cyber culture

I have chosen several websites to do my Ebonics research activities, well, the reason is I would like to make some comparisons and figure out why some websites contain more Ebonis or AAVE and some has more standard English written in it. The website I have chosen is Eonline (www.eonline.com) which is pop culture website , New York Times newspaper (www.nytimes.com) and hip hop culture (www.hiphopculture.tv) . all three of them has one thing in common which is they do have some AAVE on the website but the quantity is varied. If there is a numeric rate from 1 to 3 (contains the most AAVE), then hip hop culture is a ethnic website, needless to say it has a lot AAVE and people featured in this website are Africa-Americans; eonline is a pop culture website which contains a medium number AAVE, most of them are written in standard English, the interesting is most of AAVE is used in an article reporting some Africa-American celebrities such as Peekaboo, Rihanna or some articles that is mainly target for youth market. New York Times newspaper website has the least volume of AAVE usage unless there is something to do with Africa-American culture or Presidential Candidate Obama and debates or articles about race issues. After comparing these web sites, it makes me wonder why do some web sites contain a high volume of AAVE usages. And I have come up with some conclusions. First, the target market or audience is a prime reason: AAVE is a postmodern neologism (Nakamura Lisa) and as people become more interactive with others via technology, more and more people prone to chat in or type in abbreviated English such as “yo, wht up” some constants or verbs is missing (although it is not fully comply with AAVE grammar but it is definetly not standard English) instead of Standard English, as cyber users proliferate, more and more people will adopt these cyber English or terminology in order to chat with others. However, the website such as eonline is not merely a blog or chatting room, they publish entertainments which has a target market of multiculture audiences, but their reporters have to write their reports in a standard form of English because all the written statements have to comply with written English rules, although it published online where is considered as a part of cyber culture but eonline has another identities, in order to functions in accordiance with its various identities either in reality realm or cyberspace, formal written English is best option to be written online. Second, it has to do with the context a website or blog published, if a topic is concerned with Africa-American culture or anything relates with it, the article prone to have more AAVE written in that article such as hip hop culture website in which is talking all about Africa-American cultures, hence, it has the most volume of AAVE. At the last, it also has to do with the purpose of a website. (as we have discussed in class) If the website is merely created for socialized among youth, there will have more AAVE such as myspace which is mainly a socialized blog or website (chatting room, gossip, blog, interface is mainly for socialization) people wouldn’t expect any academic articles or context on it. Whereas, nytimes.com has more creative interface and links to assist users to access to other protocoral such as traveling, hotel, vacation places, reservation on airline tickets etc. The audience, function and context of a website determine what language is written on a website.

Dw 1b +learning new language is like building a house?

"any intellectual, not just the black intellectual-is not just to understand the world but to change it. because he well understood the far-reaching ramifications of the production of knowledge."
In the world of literacy, there is no absolute answer, because literacy is a way to express your own thought, your feelings and your opinions. regardless of people from various ethnic groups speaking their own dialect or languages, even though people come from same ethnic group has language barriers, because everyone is unique so does the way of expression. thus, we have to set up a "formal language or standard English in this case" to communicate with outsiders. I personally think going to school is to learn the "formal language" in order to learn communicate with others, that is what i refer to school language or the way we talk to people as formal language. of course, it will adjust as people grow closer to each other. i like the idea that Dubois said "is not just to understand the world but to change it." which reminds me of the movie "Lost in translations". I think language is a very interesting nature, because i can speak two languages plus several dialects, i figure all of them is same but grammar. and it makes me wonder why some can speak more than one languages, is it because they figure out the key factor is grammar, once people acquaint grammar of the new languages learning new language is as simple as builing a house which has a blueprint and build a house base on it. in this case, putting vacabulary into sentence regualated by the grammar.
".......well understood the ramification of production of knowledge" the "formal language" we practice at school is a tool for us to intercommunicate with individul one to exchange ideas or knowledge. If knowledge is said to be the key to a gate of treasure, then the "formal language" is the doornob connecting them.

