Public Language In Barbara Melix

“I was beginning to think and feel in the language I used, to find my own voice in it, to sense that how one speaks influences how one means”, Barbara Mellix discussed in her memoir “From Outside, In” (298). Barbara Mellix grew up speaking three different types of English, black English, standard English, and college English. She understood where and when it was acceptable to use each of these languages. Black English was to be spoken with her family, while the standard English was spoken in public. Growing up, her father would discuss different experiences he encountered with using standard English. Her father would teach her standard English, as well as the values and relationships between language and power. After Barbara Mellix graduated …show more content…
Mellix became eager to attend college, in hope to accomplishing her dreams of being a teacher. Barbara Mellix realizes there are differences between using public language and private language and intimacy. Richard Rodriguez, also realizes the differences and importance’s of the public language, private language, and intimacy, as well as bilingual education. Since Barbara Mellix and Richard Rodriguez both experiences trouble with speaking the public language, this causes them to attempt to find a way of fitting in and develop a self-identity. “I was a bilingual child, but of a certain kind: “socially disadvantaged”, the son of working-class parents, both Mexican Immigrants”, Richard Rodriguez explain in his essay “Aria: A Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood” (355). When Richard Rodriguez started school, he felt like an outcast, because he only knows how to speak Spanish and some English words. His parents spoke Spanish and enough English to get by. According to the nuns, that have visited Richard Rodriguez’s house, it was important for his parents to use the English language within the home, to help …show more content…
The language that is spoke within a family’s home is known as the private language. The private language, Barbara Mellix speaks is black English and she believes speaking this language makes her close to her family. She values the intimacy this language created with her family. Richard Rodriguez believed this at first, but then realizes how important it is to speak the public language. Barbara Mellix and Richard Rodriguez both believe speaking the public language will create someone’s self-identity and help create one’s success. Barbara Mellix realizes by speaking the public language, she is able follow her dreams and become a teacher. Mellix encountered many people throughout her life and realized when and where it is proper to speak each of these languages. Barbara Mellix goes back to school to further education. By staying positive, focused, and dedicated to continuing learning more about a language, she will become more fluent and comfortable speaking the language. Being taught another language with a combination of someone’s native language, can make it easier to understand the language one is learning. Bilingual education may help others become comfortable with speaking the public language. The dedication of one’s success is determined by the power of the spoken