I agree with Azizi 100% on this. I, too, use different forms of English when I am addressing specific groups of people. I am now retired and the first thing I noticed was that my speech was more relaxed. As a teacher, I had to monitor the use of my own language on a daily basis because I worked with children and because I had to use standard English as a professional. Now I can talk any way I want to and the more I speak my own language, the more I feel more like my own self. Language is the expression of who you are and when you come from a mixed cultural background, you learn to monitor your speech according to your audience. There is standard English (the Queen's variety) and then there are all the variations. The variety of English you use depends more on educational influence (and your audience) than on the colour of your skin. Nader was way off base. That kind of thinking will (hopefully) go the way of the dinosaur. Obama gives us hope that we can now move forward and leave the stereotypes behind.
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