sound and meaning is really really
sound and meaning is really really
sound and meaning is really really flexible and really really changeable
flexible and really really changeable
flexible and really really changeable but people can still understand each
but people can still understand each
but people can still understand each other because we’re equipped to unpack
other because we’re equipped to unpack
other because we’re equipped to unpack the information that we exchange with
the information that we exchange with
the information that we exchange with each other with each other using a
each other with each other using a
each other with each other using a multitude of different cues in another
multitude of different cues in another
multitude of different cues in another way variation can happen because we tend
way variation can happen because we tend
way variation can happen because we tend to speak more like people who are like
to speak more like people who are like
to speak more like people who are like ourselves it marks this is aligned in
ourselves it marks this is aligned in
ourselves it marks this is aligned in some way or other and when linguistic
some way or other and when linguistic
some way or other and when linguistic change happens it tends to happen within
change happens it tends to happen within
change happens it tends to happen within groups before it happens across groups
groups before it happens across groups
groups before it happens across groups as I acknowledge that don’t let this be
as I acknowledge that don’t let this be
as I acknowledge that don’t let this be Delta less don’t let the lesson be
Delta less don’t let the lesson be
Delta less don’t let the lesson be something like it’s impossible to
something like it’s impossible to
something like it’s impossible to understand somebody who speaks
understand somebody who speaks
understand somebody who speaks differently from you it’s not like that
differently from you it’s not like that
differently from you it’s not like that and yet people still tend to
and yet people still tend to
and yet people still tend to overestimate the extent of the effects
overestimate the extent of the effects
overestimate the extent of the effects of variation even something as subtle as
of variation even something as subtle as
of variation even something as subtle as the types of regional differences that
the types of regional differences that
the types of regional differences that I’ve shown you so far
I’ve shown you so far
I’ve shown you so far get picked up and blown out of
get picked up and blown out of
get picked up and blown out of proportion by writers who don’t really
proportion by writers who don’t really
proportion by writers who don’t really understand the implications of this kind
understand the implications of this kind
understand the implications of this kind of research and they they make claims
of research and they they make claims
of research and they they make claims like these are completely different
like these are completely different
like these are completely different languages that people speak you also see
languages that people speak you also see
languages that people speak you also see it in headlines and book titles that
it in headlines and book titles that
it in headlines and book titles that make claims like men and women speak
make claims like men and women speak
make claims like men and women speak different languages now men and women
different languages now men and women
different languages now men and women may have ways that we can detect where
may have ways that we can detect where
may have ways that we can detect where they do speak differently or tend to
they do speak differently or tend to
they do speak differently or tend to have different speech habits but the
have different speech habits but the
have different speech habits but the thing is there’s a lot of things that
thing is there’s a lot of things that
thing is there’s a lot of things that people assume to be true of or assumed
people assume to be true of or assumed
people assume to be true of or assumed to be gendered about speech that aren’t
to be gendered about speech that aren’t
to be gendered about speech that aren’t really as gendered as people believe
really as gendered as people believe
really as gendered as people believe they are so for example and you might
they are so for example and you might
they are so for example and you might have been told this you might have been
have been told this you might have been
have been told this you might have been led to believe this or you might have
led to believe this or you might have
led to believe this or you might have been led to believe otherwise I should
been led to believe otherwise I should
been led to believe otherwise I should say that women don’t really say like
say that women don’t really say like
say that women don’t really say like more often than men do there might be a
more often than men do there might be a
more often than men do there might be a common belief that they really do
common belief that they really do
common belief that they really do another notable example that’s gained a
another notable example that’s gained a
another notable example that’s gained a lot of press recently is so-called vocal
lot of press recently is so-called vocal
lot of press recently is so-called vocal fry’ now this is an actual linguistic
fry’ now this is an actual linguistic
fry’ now this is an actual linguistic behavior that we all do it’s found in a
behavior that we all do it’s found in a
behavior that we all do it’s found in a lot of languages around the world
