Standard American English Is Necessary in Order to Success Highly in Life

Standard American English is Necessary in Order to Success Highly in Life

People in the America have been developing their own words for a long time. Therefore, American English is divided into two main categories: Stand American English and non-Standard American English. Standard American English is the type of American English that is used for network broadcast or other national public environment. On the other hand, non-Standard American English is the type of English that is used informal environment. As American English is divided into two categories, people, who support one category and against another category, came out: prescriptivist and descriptivist. Prescriptivist thinks that people should stop developing their own words and obey the traditional grammar rules. On the other hand, descriptivist thinks people should keep what they have now and develop more. They both have their point of view. However, prescriptivist is supportable, because it is necessary to use Standard American English in order to success highly in life. People who use standard American English make people feel that they are highly educated, so people will give them more respect. MacNeil states, “Not only white teachers, but many African – American instructors, despise the ‘street talk’ or ‘slang’ as they call it, and often treat the children as if they were stupid or uneducable” (147). People always have a feeling that people, who speak “street talk or slang”, are stupid. On the other hand, people think the people, who speak Standard American English, are more educated than the people who do not. People who speak Standard American English frequently and correctly show that they know Standard American English very well and can use it very well too. And people will always think that people who know Standard American English and can speak it very well is because they are highly educated. While people think that you are highly educated, people will think that you are worth to be trusted. When people think you are worth to be trusted, people will respect you more. People who use standard American English make people feel that they are safe, so people will be more comfortable around them. In the society, criminals are always the people who do not use Standard American English as their daily speaking language. So, people will have a feeling that people who do not always speak Standard American English is dangerous and should be kept away from. Although not every one who does not speak Standard American English is a bad guy, people will always be aware of the people who do not speak Standard American English. Moreover, it is better for people to speak Standard American English when it is necessary. While people think that you are safe, people think that you are worth to be trusted. When people think you are worth to be trusted, people will feel comfortable around you. People who speak Standard American English have a better pathway to succeed American dream, because they give good impression to other people. People who do not speak Standard American English will not success in their lives easily. MacNeil states, “[non-Standard American English] remains a significant barrier to success in school and ultimately in the job market and housing – pathway to the American dream” (148). Because if you do not speak Standard American English in specific situation (for example job interview, school oral exam or speaking to people who work in a bank that is going to lend you money) when you should, people will think that you are not worth to be trusted. Also, Steven Harvey says, “‘You do have to be bilingual in this country, which means you can be very adept at slang, but you also have to be adept at getting though the job interview’”(MacNeil148) It means that it is very important for people to speak Standard American English in job interview in order to get the job, at least a good job. Because when you speak Standard American English, people will think that you are highly educated and safe. Furthermore, when you give people good impression, you can have a better job easier, get along with co-workers easier and costumer will like you more. While you are doing well at work, you will earn more money. Therefore, you will have a life, and you can live in a nice house in a good and safe environment. It is very important for people to speak Standard American English in specific situation because it is very important for people’s life. It is necessary to use Standard American English in formal public environment, so people from different places can understand. If you want to be a person who is going to speak in front of a lot of people, you must know how to speak Standard American English. America is not a small country. Since different places in the America develop their own words, it is hard for two people from two different places to understand each other’s words which are developed from their own places. As we know, China is the biggest country in the world. Compare to America, it is even harder for all the Chinese people to speak Standard Chinese. Same character in different places may sound totally different and have different meaning. As Labov says, “‘We’re all watching the same radio and television: we live side by side. And it’s important to recognize that people don’t always want to behave in the same way’” (MacNeil149). However, Standard Chinese is a very important language in China. People use standard Chinese in national network broadcast and national event, so people from all over the country can understand the information. And it does not matter that the listeners do not know how to speak standard Chinese, as long as they know what the speakers is talking about. We can apply the same idea into American English. Because people always know what the speakers mean in Standard American English clearly, we should use standard America English in formal public environment, Information that is given in formal public environment is important, so it is important for people to understand the language that the people who give information use. Using Standard American English in formal public environment is obviously necessary. Now, we know how important it is to speak Standard American English if we want to success highly in life. Do not be too strict about whether we should speak Standard American English and forget about all the words that we develop. In order to success in today’s society, we should know that we must use Standard American English in formal public environment and we can speak our non-Standard American English when we are with our families and friends. In that way, people know that you are professional, but at the same time, your families and friends will not feel that you are too far away from them.

Work Cited

MacNeil, Robert. “Do You Speak American?” Exploring Language. Ed.Gray Goshgarian. Pearson San Francisco, 2010. 143~153. Print.

Cited: MacNeil, Robert. “Do You Speak American?” Exploring Language. Ed.Gray Goshgarian. Pearson San Francisco, 2010. 143~153. Print.