Analysis Of Our Native Tongue By Erdrich

“Our Native Tongue” is a short article written by Nelson W. Aldrich. Jr, in February 2000. To begin the article Aldrich describes how privileged and grateful he is to know the English language. Aldrich says “I’d been born with a silver tongue in my mouth.” From this statement, readers can assume how amazing the English language is. Silver is an item most people value, Aldrich values English the way some would value silver. Aldrich also says because he knows the English language he has access to many opportunities, that others would have to pay for because they do not know the English language. The article also discusses the first global lingua franca. Lingua franca is “the language of science, business, political, and finical power, and English”. Lingua franca is also a diammoniate language that is accepted between speakers whose languages are different.

Next, Aldrich talks about the cost of others who must learn English.

According to Aldrich the cost of learning English is “twofold”. First, someone must teach the language and that is paid by the learner or the school system. However, only few minority’s in the world can afford to be tough the English language. The seconded cost of learning English are the people who never learn English, these are individuals who “stay behind” according to Aldrich. The people who “stay behind” consist of individuals who live in subverted cultures. Last, are people who become “brain drain”. “Brain drain” is the consequence of New technology. Younger generations become “brain drain” because of the many short cuts used in technology. At such a young age these individuals may not see the importance of the English language, they also may not understand how unique English is. Brain drain has caused younger generations to communicate and learn English improperly because they were not taught the right way to use English because of the new

technology.
This article is well written. The article taught me a variety of new information. I learned about Lingua Franca before reading this article, I have never heard about Lingua Franca. I learned lingua franca is a dominate language that brings people together as one. I also learned that lingua franca is the langue of science and business, political, and finical power. I also learned many people pay to learn something that I may take for granted at times. Reading this article has also brought to my attention how technology such as texting and social media has ruined the English language for younger generations. Texting and social media has brain drained younger generations because of all the short cuts used in texting and social media. For example, in a text message a person in the younger generation might use the letter u instead of spelling the word you. This is only one consequence of being brain drained. Overall, the article is well written and taught me a variety of new information.