Xplore 12 EXTRA ACTIVITIES – e-Manual

1.4 Language of Tomorrow (p.

37)

Broken English – TED Talk

START
1. Join in pairs and discuss the following questions.
a. How many languages do you speak?
b. Do you find yourself speaking different versions of your mother tongue? Why/why not?

2. You are going to listen to Jamila Lyiscott’s poem 3 ways to speak English. She presents the
word “articulate” in a negative way. Read the definition below. In what context(s) can this
word have a negative connotation?
articulate /ɑːˈtɪkjʊlət/ adjective
1. able to talk easily and effectively about things, especially difficult subjects:
bright, articulate 17-year-olds
a highly articulate speaker
2. writing or speech that is articulate is very clear and easy to understand even
if the subject is difficult.
Source: http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/

TED Talk: 3 ways to speak English

LISTEN / READ LINK: http://www.ted.com/talks/jamila_lyiscott_3_ways_to_speak_english

1. Listen to Jamila Lyiscott’s poem 3 ways to speak English.

Complete it with the missing words/expressions. BIOGRAPHICAL CORNER
Jamila Lyiscott is a first-generation
Today, a baffled lady observed the shell where my soul dwells
American. Her parents are from
And announced that I’m “_____1_____” Trinidad. She grew up in Crown
Which means that when it comes to enunciation and diction Heights in Brooklyn.
I don’t even think of it Jamila Lyiscott is currently an
5 ‘Cause I’m “articulate” advanced doctoral candidate and
So when my professor _____2_____ adjunct professor at Columbia
And my answer is tainted with a _____3_____ of urbanized suggestion University’s Teachers College where
her work focuses on the education
There’s no misdirected intention
of the African Diaspora. She is also
_____4_____ an adjunct professor at Long Island
1 ‘Cause I’m “articulate” University where she teaches on
0 So when my father asks, ‘Wha’ kinda ting is dis?’ adult and adolescent literacy.
My “articulate” answer never _____5_____ A spoken word artist since the age
I say ‘father, this is the impending problem at hand’ of fifteen, Jamila works with youth,
And when I’m on the block I switch it up just because I can educators, and activists throughout
the city to create spaces that reflect
So when my boy says, ‘What’s good with you son?’
and engage the cultures and values
1 I just say, ‘I jus’ fall out wit dem people but I done!’ of black and brown youth inside
5 And sometimes in class and outside of the classroom.
I might pause the _____6_____ sounding flow to ask Adapted from http://www.ted.com/talks/

‘Yo! Why dese books neva be about my peoples’

Yes, I have decided to treat all three of _____7_____ as equals
Because I’m “articulate”
Teresa Pinto de Almeida | Paula M. Araújo | Telma Coelho
Xplore 12 EXTRA ACTIVITIES – e-Manual
2 But who controls articulation?
0 Because the _____8_____ is a multifaceted oration
Subject to indefinite transformation
Now you may think that it is _____9_____ to speak broken English
But I’m here to tell you that even “articulate” Americans _____10_____ to the
British
2 So when my Professor comes on the block and says, “Hello”
5 I stop him and say ‘Noooo…
You’re being inarticulate… the proper way is to say “what’s good”’
Now you may think that’s too hood, that’s not cool
But I’m here to tell you that even our language has _____11_____
So when Mommy mocks me and says ‘ya’ll-be-madd-going-to-the-store’
3 I say “Mommy, no, that sentence is not following the law
0 Never does the word “madd” go before a present participle
That’s simply the principle of this English”
If I had the _____12_____ I would sing this from every mountaintop,
From every suburbia, and every hood
‘Cause the only God of language is the one recorded in the Genesis
3 Of this world saying “it is good”
5 So I may not always come before you with excellency of _____13_____
But do not judge me by my language and assume
That I’m too ignorant _____14_____
‘Cause I speak three tongues
One for each:
4 Home, school and friends
0 I’m a tri-lingual orator
Sometimes I’m consistent with my language now
Then switch it up so I don’t bore later
Sometimes I fight back two tongues
While I use the other one in the classroom
4 And when I mistakenly _____15_____
5 I feel crazy like… I’m cooking in the bathroom
I know that I had to borrow your language because mines was stolen
But you can’t expect me to speak your history wholly while mines is broken
These words are spoken
By someone who is simply _____16_____ the Eurocentric ideals of this season
5 And the reason I speak a composite version of your language
0 Is because mines was raped away along with my history
I speak broken English so the profusing gashes can remind us
That our current state is not a mystery
I’m so tired of the _____17_____ that are driving my people mad
So unless you’ve seen it rob a bank stop calling my hair bad
5 I’m so sick of this nonsensical _____18_____
5 So don’t call it good unless your hair is known for donating to charity
As much as has been raped away from our people
How can you expect me to treat their imprint on your language
As anything less than equal
Let there be no confusion
6 Let there be no hesitation
0 This is not a _____19_____ of ignorance
This is a _____20_____

