Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 17:37:26 -0500
Subject: Re: no fighting no biting


Hey Clarisse,

I think you're a little late here--the debate has already chilled.

But the debate, childish as it was at times, also brought up some very important
issues related to linguistics and colonialism.  And one need only read a book
like Ngugi's "Decolonising the Mind" (and yes, I keep his original spellings in
respect for his idiom) to see the importance of these issues.

BH

Clarisse Zimra wrote:

> Innocent that I am, I had simply assumed that the first "labour" post was
> by a person trained in the British system, on whatever continent that might
> be, and I was pleased at the idea and the thought behind the wish:  yes,
> happy workers day to al hard working people! So, before we debate, back and
> forth again, the merits of one kind of spelling against another, the
> "Americans" among us who either took offense or applauded the "Canadian"
> stand might want to remember that Canadians are Americans, too. But the
> imperialized effect of the adjective derived from a whole continent to
> describe one country alone will come as no surprise to members of this list.
>
> I found the belabo/ured exchanges mildly amusing, until some of the
> contributors chose to take offense. Indeed, language matters; but can we
> give our 700-some readers on this list the benefit of the doubt, and
> presume they are flexible in such matters? I have a degree each from
> England, France and the US. I have lived, researched and taught, in Africa,
> Asisa, Europe and the US (not Canada, though). I write my friends in,
> generally, an Americanized (notice my -Z-) language since this is the one I
> use most often at this point in time in my life. They respond from Europe,
> Asia, Africa or Australia with various spellings, depending on
> circumstances. It does not bother me any more than their speaking with an
> accent other-than-mine bothers me.
>
> So, as my American teenager is fond of saying, "chill! guys, chill!"  cz
>
> Clarisse Zimra
> Dept. of English and Comparative Literatures
> Member, Faculty Research Seminar on Irish and Immigration Studies
> Southern Illinois University
> Carbondale, IL  62901-4503
> off:  (618) 453-6813
> messages:  (618) 453-5321
> fax:  (618) 453-3253
>
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