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In reply to the discussion: Witness responds to suggestion that Trayvon lied before getting shot: ‘That’s real retarded, sir’ [View all]Generic Other
(28,979 posts)An important point we may be missing is that this young woman has difficulty switching codes. Look at the Latino architect yesterday. Clearly she did speak some English as she sometimes anticipated the English questions with answers before her interpreter said them in Spanish. She smiled when it happened. But she somehow felt that trying to testify in English might rattle her to the point she'd mess up. So if an educated woman employed in the US for ten years felt this way, we can't expect a 19 year old who does not speak English at home (her mom speaks French Creole). That is three languages she speaks. 1) French Creole. 2) a limited form of French. 3) English street slang of African American kids in Miami. She should have learned a lot more of a 4th code: Standard English as taught in the schools, on TV in varying degrees, church -- hopefully from some positive influence in her community that will help her learn the 4th code. Because we all know that is the language of power in America. That is the code that all people of color must strive to learn. It is the code that deciphers everything else.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023118881#post15
On edit: Typo