lot of languages around the world
lot of languages around the world essentially it’s a gesture that involves
essentially it’s a gesture that involves
essentially it’s a gesture that involves a slower rate of vibration in the larynx
a slower rate of vibration in the larynx
a slower rate of vibration in the larynx the vocal cords vibrate more slowly
the vocal cords vibrate more slowly
the vocal cords vibrate more slowly during vocal fry’
during vocal fry’
during vocal fry’ then they would during the pronunciation
then they would during the pronunciation
then they would during the pronunciation of vowels in other contexts it tends to
of vowels in other contexts it tends to
of vowels in other contexts it tends to happen when we drop our pitch and at
happen when we drop our pitch and at
happen when we drop our pitch and at lower volume so it ends up occurring
lower volume so it ends up occurring
lower volume so it ends up occurring towards the ends of sentences and ends
towards the ends of sentences and ends
towards the ends of sentences and ends up caring also this function of ending a
up caring also this function of ending a
up caring also this function of ending a sentence indicating an end in the turn
sentence indicating an end in the turn
sentence indicating an end in the turn of conversation I usually have trouble
of conversation I usually have trouble
of conversation I usually have trouble replicating it onstage under pressure
replicating it onstage under pressure
replicating it onstage under pressure but I’ll try and do it if I just said a
but I’ll try and do it if I just said a
but I’ll try and do it if I just said a word kind of slowly like that then you
word kind of slowly like that then you
word kind of slowly like that then you can maybe hear a little bit of that
can maybe hear a little bit of that
can maybe hear a little bit of that creaky voice now for some reason in the
creaky voice now for some reason in the
creaky voice now for some reason in the popular mindset vocal fry’ has taken
popular mindset vocal fry’ has taken
popular mindset vocal fry’ has taken root as a behavior that only young women
root as a behavior that only young women
root as a behavior that only young women do and only for frivolous reasons young
do and only for frivolous reasons young
do and only for frivolous reasons young women aren’t the only people who do this
women aren’t the only people who do this
women aren’t the only people who do this and whether they do it they do it for
and whether they do it they do it for
and whether they do it they do it for the same reasons that anyone else would
the same reasons that anyone else would
the same reasons that anyone else would for reasons like ending one’s turn in
for reasons like ending one’s turn in
for reasons like ending one’s turn in conversation so this shows us the
conversation so this shows us the
conversation so this shows us the downside of variation there doesn’t need
downside of variation there doesn’t need
downside of variation there doesn’t need to be a downside but there is a downside
to be a downside but there is a downside
to be a downside but there is a downside and that is that people use variation
and that is that people use variation
and that is that people use variation against each other so even something as
against each other so even something as
against each other so even something as as innocent to something like the the
as innocent to something like the the
as innocent to something like the the California shift that I showed you a
California shift that I showed you a
California shift that I showed you a couple of minutes ago can turn into or
couple of minutes ago can turn into or
couple of minutes ago can turn into or serve as fodder for really coarse
serve as fodder for really coarse
serve as fodder for really coarse exaggerated caricatures so it turns out
exaggerated caricatures so it turns out
exaggerated caricatures so it turns out there’s this fairly prevalent ideology
there’s this fairly prevalent ideology
there’s this fairly prevalent ideology out there that adherence
out there that adherence
out there that adherence only to a fairly restricted set of
only to a fairly restricted set of
only to a fairly restricted set of expectations and standards is what’s
expectations and standards is what’s
expectations and standards is what’s acceptable and any divergence from that
acceptable and any divergence from that
acceptable and any divergence from that set of standards is not simply different
set of standards is not simply different
set of standards is not simply different but also wrong that’s not an ideology
but also wrong that’s not an ideology
but also wrong that’s not an ideology that I intend to support with what I’m
that I intend to support with what I’m
that I intend to support with what I’m talking about today I want to address
talking about today I want to address
talking about today I want to address and confront that type of ideology
this ideology nevertheless
this ideology nevertheless misunderstands the sources and
misunderstands the sources and
misunderstands the sources and consequences of variation they can do
consequences of variation they can do
consequences of variation they can do things like consider divergence from
things like consider divergence from
things like consider divergence from those standards as reasons to to have a
those standards as reasons to to have a
those standards as reasons to to have a low opinion of someone to have a low
low opinion of someone to have a low
low opinion of someone to have a low evaluation of someone grounds for
