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    Three Ways To Speak English by Jamila Lyiscott

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    Carlos Carrizo
    Jamila Lyiscott discusses the three ways she speaks English - switching between styles depending on the context and audience. She addresses being called "articulate" which implies her Black vernacular is inferior. She celebrates speaking a composite version of English that acknowledges the histories of oppression faced by Black people and the loss of their native languages. Lyiscott concludes by affirming her ability to speak three styles of English depending on whether she's at home, school, or with friends, in order to be inclusive and challenge Eurocentric biases.

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    Three Ways To Speak English by Jamila Lyiscott

    Uploaded by

    Carlos Carrizo
    88 views2 pages
    Jamila Lyiscott discusses the three ways she speaks English - switching between styles depending on the context and audience. She addresses being called "articulate" which implies her Black vernacular is inferior. She celebrates speaking a composite version of English that acknowledges the histories of oppression faced by Black people and the loss of their native languages. Lyiscott concludes by affirming her ability to speak three styles of English depending on whether she's at home, school, or with friends, in order to be inclusive and challenge Eurocentric biases.

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    Jamila Lyiscott discusses the three ways she speaks English - switching between styles depending on the context and audience. She addresses being called "articulate" which implies her Black vernacular is inferior. She celebrates speaking a composite version of English that acknowledges the histories of oppression faced by Black people and the loss of their native languages. Lyiscott concludes by affirming her ability to speak three styles of English depending on whether she's at home, school, or with friends, in order to be inclusive and challenge Eurocentric biases.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    88 views2 pages

    Three Ways To Speak English by Jamila Lyiscott

    Uploaded by

    Carlos Carrizo
    Jamila Lyiscott discusses the three ways she speaks English - switching between styles depending on the context and audience. She addresses being called "articulate" which implies her Black vernacular is inferior. She celebrates speaking a composite version of English that acknowledges the histories of oppression faced by Black people and the loss of their native languages. Lyiscott concludes by affirming her ability to speak three styles of English depending on whether she's at home, school, or with friends, in order to be inclusive and challenge Eurocentric biases.

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    Jamila Lyiscott: 3 Ways to Speak English

    (Note: This is a spoken word piece and was written to be heard. Listen to the poet perform
    it herself:
    https://www.ted.com/talks/jamila_lyiscott_3_ways_to_speak_english?language=en#t-
    127735

    Today, a baffled lady observed the shell where my soul dwells


    And announced that I'm "articulate"
    Which means that when it comes to enunciation and diction
    I don't even think of it
    ‘Cause I’m "articulate"
    So when my professor asks a question
    And my answer is tainted with a connotation of urbanized suggestion
    There’s no misdirected intention
    Pay attention
    ‘Cause I’m “articulate”
    So when my father asks, “Wha’ kinda ting is dis?”
    My “articulate” answer never goes amiss
    I say “father, this is the impending problem at hand”
    And when I’m on the block I switch it up just because I can
    So when my boy says, “What’s good with you son?”
    I just say, “I jus’ fall out wit dem people but I done!”
    And sometimes in class
    I might pause the intellectual sounding flow to ask
    “Yo! Why dese books neva be about my peoples”
    Yes, I have decided to treat all three of my languages as equals
    Because I’m “articulate”
    But who controls articulation?
    Because the English language is a multifaceted oration
    Subject to indefinite transformation
    Now you may think that it is ignorant to speak broken English
    But I’m here to tell you that even “articulate” Americans sound foolish to the British
    So when my Professor comes on the block and says, “Hello”
    I stop him and say “Noooo …
    You’re being inarticulate … the proper way is to say ‘what’s good’”
    Now you may think that’s too hood, that’s not cool
    But I’m here to tell you that even our language has rules
    So when Mommy mocks me and says “ya’ll-be-madd-going-to-the-store”
    I say “Mommy, no, that sentence is not following the law
    Never does the word "madd" go before a present participle
    That’s simply the principle of this English”
    If I had the vocal capacity I would sing this from every mountaintop,
    From every suburbia, and every hood
    ‘Cause the only God of language is the one recorded in the Genesis
    Of this world saying “it is good"
    So I may not always come before you with excellency of speech
    But do not judge me by my language and assume
    That I’m too ignorant to teach
    ‘Cause I speak three tongues
    One for each:
    Home, school and friends
    I’m a tri-lingual orator
    Sometimes I’m consistent with my language now
    Then switch it up so I don’t bore later
    Sometimes I fight back two tongues
    While I use the other one in the classroom
    And when I mistakenly mix them up
    I feel crazy like … I’m cooking in the bathroom
    I know that I had to borrow your language because mines was stolen
    But you can’t expect me to speak your history wholly while mines is broken
    These words are spoken
    By someone who is simply fed up with the Eurocentric ideals of this season
    And the reason I speak a composite version of your language
    Is because mines was raped away along with my history
    I speak broken English so the profusing gashes can remind us
    That our current state is not a mystery
    I’m so tired of the negative images that are driving my people mad
    So unless you’ve seen it rob a bank stop calling my hair bad
    I’m so sick of this nonsensical racial disparity
    So don’t call it good unless your hair is known for donating to charity
    As much as has been raped away from our people
    How can you expect me to treat their imprint on your language
    As anything less than equal
    Let there be no confusion
    Let there be no hesitation
    This is not a promotion of ignorance
    This is a linguistic celebration
    That’s why I put "tri-lingual" on my last job application
    I can help to diversify your consumer market is all I wanted them to know
    And when they call me for the interview I’ll be more than happy to show that
    I can say:
    “What’s good”
    “Whatagwan”
    And of course …“Hello”
    Because I’m “articulate”

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