PsTL 1908W Urban Literacy

Before these readings, I never really thought about the idea of cultural literacy. Now that I think about it, though, it makes perfect sense. There is certain terminology or slang that is used in my culture that isn’t used in other and vice versa. Even between my friends that live in a different town, there are differences in the diction that we use in general conversation. I can’t even imagine how it would be to go to a different country even if they did speak English. Slang makes up a large part of our language in casual conversation that I don’t know how I would even function in another place where the slang was a lot different. I think this is why there is such a difference in learning a language in school and actually leaning it from experience, like living in another country. There’s a big difference between formal language and the way that people talk.

There comes a time when people just have to realize that there are going to be these differences, even within a country. There’s really no way to have dictionary that incorporates all the slang from every culture in order to make everyone’s language the same. The difference in language is what makes different cultures unique and interesting. Our country wouldn’t be the same without it.

The bottom line is, if we are going to be a part of a different culture, we have to just go with the flow and learn to become “literate� in their slang and dialect.