evaluation of someone grounds for
evaluation of someone grounds for derogation or discrimination or a low
derogation or discrimination or a low
derogation or discrimination or a low assessment or just poor judgment and the
assessment or just poor judgment and the
assessment or just poor judgment and the standard can include expectations of
standard can include expectations of
standard can include expectations of knowledge of pedantic t2 details like
knowledge of pedantic t2 details like
knowledge of pedantic t2 details like knowing when to say less versus when to
knowing when to say less versus when to
knowing when to say less versus when to say fewer but it can also include
say fewer but it can also include
say fewer but it can also include expectations of not sounding female
expectations of not sounding female
expectations of not sounding female we’re not sounding young
we’re not sounding young
we’re not sounding young we’re not sounding black or not sounding
we’re not sounding black or not sounding
we’re not sounding black or not sounding Latino or a working class or even
Latino or a working class or even
Latino or a working class or even regional these aspects of identity that
regional these aspects of identity that
regional these aspects of identity that shows up or show up in people’s speech
shows up or show up in people’s speech
shows up or show up in people’s speech can end up serving as a hindrance then
can end up serving as a hindrance then
can end up serving as a hindrance then to someone who’s trying to succeed in
to someone who’s trying to succeed in
to someone who’s trying to succeed in their education trying to start or
their education trying to start or
their education trying to start or advance their career trying to secure a
advance their career trying to secure a
advance their career trying to secure a loan or trying to find a home which is a
loan or trying to find a home which is a
loan or trying to find a home which is a really really unfair thing for that
really really unfair thing for that
really really unfair thing for that person to go through and what’s worse
person to go through and what’s worse
person to go through and what’s worse sometimes there’s particular linguistic
sometimes there’s particular linguistic
sometimes there’s particular linguistic behaviors that end up being assumed to
behaviors that end up being assumed to
behaviors that end up being assumed to be true only one population even though
be true only one population even though
be true only one population even though they’re not so I’ve elected to start
they’re not so I’ve elected to start
they’re not so I’ve elected to start calling this particular type of behavior
calling this particular type of behavior
calling this particular type of behavior linguistic gaslighting borrowing the
linguistic gaslighting borrowing the
linguistic gaslighting borrowing the term from clinical relational psychology
term from clinical relational psychology
term from clinical relational psychology in that context gaslighting refers to a
in that context gaslighting refers to a
in that context gaslighting refers to a scenario in which an individual is led
scenario in which an individual is led
scenario in which an individual is led to believe that they are responsible for
to believe that they are responsible for
to believe that they are responsible for the abuses that they suffer from and
the abuses that they suffer from and
the abuses that they suffer from and experience by analogy linguistic
experience by analogy linguistic
experience by analogy linguistic gaslighting is similar it’s the pegging
gaslighting is similar it’s the pegging
gaslighting is similar it’s the pegging of a linguistic behavior softly on one
of a linguistic behavior softly on one
of a linguistic behavior softly on one group and criticizing them for it
and it’s a terribly unfair practice of
and it’s a terribly unfair practice of course as well so an example of this
course as well so an example of this
course as well so an example of this would be suppose someone considers a
would be suppose someone considers a
would be suppose someone considers a linguistic behavior like vocal fry to be
linguistic behavior like vocal fry to be
linguistic behavior like vocal fry to be simply wrong so someone who has that
simply wrong so someone who has that
simply wrong so someone who has that opinion about vocal fry but false only
opinion about vocal fry but false only
opinion about vocal fry but false only women for it is essentially showing an
women for it is essentially showing an
women for it is essentially showing an unconscious bias just towards women
unconscious bias just towards women
unconscious bias just towards women faulting them simply for being women
faulting them simply for being women
faulting them simply for being women linguistic gaslighting shows us the
linguistic gaslighting shows us the
linguistic gaslighting shows us the implicit biases that people sometimes
implicit biases that people sometimes
implicit biases that people sometimes hold towards other groups
it’s even more insidious of course when
it’s even more insidious of course when the gas lighting is embedded within
the gas lighting is embedded within
the gas lighting is embedded within advice literature or the guise of help
advice literature or the guise of help
advice literature or the guise of help for people to try to figure out what
for people to try to figure out what
for people to try to figure out what they can do to change their speech to
they can do to change their speech to
they can do to change their speech to make it more acceptable to others so you