DW 1a +"formal language" vs. "informal language"

"informal language" and "formal language." I have been talking to my parents in a form of "informal languages" which often ends up an earful of lectures. According to my parents, we as the younger generation has always talked to elders in a "formal languages." They so-called "formal languages" is another form of "standard languages" school has taught us.
I have been arguing with them a lot on the definition of whether they so-called "formal language" is the very definition of academically formal languages.

I remember one time i was sitting in front of dining table when my dad was watching Tv on sofa. "dad, do you that sister Lu has a lot of friends." "how did you know that, did you talk a lot with her on the phone, why don't you folks spend more time on school instead of playing around." Dad scoded. "you two shouldn't date anyone in college, otherwise, you won't have a promising future, you look up your cousin Qing who never date anyone in college." Dad emphasised.
"no, dad, the friends i refer to is merely a friendship not a relationship, what a nonsense are you talking about, sister Lu is not dating anyone, you misunderstood me." I explained. "in that case, you shouldn't say "friends", "friends" refer to either boyfriend or girlfriend, instead, you should say "colleague" she has a lot of colleagues. If you say "friends" then people will refer it to your sister' boyfriend. Doesn't school teach you about the definition of "friends" and "colleague". how come you still make such silly mistake." Dad scoded. "excuse me, that was your "old definition" now friends in present meaning is colleagues, excuse me, your old man." I talked back.
ever since this incident, i have been caustion about the vocabulary i used with my dad, because we are obviously have a big gap.

In my culture, Respect to elders is a must but somehow it doesn't appeal to me. I mean i respect the concept of taking good care of elders in family and respect them when they are talking, however, the elders do not did so to the youngers' generation ( it is my own perspective, my parents thought they did as well as everyone in the family but i don't think so)

"Ivy, you must major in pre-law or medicine, being in college you shouldn't work that much during school time." Mom commanded. "no mom, i don't like medicine, i took anatomy at school and it was difficult without passion." I said. "nonsense, you must slack off, I told you to study medicine, it is good for your future, how come you reject my idean and you are even skeptical about my ideas, how rude you are, i am your mom and i know you better than anyone." Mom shouted. " mom, please show some respects, i din't say that you weren't wrong and i really appreciate your suggestion but i said no, i don't like it, please respect me and i am not child anymore." I said. "how dare you are, ok, fine, you said you are an adult ha, in other word, you mean you don't have to listen to me right, ok, i have raised you up and now you ditched me and you even think that i am annoying. doesn't school teach you that way, showing no respect to elders and being so cocky about yourself, don't you know to be humble, be humble. you, being in school for years are in vain, zip up." Mom scoded.

see, there are obvious gap between us, what is "formal language" and "informal languages." i think the perspective is depend upon people and I hate to say but have to admit there are no uniform defintion of "standard language" which means it needs more time to study.
the most significant one is the first time i stepped in the territory of United States and i have prepared myself for all the "formal languages" i will be encountered in U.S.A. To my surprise, I ain't understand any of them. I was first landing in El Paso, Tx. School placed me in a ESL classes, instead of having students from Asian countries, they are all from Mexico and to a girl like me who couldn'tdistinguish physical differences between Americans and Mexicans, I ended up thinking what my presumptive formal languages that shcool has taught me in China is a completely version here. I don't understand a single word of it. ".dljoejoadjojeojfodjf" a distant conversation. "dljfoeiojelkdjfpw" I was shocked. then, i met these African American people on the bus. " hey, u what up, i ain't done nothing, Fuck, hey u dude, hao thi going," "shit, ...." What was that, i was so lost.
as i walked into classroom, my new teacher greet me with a warmly smile " hello, i am Miss Rose, welcome to our class, what is your name?" she asked. "My name is Ivy, nice to meet you." I responded. "You speaks very good english, did you learn it in China?" she inquired.
"did i really speak a good english, if so, why i didn't understand any of them except Miss Rose?" I pondered.
I have been trying to adopt all forms of language use in United States in order to communicate to various ethnic people. Meanwhile, i ditched my "standard english" i have learned in the past and adopt/perceive oral english as "formal language"
my cousin love AAVE and have been listening hiphop music a lot. whenever he talks i can distinguish his AAE accent.

IAR with One reading

the authors have used the quantitative method to collect data to support the arguments.
author explains why AAE is not a broken English by giving several example from other academic institutions and scholars.