Close Topic Options

Dumbing Ourselves Down

Does anybody else feel they have to 'dumb down' his or her speech to be accepted? I had meticulously correct grammar and a good vocabulary, and then when I got jobs in the 'real world' (warehouses, foodservice, etc.), I realized my language didn't fit in. I found myself purposely inserting slang and avoiding 'smart' conversation and long words, because I didn't want to be resented by my coworkers. I found the same problem in the mission field, especially since many of the people I contacted spoke very limited English. Now my speech is habitually bland, and I am working to rebuild my vocabulary.

Does anybody else have this problem?
What do you think of the spoken English in your area and among your acquaintances?

Down Dumbing

It's long been a problem with the majority of people who see no need to use what my ex-husband used to call "75-cent words." I love our language and how diverse it is in origin - from Latin, German, French, Greek, etc. - and how expressive and creative we can be when speaking and writing.

It's easier for me to use more proper and expressive English and grammar when writing, because I have a little more time to think about what I'm trying to say. It's certainly easier to speak more informally, and more accepted generally. As you pointed out, people tend to resent you if you speak above their level of knowledge. And, of course, there's the reputation you'll gain of being "eccentric."

Roz

Dumbing Ourselves Down UFO & Writing Art Education Sciences

Well, there is no much I can say about it because as you all can see, English is my second language I do try my best to talk properly but I do have a hard time with gramma. Now, here in Trinidad people talk a lot of 'slang' (it's called here 'dialect') you really need a dictionary and years of living here in order to understand what they are saying. Even Americans and English people have a hard time to understand Trinis, at least, in the first few months. Trinidadians are very laid back and relaxed people and they lack a lot professionalism in their fields of work. My husband is a Trinidadian and he speaks proper English and guess what? some Trinidadians think he is a foreigner because he speaks properly....I think is depressing...

Down Dumbing

I generally speak the same way I write. So, if you find my writing to be intelligent than that is also how I speak...of course, if you find my writing to be dumbed down...

I work in an office environment. I have never felt like anyone was intimidated by my manner of speech. I did, once, however, have a woman I worked with tell me she knew I was intelligent because of the way I spoke. Now, I think speaking well doesn't mean using $.75 words. I don't use a lot of big words, but I try extremely hard to always use the proper grammar...unless I am intentionally mispeaking.

Down Dumbing

I have found that when others are intimidated or resentful by *proper* language, then it is because the speaker is talking *down* to them, or being condescending or snotty.

I have never *dumbed down*, 'um it actually is talking down to someone. I would feel like an idiot if I did. Mainly because I know I would not be conversing using the proper slang words. I feel that when you do, those you are talking to know you are doing it to talk on their level. Would you want someone to do that to you, and in a backhanded way pronounce that you are incapable of understanding *big* words??

Also if you are using $65.00 words, and you are under the age of 60, then you need to lower your vocabulary some. Put more into the 'meat' of your conversation, rather than in the

.

Dumbing Ourselves Down

You raise some good points AGene, however:

1. 'Dumbing down' one's language is not equivalent to 'talking down' to a person. I try not to be snobbish or patronizing (I don't shop here!), but I am in love with the English language, and it tends to come out in my daily speech. I have to reword my thoughts in simpler terms when speaking to many of my friends, because I don't want to sound or feel like I am excluding them or just trying to look smart.

2. Perhaps my definition of dumbing down is different from others' - I do not try to talk in a hip, popular manner. I do not pretend to come from a different background. I only use the slang I have always used naturally. However, I suppress my vocabulary and grammatical skills somewhat to deal with others. For example, in my customer service job, people would think I was pretentious if I said, "With whom did you register?" to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition. I say "Who did you register with?" despite my linguistic conscience.

3. As far as your suggestion that some people should lower their vocabularies, I worry about that mentality generally. This is not a statement about you personally. I am a student and an educator, and I see too many bright students who try to fit in by doing poorly and having bad attitudes about school. It seems intelligence is increasingly unpopular and unattractive to the MTV generation. This is socially dangerous.

4. Thanks, everybody, for your interesting replies!

Dumbing Down

Interesting that you feel this is necessary. I would always say "with whom did you register." It is correct and proper. I don't think anyone would take offense with such proper use of the language. I could see them thinking you thought you were something special if you always used words that were not a part of the average person's vocabulary and not necessary to describe the situation, but proper grammar in my opinion should always be tolerated and used!

If you use incorrect grammar around me, I am likely to correct you.

Dumbing Down Sciences Education Art Writing & UFO

yup. Mine too. I came to the U.S only two years ago, but I still feel like I knew English almost all my life. That's because in sixth grade I went to Boston for a year, and from then on practiced English at home and read English books (and also attempted to write some )

My writing is pretty good, but whenever I have to talk, it's as if all the words I knew are suddenly lost. That's because I'm a very concious person, and because I have an accent, I am forced, not by will, but by some greater power inside myself, to lose my words as well so my accent and speaking ability will match.

I've managed to override that, though, in the past year, perhaps because my accent is getting better, too

Edited: Smudge on 20th Nov, 2004 - 2:02am