Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id h6LGko702804; Mon, 21 Jul 2003 12:46:50 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2003 12:46:50 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <503F744E.66A87657.0082ADE7@aol.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Quidnunc@aol.com To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9221] Re: writing in esl X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 X-Mailer: Atlas Mailer 2.0 Status: O Content-Length: 1664 Lines: 43 I agree with the posting, but I think that sometimes it is a good idea to draw students' attention to the term or phrase so that the students can get an idea of whether it is appropriate to use or not. If we say that all idioms or ethnic-based expressions should be avoided, the students would really miss out on some very comon expressions. Likewise, the students might not realize that some of these expressions are entangled in negative stereotypes and hurtful, so it might be worthwhile to discuss the expressions to demonstrate how different people interpret these expressions, so the students can think about appropriate and inappropriate use of language. These expressions do show up in the media and in literature, so they are difficult to avoid. I think discussing the expressions and the soci-cultural stuff that goes with them is worthwhile, particularly for intermediate and advanced level students, since they have the language ability to express opinions about the nuances of language. Jane Rosenthal In a message dated 7/21/2003 7:07:04 AM Eastern Standard Time, ltbarr@hacc.edu writes: > > > Hello Mitsuko > You wrote- > There are many idiomatic expressions with nationality: some obsolete > and > some still in use, Are they offensive, obsolete, politically > incorrect? > > In my opinion, it is best not to use these expressions. I have > witnessed very negative reactions to such terms because the hearers were > not aware of the meanings or that these are in fact English expressions. > I question the appropriateness of phrases such as Dutch treat or Pardon > my French because they have pejorative connotations any > way.
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