Sarah's De-G'in of American Speakin'

Palin's language, picked up by pundits, is another symptom of how the right is selling out.

Sarah Palin speaks like a high-school drop out, dropping the "Gs" from her ING's.

I think it's genuine, not affectation. But it is also something highly noticeable. It may actually be attractive to some of those Hillary voters -- the blue collar, over 50 folks. And it's surely attractive to those southern core, redneck voters.

But what's fascinating is we are starting to see Fox news anchors and right wing talking heads and pundits dropping their Gs as well.

Now, why would well-spoken professionals start dropping their Gs? I speculate that by dropping down to her linguistic level, they are normalizing what would otherwise, for them, be an embarrassing lapse. By talkin' like her, they turn a use of language that usually connotes lack of education and polish as something more acceptable.

The thing is, this is another great example of how the right has sold out. Just propagating the lie that she is a competent, ready to be president candidate is a despicable lie and a sellout of America -- a huge one. But now, they are also selling out the American language. America has millions who speak like Sarah and that's fine. I drop my 'Gs' occasionally. But when you speak in public, you use your best English, except for occasional emphases.

Adopting Palin's de-G-ed "speakin'" is an assault on the language, just like perpetrating the lie that she's ready to lead is an assault on the future of the nation.

But I digress. I'm talking about Sarah's ability to speak... or not.

It's one more reason I wince and cringe when thinking of her engaging in discussions with leaders of foreign states. Her perky, folksy talk won't mean much when dealing with serious international issues.

Even if, as it appears, the MCain Palin ticket is on its way into the trashcan of defeat, I fear that her injection into the media mainstream may have lasting untoward effects upon American English.

I guess we should call it the Sarah Palinization of the nation, or at least, the nation's tongue. Hmm Palintongue. Nah. Make it Palintonue.

Crossposted from OpEdNews.com

Comments

[Manx]

I don't agree that Sarah Palin's language is authentic. If you compare her speech in gubernatorial debate videos in Alaska with her speech now, you'll see that the folksiness is exaggerated or phony. She was coached by the ex-Bush handlers to sound as folksy as possible. That's showbiz.

[ndolomar]

So, are you indicating it's possible her name actually is Sarah Paling?

[alguien]

curse you for stealing my line!

[enomaj]

Someone please explain to me what the problem is if you drop your g's in speech but you know that they're there when you write.

[MarilynBB]

What I find so astonishing about the Palin presentation is the total apparent lack of understanding that the whole world is watching. Imagine this six pack mentality at world summits and international diplomatic meetings to discuss vital issues. Will she wink at the Russians inviting them over for moose stew and offer the Chinese a little somethin on the side with their meal?

Why is being cute and folksy a desirable quality in a potential world leader?

[wisewomcat]

I absolutely hate the way Palin speaks. But, growing up in Texas, I tend to drop G's from my speech as well. I also say things like "I'm fixin' to go to the store" instead of "I'm about to go to the store." I'm working on correcting the "fixin'" problem.

I'm not a high school drop out. I have a college degree. Stereotypes are often associated with being ignorant, just like dropping G's.

You know who else speaks differently? Those people that put R's in the middle of their words for no reason. They say things like "Chicargo" and "Hondar."

I believe the artcle/blog could have made the same basic points without calling those of us that speak with regional accents idiots/high-school-drop-outs/rednecks. If you grow up around people you respect (parents, grandparents) that speak a certain way, it is completely natural to imitate it at a young age. Old habits don't die easily, and some people believe that there is more merit in the content of a person's words than the precision in which they articulate them (where Palin is concerned, there is no redeeming qualities in either).

[Stephanie71]

You forgot Warshington ;)

[FearlessFraz]

Maybe the recently announced Obama supporter, William F. Buckley''s son could teach American's language skills as his father did. I did not share Mr. Buckley's views, but I sure loved to hear him speak!

[Decipherer]

In Palin-speak, make sure every sentence you utter contains the word "also," inappropriately positioned throughout, at least twice.