make it more acceptable to others so you
make it more acceptable to others so you might think the solution then is to
might think the solution then is to
might think the solution then is to discourage variation to encourage people
discourage variation to encourage people
discourage variation to encourage people all to converge on the same set of
all to converge on the same set of
all to converge on the same set of standards if everyone spoke the same way
standards if everyone spoke the same way
standards if everyone spoke the same way the reasoning goes then there will be no
the reasoning goes then there will be no
the reasoning goes then there will be no reason to discriminate against people
reason to discriminate against people
reason to discriminate against people based on the way that they speak now the
based on the way that they speak now the
based on the way that they speak now the fact that sometimes people are
fact that sometimes people are
fact that sometimes people are criticized for the behavior that other
criticized for the behavior that other
criticized for the behavior that other people get a pass for suggests it’s not
people get a pass for suggests it’s not
people get a pass for suggests it’s not even an option and it’s not at all what
even an option and it’s not at all what
even an option and it’s not at all what I would call reaching through variation
I would call reaching through variation
I would call reaching through variation as I talk about it today trying to get
as I talk about it today trying to get
as I talk about it today trying to get rid of variation with the interest of
rid of variation with the interest of
rid of variation with the interest of helping someone avoid being judged still
helping someone avoid being judged still
helping someone avoid being judged still validates the ideology of judgment it
validates the ideology of judgment it
validates the ideology of judgment it still says or assumes that the problem
still says or assumes that the problem
still says or assumes that the problem is the person who diverges from that set
is the person who diverges from that set
is the person who diverges from that set of standards if you don’t think this is
of standards if you don’t think this is
of standards if you don’t think this is a problem consider who it is amongst us
a problem consider who it is amongst us
a problem consider who it is amongst us who has to do the least amount of work
who has to do the least amount of work
who has to do the least amount of work in order to concert to convert on these
in order to concert to convert on these
in order to concert to convert on these expectations of standards and some of us
expectations of standards and some of us
expectations of standards and some of us are able to diverge from standards
are able to diverge from standards
are able to diverge from standards without real consequence and others of
without real consequence and others of
without real consequence and others of us are not and if you still don’t think
us are not and if you still don’t think
us are not and if you still don’t think it’s a problem consider the ways in
it’s a problem consider the ways in
it’s a problem consider the ways in which a lot of our social rules are
which a lot of our social rules are
which a lot of our social rules are constructed consider children in the way
constructed consider children in the way
constructed consider children in the way that we raise them for example many of
that we raise them for example many of
that we raise them for example many of us raise little boys to wear blue and to
us raise little boys to wear blue and to
us raise little boys to wear blue and to play with trucks and to participate in
play with trucks and to participate in
play with trucks and to participate in competitive games and we raise little
competitive games and we raise little
competitive games and we raise little girls to wear pink and to play with
girls to wear pink and to play with
girls to wear pink and to play with dolls and to participate in more
dolls and to participate in more
dolls and to participate in more collaborative games there’s no one out
collaborative games there’s no one out
collaborative games there’s no one out there telling us that we have to do this
there telling us that we have to do this
there telling us that we have to do this so it’s not something that’s conscious
so it’s not something that’s conscious
so it’s not something that’s conscious on our minds but it’s really systemic
on our minds but it’s really systemic
on our minds but it’s really systemic and it’s pervasive and so as a result it
and it’s pervasive and so as a result it
and it’s pervasive and so as a result it shouldn’t be a surprise that little boys
shouldn’t be a surprise that little boys
shouldn’t be a surprise that little boys and little girls end up forming
and little girls end up forming
and little girls end up forming different play groups and along the way
different play groups and along the way
different play groups and along the way they probably develop some different
they probably develop some different
they probably develop some different linguistic habits as well so isn’t it
linguistic habits as well so isn’t it
linguistic habits as well so isn’t it really unfair then
really unfair then
really unfair then the little girls when they reach
the little girls when they reach
the little girls when they reach adolescence and adulthood for us to
adolescence and adulthood for us to
adolescence and adulthood for us to criticize the way that they speak
criticize the way that they speak
