The biggest thing to take away from this section of the reading is to not judge a book by its cover. While people have carreers that study dialect, that can pinpoint someone as to where they are from just by listening to them speak, there is more to a person than where they are from, eastern Long Island or Chicago. I might sound like i am from one place but in reality i might have not lived tehre since a child, but my voice, my dialect represents the first place where i lived. Along the same lines, my skin might be one color when in fact i do not relate with the race of my skin. The topic and subjects of dialect, culture, and all issues surrounding where we are from are touchy. Chapter 48 in my opinion is the best chapter in this text for it talks about th social issues around how e know what someone is. Assumtions can be correct, but when incorrect they can cause harm and hurt feelings.
In class we discussed the differences between dialects a lot, how one part of scotland is much different than another, how someone from connecticut has a neutral dialect whereas someoen from alabama certainly does not. All of us have different syles and and dialects, it is part of what makes us all so unique. I have learned so much through speaking with people from all over the country, adn all over the world. I believe that i have cultural competence, i have traveled to many places in the world and have surrounded myself with people who are unique and interesting. While i might have understandings of some cutlures i am certainly ignorant and uninformed plenty about others. I do not claim to know a lot about everything, but i try to know a little about a lot. And if more people took the time to learn, there would be a lot less racisim, ignorance and hatred.
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