- Baldwin’s point that he’s trying to get across is that identity is revealed through one’s language use. You can speak the same language but it won’t be the same as someone from a different area because people from different areas have created their own type of language that differentiates them from the rest of the community. “But each has paid, and is paying, a different price for this “common” language, in which, as it turns out, they are not saying, and cannot be saying, the same things.” Baldwin’s argument relates to Belmihoub and Corcoran’s idea of translanguaging because he mentions the switch between “black English” and “white English” depending on the situation and who you talk to. These ideas are similar to the ones portrayed in Amy Tan’s writing, where she switches from using “perfect English” to the “broken English” that her mom uses.
2. I learned a couple new things from Straub’s essay that will be helpful when I’m editing my classmate’s papers in the future. For example, “You can go on to point out problems, ask questions, offer advice, and wonder out loud with the writer about her ideas. Look to help her improve the writing or encourage her to work on some things as a writer.” I’ve always been the type to write more positive comments compared to criticisms because I would feel like the writer would be hurt by my comments. But now I know that giving a few criticisms and suggesting solutions to them will actually be really helpful to the writer. I wish my high school teachers were more descriptive when giving advice instead of just pointing out the problems, such as ” unclear, or add more detail”. It would’ve been helpful if they suggested what was unclear and how I could make it clearer.