Post 1: A Universal Language

There are forces in this world that act as a universal language such as art, music, and communication which are intrinsic to human life as well as human connection. These forces are meant to convey meanings, bridge gaps and unite us as people. In the United States, English is the dominant language statistically, and there are many reasons including colonization, racism, and a domineering Eurocentric outlook and control on the world which predates the existence of the United States itself. These factors do the complete opposite of what the language seeks to do and reveal a superiority complex within. Dr. Vershawn Ashanti Young’s Should Writer’s Use They Own English? promotes the use of individuals identities, experiences, dialect, idiolect, and much more as the basis for their language while actively searching and clearing the path for a much more diverse and inclusive form of “standard writing.” This promotion and inclusion is a step in the right direction but leaves room for the question of whether or not a universal language that isn’t deemed superior or culturally static can be introduced or accepted.

Vershawn speaks on “code meshing,” which is one of the closest concepts to a universal kind of language. It does exactly what Young argues for which is more individuality in language and breaking away from a standard that is rooted in division. English shouldn’t be the standard for the same reason that Russian and Spanish shouldn’t be. It instills superiority and dominance and gives leeway for that attitude to take hold. Code meshing seems to be the only diversion Young mentions from a standard language. This idea of code meshing which according to Young “blend dialects, international languages, local idioms, chat-room lingo, and the rhetoric styles of various ethnic and cultural groups in both formal and informal speech acts.” bridges the gap in a very personal way and creates an individual universal language because of its many influences. The idea of a formal version of that concept isn’t necessarily needed but could be another step towards moving away from English as the standard and creating a new standard language that is rooted in the search for diversity and inclusion. This idea was manifested in a language that is called Esperanto. That language is probably the greatest attempt at a universal language because it was created to be an international language as well as a language that hopes to cultivate world peace and supplement national languages while not supressing them. Esperanto was even repressed by opressive regimes who hoped to squash its internationalist nature. Esperanto and code meshing share similarities in that they both strive to unite us through our differences and individuality while promoting unity on the basis of humanness. I hope we’re able to come together as one and push for this balance of formality and abstraction in language that is expansive enough to include everybody.