Title: Facts the younger generation of marketers should know are taught this class in the Murch Elementary School, Washington, D.C. Date Created: 02/1943 Photographer: Unknown Source: Series: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs, compiled 1882 – 1962

My children used to murder the language as I did when I was a child of Hester Street.

Language, also referred to as linguistics is the primary method or way of human communication. People express language through written word or spoken word and in a structured manner in order to express thoughts and feelings. However, language does differ based on the group of people, their origins and culture. Although there is a standardized way of using language and speech, sometimes children may confuse the meaning of certain words or use slang in order to shorten or simplify speech. Sara Smolinsky shows this by examining the language of the children of Hester Street and connecting the mistakes in their language to mistakes she made as a child. For example, Sara points out one of her students, Aby Zuker’s confusion with “ain’t it” versus “isn’t it”. In ‘Analyzing Grammar Rants: An Alternative to Traditional Grammar Instruction,” the authors, Patricia Dunn and Kenneth Lindblom, states: “We seek ways of helping students to understand the subtleties of language, to know how a particular turn of phrase can connote to audiences a host of unstated points, and to be aware that their writing is going to be judged as a reflection of their intelligence and ability in and out of school”. This method of teaching is reflective of Sara’s own teaching as she attempts to correct language with one of her students. However, she fails to stress the connection between the student’s language and their audience. It is significant to note the difference between proper language used in a school setting and improper language used amongst friends or in an informal setting. This disconnect most likely lies in the closeness between the life of Sara and the life of her students. Because Sara had a similar upbringing it could be difficult for her to correct mistakes that she also made as a child. It is possible that Sara made similar language and pronunciation mistakes as a child that she now sees amongst her students. However, the beginning of the novel fails to provide insight in regards to speech patterns of the Smolinsky girls.

Alter, Alexandra. “How Feminist Dystopian Fiction Is Channeling Women’s Anger and Anxiety.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Oct. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/10/08/books/feminist-dystopian-fiction-margaret-atwood-women-metoo.html.

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