Teresa Pinto de Almeida | Paula M. Araújo | Telma Coelho

Xplore 12 EXTRA ACTIVITIES – e-Manual
That’s why I put “tri-lingual” on my last job application
I can help to diversify your consumer market is all I wanted them to know
And when they call me for the interview I’ll be more than happy to show that
6 I can say:
5 ‘What’s good’
‘Whatagwan’
And of course… ‘Hello’
Because I’m “articulate”
Source: http://www.ted.com/talks/jamila_lyiscott_3_ways_to_speak_english
7
0

7
5

2. Find evidence in the poem for the following statements.

a. Jamila speaks with her friends a different dialect.
b. Jamila speaks three different versions of English.
c. The English language has been suffering multiple changes.
d. It is believed a sign of ignorance to speak dialects of English.
e. These forms of English have their own grammar and syntax.
f. Jamila has been discriminated against for her language.
g. The dominance of the English language killed other languages and black people’s identity.

3. Explain in your own words what Jamila is implying in these lines.

a. a baffled lady observed the shell where my soul dwells (l. 1)
b. even “articulate” Americans sound foolish to the British (l. 26)

4. In your opinion, why does Jamila say: This is not a promotion of ignorance / This is a linguistic
celebration?

WRITE
Do you agree that there are other ways to speak English? Do you speak different versions of
English or of your native language? If so, what do these versions look like?
Teresa Pinto de Almeida | Paula M. Araújo | Telma Coelho
Xplore 12 EXTRA ACTIVITIES – e-Manual

Write a blog post in reply to Jamila Lyiscott’s poem. You can share it online at one of the links
below.
1. http://www.ted.com/talks/jamila_lyiscott_3_ways_to_speak_english
2. http://writingourcommunities.weebly.com/blog/respond-to-jamila-lyiscotts-3-ways-to-speak-english-do-
you-agree-that-there-are-other-ways-to-speak-english-do-you-find-yourself-speaking-different-versions-of-
english-if-so-what-do-these-versions-look-like

Teresa Pinto de Almeida | Paula M. Araújo | Telma Coelho

Xplore 12 EXTRA ACTIVITIES – e-Manual

KEY
START
Possible answers
2. It can be taken as criticism or even an insult when complimenting someone on his/her “articulate” speech. One can
assume that isn’t expected to speak so fluently or coherently due to his/her origin, education, social status, race…

LISTEN / READ
1. 1. articulate 6. intellectual 11. rules 16. fed up with
2. asks a question 7. my languages 12. vocal capacity 17. negative images
3. connotation 8. English language 13. speech 18. racial disparity
4. Pay attention 9. ignorant 14. to teach 19. promotion
5. goes amiss 10. sound foolish 15. mix them up 20. linguistic celebration

2. a. And when I’m on the block I switch it up just because I can / So when my boy says, ‘What’s good with you son?’ / I
just say, ‘I jus’ fall out wit dem people but I done!’ (ll. 14-16)
b. I have decided to treat all three of my languages as equals (l. 20)
c. Because the English language is a multifaceted oration / Subject to indefinite transformation (ll. 23-24)
d. Now you may think that it is ignorant to speak broken English (l. 25)
e. But I’m here to tell you that even our language has rules (l. 31) / I say “Mommy, no, that sentence is not following
the law / Never does the word “madd” go before a present participle / That’s simply the principle of this English” (ll.
32-35)
f. But do not judge me by my language and assume / That I’m too ignorant to teach (ll. 41-42)
g. I know that I had to borrow your language because mines was stolen (l. 53) / And the reason I speak a composite
version of your language / Is because mines was raped away along with my history (ll. 57-58)
3. a. This line means that the woman noticed the colour of Jamila’s skin. She is implying that the woman was biased as
she was surprised that a black young woman could be articulate in her speech.
b. In this line Jamila is referring to the differences between American and British English. In the past there were many
who defended the superiority of British English and of the Received Pronunciation.

4. Possible answer: This poem is celebrating linguistic diversity. Jamila believes that different forms of English,
different dialects or varieties mustn’t be seen as incorrect. They must be respected and recognised as different
dialects.

Teresa Pinto de Almeida | Paula M. Araújo | Telma Coelho