Professor Ron briefly mentioned "linguistic profiling" this morning in class, and I thought it was an issue that bears further attention. It is a problem that most people intuitively understand is out there, but it has only just recently gained traction and national attention, as several high profile cases have recently being brought to US District and Federal courts.
To start off, here is a 60 second spot on YouTube from HUD that illustrates the issue quite clearly:
For anyone interesting in looking at the issue a bit closer, click here for an excellent article exploring the issue from Washington University in St. Louis. A quick excerpt from the introduction:
“Many Americans can guess a caller's ethnic background from their first hello on the telephone. However, the inventor of the term "linguistic profiling" has found in a current study that when a voice sounds African-American or Mexican-American, racial discrimination may follow.”
What experiences have you had with linguistic profiling? Have you or someone you know been discriminated against due to how you speak? Please share your thoughts and stories in the comments section.
5 comments:
This is one of the videos you will watch and respond to for Friday--now it's right here on our blog!
And the article you reference is by Baugh. We will read other stuff from him. This is a perfect article to go along with the videos--anyone struggling to figure out how to respond to the videos or with questions about linguistic profiling (a term Baugh coined) should definitely read the article.
thanks
Spasoje Kulasevic
ENG 2030
I would like to say, that the video is very messed up. Only gives the appartment to an "american". Which has many dialects and voices. That in my mind is very messed up, and also what could have been a good business deal, turned to a bad one.
I strongly feel that the video is proof of how people even today reject or discriminate others because of there skin color and speech. It is sad to see that we can’t accept everyone for who they are and not look down on them for there race.
I would like to add that Linguistic Profiling and Discrimination is not always preformed by White people. About a year ago I lived in South America (Chile), I tried so hard to become like a Chilean and learn their way of live but I was looked at differently. Everyone assumed that I was rich, that I should use my money to help them in whatever they needed, or even to good for them. This might seem like a minor problem but after awhile it starts to beat you down.
They probably do this because they feel that we despise them as poor or worthless people. The point is that everyone wants to be looked at as a normal individual, not someone different because of there race or speech. If we all look at others as equal human beings then we wouldn’t have this problem.
I thought that movie clip was very disturbing but got to the point on what happens to so many people on an everyday basis:(
I had a an experience last semester where I met a few women that I judged right off because of how they spoke. My impression was that they were country folk who weren't very educated. Yet, as I got to know them throughout the semester I realized how unique, and smart these women really were.
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