Rachel Jeantel - English as a second language..

[HipChick]

Speaks Creole and Spanish as primary..English is a second language...

I had no problem understanding her..she is of Haitian descent...

Why do people have a hard time with accents? I had no problem understanding her..

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Because some Americans are close minded xenophobic racist bigots. Nt.

[HipChick]

5. I speak the Queen's English..

yet, I have American's wrinkle their nose at me, and not understand my British accent

[AtomicKitten]

2. She sounds like she has a slight speech impediment.

[HipChick]

3. She has braces on also,it can hamper your speech

[AtomicKitten]

8. Ah, that must be it. Thanks for the info. nt

[woolldog]

4. Is the redirect over?

That was quick?

[HipChick]

7. What was the redirect?

I missed it..damn work

[woolldog]

11. it's when the prosecutor asks her more questions

after the defense attorney is done with his cross exam.

Thought he would spend more time trying to smooth over inconsistencies and problems with her testimony etc

[flamingdem]

6. Really! that's very interesting

She has a lovely voice

[WolverineDG]

9. Unless they're trying to insinuate she doesn't understand English enough

to understand what she heard, this line of questioning is, imo, racist. I can understand what she's saying & she doesn't sound like she has any sort of accent to me.

[pnwmom]

19. I didn't notice an accent. I only watched for a few minutes today, but

I did see her look confused when an attorney asked her a question with the word "derogatory" -- and I was pretty sure she didn't know the word and answered "yes" when she probably would have said "no" if she'd understood it.

But I blame the attorney for that. If I'd been him, I would have adjusted my questioning to the circumstances and asked my question much more clearly.

[Marrah_G]

10. I think what the prosecutor was getting at was this:

Sometimes language, especially multiple languages within a culture can have phrases and terms that people outside of that culture or region would not understand.

[JaneQPublic]

12. She is a hero (or heroine, if you prefer)

She, along with Wendy Davis and Edie Windsor.

Rachel's poise at such a young age is very inspiring.

[DevonRex]

13. I think her syntax is affected by the different grammar structures

and it makes it difficult for people who aren't used to scrambling syntax in their heads. If you've taken other languages or speak other languages, or you're just linguistically talented, it's easy to understand her.

[HipChick]

16. True..I speak 3 languages..

but would have a hard time understanding folks down south

[Whisp]

14. plus the sound isn't the greatest.

the Defense was muffling and mumbling in some parts.

she should be fluent in The Queen's English, donchaknow otherwise why take the stand. fuck.

[NM_Birder]

15. Where did you find information of her ancestry and spoken languages ?

[HipChick]

17. Her last name...and she was asked about it in court

[NM_Birder]

20. I found it, thanks.

Don't see the relevance of her parents ancestry, but saw your thread and was curious.

[ieoeja]

18. Gives racists on the jury an excuse to dismiss her testimony.

Sat on a jury regarding a traffic accident. The defendant ran a red light and t-boned a car. Driver of the car claimed to have neurological damage.

Plaintiff brought in medical experts to testify.

Defendant said, "but he looks okay to me."


First vote, 9-3 in favor of defendant!

I pointed out that the 100% of the evidence presented in the trial favored the plaintiff. Brought about half of them over that quickly.

Most prominent argument in favor of defendant: the passenger in the car first said the plaintiff hit his head on the windshield then changed her testimony to side mirror. Passenger's first language was Spanish and clearly misspoke. But it gave them an excuse to dismiss her testimony.

[NM_Birder]

21. I don't think the jury will dismiss her testimony based on her race.

I think the problem she has brought to the proceedings are the inconsistencies in some of her testimony, not her race, nor the implied racism on the jury.

An inconsistency, ANY inconsistency no matter how trivial will be pounced upon by either side, especially in a case like this, and most especially in this specific case. From what I have been able to see, the prosecution did a marginal job at best of preparing her for the stand.

Not the way I thought this case would start. Inconsistencies in testimony, along with the twitter dumping to hide juvenile language and behavior ? I think those are the reasons she put herself in a the crosshairs of the defense.

Was anticipating a more efficient presentation of the facts by the prosecution, no favors for Trayvon's justice so far.