Bad Words and Good Reporting: Mutually Exclusive?

I'm always interested when language, speech and the first amendment that is meant to protect it in the U.S, are among the headlines. Recently, much debate was stirred by the Supreme Court's dismissal of a policy that considered all reference to sex or bodily functions as “always indecent”.

In the wake of this polemic, Terry Gross emerges as the Queen of the Always Indecent. Following her interview with the comedian Louis CK, Mississippi Public Radio criticized the show as including “gratuitous discussions on issues of an explicit sexual nature” and proceeded to ban Gross' show Fresh Air from its airwaves.

The idea of language use and control in the media and among our politicians, journalists, and other public figures is something I've been muling over ever since the frenzy that resulted after Obama's use of the word “ass” in the course of an interview with Matt Lauer, referring to which ass, or asses, he should kick in the wake of the BP oil spill. I'm all for Obama's idea of transparency, even though I don't believe it is possible or advantageous for him if he wants to excel in the profession of a manufacturer of consent, which is essentially the job description of any American president or politician.

What bothers me most, is that I don't think that American presidents, or any presidents, journalists, or any one that we're supposed to take seriously in the event of attempting to suspend our disbelief and buy into the democracy idea- even for a minute- need to pander to and cajole us by using informal and colloquial language. To a certain extent, I think that- no matter how much we resist it- Americans are an amazing sort of bilingual. Able to understand everything from “for shizzle my nizzle” to “Whan that aprill with his shoures soote he droghte of march hath perced to the roote” we excel in adapting to and adopting several dialects, registers and forms of argot. I love that. And I appreciate that. Which is why I think we should maintain our “elevated” or “formal” speech while having fun with all the other types. I don't mean we should put more value on one over the other. Don't get me wrong, I'm a pure Labovian- but I'd hate to see any of them die, even Standard, oh-this-old-English, English.

So, I am torn when it comes to threatening the passing on and acquisition of formal and informal registers, which is why I'm not sure that politicians should talk about kicking ass. But do they? Yes. And sometimes they do it on air. And do normal people talk about sex? Yes. All the time. And is that bad? No. It isn't, especially not when it's a respectable journalist like Terry Gross who, along with interviews with actors, comedians, and artists, also covers stories on "journalists reflecting on Iranian unrest" and "turning poverty into a multi-billion dollar industry". Her show is popular and well loved and maintains an ethical approach to reporting and diffusing political and other relevant stories. Her skills as an interviewer or particular and appreciated because she is able to identify with and bring out her interlocutor, and sometimes she probably does that by adapting his or her register and speech habits. And we benefit from it.

I agree that language is important, that we should value and monitor it. That what comes out of our mouths is artistic and our responsibility. But these are also reasons why we should expect the same of others and trust that they know what they are talking about.

New Gig!

I've started an internship with Shaping the Future of Newspaper's
blog. Some of my posts are up already, so go check it out!

Dan Slobin Comes to Paris

The famous American linguist, Dan Slobin, was in Paris a few months ago to attend a conferencefirst and second language acquisition. His speech drew parallels between the process oflanguage learning for whild and adult learners. This is my "Compte Rendu" of his talk:

Dan Slobin’s lecture addressed interesting similarities between the process of first language learning and language that is acquired as an adult learning a second language. Slobin pointed out that these processes have more in common than we thought twenty years ago. Though young children have spurts in their language acquisition and make shocking strides in production of language, Slobin remarked that first language acquisition extends over a period of ten years. Language, he said, is a “complex sensory motor skill” that takes time to master.

Fluency in language is important to Slobin, who seeks to find out why all adult second language learners don’t become nearly native speakers. He posits that the lack of fluent second language speakers is a result of the role that cultures, and cultural differences, play in the experience of learning a second language. Slobin suggests that adult learners do not strive to integrate into their adopted linguistic community to the same extent that children do. The idea of being an “other” or foreigner among natives works against the adult learner, who recognizes cultural differences between themselves and their new community and uses them as a justification for not sounding or speaking like those around them.

In considering this information and its potential application, methods of teaching second languages come to mind. It seems to me that, if cultural differences and feelings of alienation can impede language acquisition and eventual fluency, then language classes should include a cultural component, something that not only familiarizes the student with where the language is spoken, but would also help their integration into the culture. However, this brings up questions regarding the difficult, but crucial, balance that must be struck between keeping one’s own cultural identity and adapting to a new environment.