criticize the way that they speak because of these habits that they’ve
because of these habits that they’ve
because of these habits that they’ve developed in these different
developed in these different
developed in these different circumstances isn’t it unfair for us to
circumstances isn’t it unfair for us to
circumstances isn’t it unfair for us to expect them to drop their Girl Talk if
expect them to drop their Girl Talk if
expect them to drop their Girl Talk if they want to hold some kind of position
they want to hold some kind of position
they want to hold some kind of position of authority even though their female
of authority even though their female
of authority even though their female perspective is an invaluable asset so
perspective is an invaluable asset so
perspective is an invaluable asset so men and women indeed might be shown to
men and women indeed might be shown to
men and women indeed might be shown to have some gendered linguistic behavior
have some gendered linguistic behavior
have some gendered linguistic behavior we don’t need to be judgemental about it
we don’t need to be judgemental about it
we don’t need to be judgemental about it the actual differences aren’t
the actual differences aren’t
the actual differences aren’t necessarily the same as the differences
necessarily the same as the differences
necessarily the same as the differences that we believe to be there so perhaps
that we believe to be there so perhaps
that we believe to be there so perhaps we can let those things be but think now
we can let those things be but think now
we can let those things be but think now about the speech of black Americans the
about the speech of black Americans the
about the speech of black Americans the history of black speech is very tightly
history of black speech is very tightly
history of black speech is very tightly linked to the history of its speakers
linked to the history of its speakers
linked to the history of its speakers going back to a period in history where
going back to a period in history where
going back to a period in history where entire communities were uprooted and
entire communities were uprooted and
entire communities were uprooted and enslaved and moved to a different
enslaved and moved to a different
enslaved and moved to a different confident continent against their will
confident continent against their will
confident continent against their will forced to learn a different language
forced to learn a different language
forced to learn a different language against their will emancipation did not
against their will emancipation did not
against their will emancipation did not mean the end of inequality nor did the
mean the end of inequality nor did the
mean the end of inequality nor did the civil rights movement or the end of
civil rights movement or the end of
civil rights movement or the end of segregation the odds are still stacked
segregation the odds are still stacked
segregation the odds are still stacked against African Americans because of a
against African Americans because of a
against African Americans because of a modern society that still more subtly
modern society that still more subtly
modern society that still more subtly maintains defenses that things like
maintains defenses that things like
maintains defenses that things like slavery and segregation was held up much
slavery and segregation was held up much
slavery and segregation was held up much more forcefully in those types of
more forcefully in those types of
more forcefully in those types of circumstances of course linguistic
circumstances of course linguistic
circumstances of course linguistic variation is going to continue to
variation is going to continue to
variation is going to continue to diverge and to grow and it’s asking a
diverge and to grow and it’s asking a
diverge and to grow and it’s asking a whole lot of members of such communities
whole lot of members of such communities
whole lot of members of such communities to try to adapt their speech and
to try to adapt their speech and
to try to adapt their speech and converge with some kind of standard
converge with some kind of standard
converge with some kind of standard which actually marks the speech of
which actually marks the speech of
which actually marks the speech of groups of people who historically have
groups of people who historically have
groups of people who historically have oppressed them and there’s linguistic
oppressed them and there’s linguistic
oppressed them and there’s linguistic gaslighting that happens with African
gaslighting that happens with African
gaslighting that happens with African Americans as well there are linguistic
Americans as well there are linguistic
Americans as well there are linguistic behaviors that we assume what people
behaviors that we assume what people
behaviors that we assume what people tend to assume a very typically African
tend to assume a very typically African
tend to assume a very typically African American in nature things like I don’t
American in nature things like I don’t
American in nature things like I don’t know saying that walking instead of
know saying that walking instead of
know saying that walking instead of walking or saying respect instead of
walking or saying respect instead of
walking or saying respect instead of respect
respect
respect these are behaviors that lots of
these are behaviors that lots of
these are behaviors that lots of different people do but for some reason
different people do but for some reason
different people do but for some reason only African Americans are held
only African Americans are held
