Lingua Fractura February 3, 2014.
P.K.
Matsuda's article "The Myth of Linguistic Homogeneity...." highlights
the diverse nature of the college student population. The essay concerns itself
with bringing the issue of language difference to the forefront of debate
concerning the content of college composition courses. Matsuda asserts that
from historical data the number of international students attending American
academic institutions will continue to increase. Unfortunately, college
composition instructors are left unprepared to handle the multilingual
diversity of an expanding ESL student population. The notion that somewhere
there exists one "standard English" for everyone is an inherent
weakness in monolinguistic pedagogical practices. Forty years ago, the CCCC
took a stand on the issue of "students’ Rights to their own
language." It is commonly accepted around the world that English is the
lingua franca, but without the creation of new composition scholarship to
address "unidirectional monolingualism", a new title of "Lingua
Fractura" may very well be more appropriate.
Where
is the common ground for negotiating linguistic diversity? That "safe zone" where non-standard
English speakers don't feel they have to change their cultural heritage in
order to be recognized as worthy and successful students. It can be assumed
that all students are speakers of dialects, when one considers the regional,
state, and national diversity of our multicultural society. Hence, the creation
of an inclusive pedagogical network albeit an altruistic and idealistic
concept, for the time being, should be the next great leap in critical thinking
and computer software development. The internet has brought the world together
in many meaningful ways. A panlingual translation system is in the works, but
not yet a reality in the laboratories of Artificial Intelligence at the
University of Washington. Nevertheless, let us look to the future where
invention and innovation will serve both student and instructor in the artistry
and mastery of English composition.
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