A cultural component in language instruction shouldn’t be intended to replace or discourage native customs, practices, or comforts, but should make an understanding and involvement in their equivalents abroad seem accessible. Teachers of a second language have the awesome opportunity to engender an atmosphere of mutual respect for the cultures present in their classroom as well as the culture that is predominant outside the classroom. I believe that access to and increased understanding of the culture that surrounds the language being learned can sensitize and encourage the interest of the learner to engage in the culture. It would be interesting to follow up on this theory and see if there is a correlation between higher levels of proficiency in language and degrees of interest and interaction in the culture of the language’s native speakers. It seems to me that the two go hand in hand, which is why language taught with an attention to including socio-cultural elements would be an effective approach to teaching language to adult learners.

I just turned getting plaqué into getting publié!!

My article on the healing powers of travel for the broken hearted is now on Brave New Traveler!

Check it out:

http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/11/24/moving-on-5-trips-to-heal-a-broken-heart/

Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé...encore...

In honor of the occasion, here's a re-print of my article that ran in The Second Glass (www.thesecondglass.com) this time last year.

Mention Beaujolais Nouveau to your average French person, and their first reaction will probably be disgust. Beaujolais Nouveau is to the French what tequila is to the rest of us; the mere mention of it brings back memories of a youthful night of overindulgence and the legendary hangover that was to follow.
Their second reaction will also be disgust, but of a different nature. Most French agree that the annual release of this rather unremarkable wine is shameless marketing, turning the third Thursday of November into a sort of Hallmark Holiday created purely for financial gain. The event is the brainchild of the Beaujolais wine maker Georges Duboeuf, who wanted to bring Beaujolais to the world and in doing so has brought a significant amount of revenue to his pockets. One can understand the personal affront taken by the French when you consider that the Beaujolais Nouveau media frenzy not only honors and profits off of a mediocre wine, which is simply unacceptable to the French, but has also marred the credibility of an entire region of winemakers, each capable of making much better bottles. Unfortunately, the Beaujolais Nouveau event overshadows more pleasing bottles produced in the region.
Despite the general distaste for this international public relations scheme, it seems to be working. Every year, sales boom in the U.S., Germany, China, and Japan- the latter being one of the three biggest consumers of Beaujolais Nouveau, after France. The problem is, though the idea of a ready-to-drink wine seems fit for release in a season whose swiftness adds to its sweetness, do we really want a wine that is a passing pleasure on our palette? Should we rely on wine to be more than that, something to be savored and appreciated? Maybe we want more than just a pretty bottle.
Pretty bottles do fly off the shelves as well as court the budding wine market in Asia. In many parts of the continent, especially China, wine is advertised as a healthy alternative apéritif or a means of imitating Western ways and lifestyle. In brief, wine remains a sort of novelty item that Asian consumers are experimenting with. So it makes sense that the kid-in-a-candy-shop sort of marketing, offering brightly colored bottles and passing fancy, is so attractive to this demographic. The potential problem is that introducing Asian customers to a media craze and quantity over quality doesn’t necessarily encourage further experimentation. The French are rightfully worried that their wines are being sold short and also risk missing an opportunity to see increasing sales much longer in the East.
However, the French are not ones to break with tradition, and they will gather in brasseries, bars, and at home to celebrate this Fête, only you won’t find Beaujolais Nouveau on their dinner table. In its place will be Borgogne, Bordeaux, or any number of other great full-bodied reds. Take the Beaujolais out of the day, and you still have a reason for a party, it turns out.
On this particular Thursday in November, families and friends get together to celebrate a new season, of not only reds, but of the oranges and eventual browns of autumnal leaves. A season of roasted chestnuts and open fires. A fleeting season, which allows just enough time to look around at those you love and to appreciate all you have, without the horrible hangover afterwards.

Plan A

After the little "amour"s that are scribbled on sidewalks throughout the city, this is my favorite ground graffiti. As a newly converted Velib user, I have to agree, biking Paris is a great Plan A.
Note: I have also seen "Plan B" written in the bus lanes, a less exciting option, but a just as valid as far as eco-friendliness goes

OBAMARAMA in Paris

"Barack Obama in Paris" an exhibition dedicated to Obama inspired art, will be at dorothy's gallery until November 17th. Check out what I have to say about it here:

http://www.hotelsbycity.net/blog/eur_france_paris/