only African Americans are held accountable for this and criticized for
accountable for this and criticized for
accountable for this and criticized for it so to sum up so far variation exists
it so to sum up so far variation exists
it so to sum up so far variation exists we do there are ways in which you can
we do there are ways in which you can
we do there are ways in which you can find different groups of people speaking
find different groups of people speaking
find different groups of people speaking differently those differences are not as
differently those differences are not as
differently those differences are not as vast as what sometimes people believe
vast as what sometimes people believe
vast as what sometimes people believe them to be they certainly don’t need to
them to be they certainly don’t need to
them to be they certainly don’t need to be a reason to discriminate against each
be a reason to discriminate against each
be a reason to discriminate against each other people still do it though so what
other people still do it though so what
other people still do it though so what can we do about it essentially I’ve
can we do about it essentially I’ve
can we do about it essentially I’ve already said that getting rid of
already said that getting rid of
already said that getting rid of variation is not the solution it’s not
variation is not the solution it’s not
variation is not the solution it’s not viable even if it were it would still
viable even if it were it would still
viable even if it were it would still put all of the onus to change on the
put all of the onus to change on the
put all of the onus to change on the gas-lit populations all the work would
gas-lit populations all the work would
gas-lit populations all the work would be up to them to converge with these
be up to them to converge with these
be up to them to converge with these idealized expectations of standards even
idealized expectations of standards even
idealized expectations of standards even if they did converge there’s no
if they did converge there’s no
if they did converge there’s no guarantee that they would see the
guarantee that they would see the
guarantee that they would see the benefit of such a convergence so instead
benefit of such a convergence so instead
benefit of such a convergence so instead there’s a different kind of reach that
there’s a different kind of reach that
there’s a different kind of reach that we can all make we can simply let
we can all make we can simply let
we can all make we can simply let variation be we can treat variation
variation be we can treat variation
variation be we can treat variation along dimensions of ethnicity or gender
along dimensions of ethnicity or gender
along dimensions of ethnicity or gender or age with the same basic innocent
or age with the same basic innocent
or age with the same basic innocent wonder and curiosity that one might hold
wonder and curiosity that one might hold
wonder and curiosity that one might hold toward regionalism or little details
toward regionalism or little details
toward regionalism or little details like the California shift we need to
like the California shift we need to
like the California shift we need to reject linguistic discrimination we need
reject linguistic discrimination we need
reject linguistic discrimination we need to recognize linguistic gaslighting for
to recognize linguistic gaslighting for
to recognize linguistic gaslighting for what it is so how do we do this more
what it is so how do we do this more
what it is so how do we do this more concretely a couple of different ideas
concretely a couple of different ideas
concretely a couple of different ideas come to mind
this first one might be the hardest to
this first one might be the hardest to think about but we need to rethink
think about but we need to rethink
think about but we need to rethink standards and I’m not going to say
standards and I’m not going to say
standards and I’m not going to say something like we need to do away with
something like we need to do away with
something like we need to do away with standards or drop standards or pretend
standards or drop standards or pretend
standards or drop standards or pretend that they don’t exist but we need to
that they don’t exist but we need to
that they don’t exist but we need to consider their role with a little bit
consider their role with a little bit
consider their role with a little bit more nuance you might have been able to
more nuance you might have been able to
more nuance you might have been able to detect to detect so far and what I’ve
detect to detect so far and what I’ve
detect to detect so far and what I’ve been talking about that I’m very much in
been talking about that I’m very much in
been talking about that I’m very much in favor of diversity and and very much in
favor of diversity and and very much in
favor of diversity and and very much in favor of variation so I like these
favor of variation so I like these
favor of variation so I like these things just for the sake of curiosity
things just for the sake of curiosity
things just for the sake of curiosity and I don’t like to call linguistic
and I don’t like to call linguistic
and I don’t like to call linguistic behaviors wrong yeah this will be a
behaviors wrong yeah this will be a
behaviors wrong yeah this will be a surprise to any of you who’ve gone
surprise to any of you who’ve gone
surprise to any of you who’ve gone through any amount of training and
through any amount of training and
through any amount of training and linguistics it might be a surprise to
linguistics it might be a surprise to
linguistics it might be a surprise to the rest of you but one thing that we’re
the rest of you but one thing that we’re
the rest of you but one thing that we’re able to determine is that every variety
able to determine is that every variety
able to determine is that every variety of language follows some sort of
of language follows some sort of
of language follows some sort of internal set of conventions and rules
internal set of conventions and rules
internal set of conventions and rules and is really harmful and unfair to deny
and is really harmful and unfair to deny
and is really harmful and unfair to deny that regularity in the speech of the
that regularity in the speech of the
that regularity in the speech of the non-standard speaker so instead of
non-standard speaker so instead of
non-standard speaker so instead of simply asserting that standards are the
simply asserting that standards are the
simply asserting that standards are the only true correct way of using language
only true correct way of using language
only true correct way of using language we can teach them as useful tools of
we can teach them as useful tools of
we can teach them as useful tools of communication of interaction and writing
communication of interaction and writing
communication of interaction and writing to put it more plainly assessments of
to put it more plainly assessments of
to put it more plainly assessments of standard usage shouldn’t really be used
standard usage shouldn’t really be used
standard usage shouldn’t really be used to test anything except knowledge of
to test anything except knowledge of
to test anything except knowledge of standard constructions another approach
standard constructions another approach
standard constructions another approach outside the educational context has to
outside the educational context has to
outside the educational context has to do with letting go of this
do with letting go of this
do with letting go of this self-proclaimed helpful but judgy type
self-proclaimed helpful but judgy type
self-proclaimed helpful but judgy type of perspective this might be difficult
of perspective this might be difficult
of perspective this might be difficult for you to do if you’re still a student
for you to do if you’re still a student
for you to do if you’re still a student in a class right now whose instructor
in a class right now whose instructor
in a class right now whose instructor expects you to follow some arbitrary
expects you to follow some arbitrary
expects you to follow some arbitrary edict like don’t use the passive voice
edict like don’t use the passive voice
edict like don’t use the passive voice and your writing
and your writing
and your writing it might be hard to do if you are
it might be hard to do if you are
it might be hard to do if you are interviewing for a job where your
interviewing for a job where your
interviewing for a job where your potential employer expects you to change
potential employer expects you to change
potential employer expects you to change your speech habits or your speaking
your speech habits or your speaking
your speech habits or your speaking style but one day and I I hope this is
style but one day and I I hope this is
style but one day and I I hope this is really soon you will reach the other
really soon you will reach the other
really soon you will reach the other side with the desk and that is when you
side with the desk and that is when you
side with the desk and that is when you get to make the call when you get there
get to make the call when you get there
get to make the call when you get there don’t be
don’t be
don’t be the teacher who repeats arbitrary rules
the teacher who repeats arbitrary rules
the teacher who repeats arbitrary rules that actually contradict convention
that actually contradict convention
that actually contradict convention don’t be the writer who writes another
don’t be the writer who writes another
don’t be the writer who writes another piece telling women what they need to do
piece telling women what they need to do
piece telling women what they need to do to be taken seriously in the workplace
to be taken seriously in the workplace
to be taken seriously in the workplace don’t be the employer who hires people
don’t be the employer who hires people
don’t be the employer who hires people under the expectation that there to hide
under the expectation that there to hide
under the expectation that there to hide aspects of their identity including the
aspects of their identity including the
aspects of their identity including the way that they speak that’s the kind of
way that they speak that’s the kind of
way that they speak that’s the kind of reach that we can all make because
reach that we can all make because
reach that we can all make because despite all these differences that we
despite all these differences that we
despite all these differences that we can see through linguistic variation
can see through linguistic variation
can see through linguistic variation these differences don’t build walls
these differences don’t build walls
these differences don’t build walls between us and it’s not hard at all for
between us and it’s not hard at all for
between us and it’s not hard at all for each of us to reach through that
each of us to reach through that
each of us to reach through that variation and hear what each of us has
variation and hear what each of us has
variation and hear what each of us has to say then contribute thank you
to say then contribute thank you
to say then contribute thank you [Applause]
”
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