Language, the colossal and ever-changing structure of words, grammar, syntax and pronunciation, inspires awe when considered from an impartial point of view. Constructing a coherent and descriptive form of communication, rich in delicate connotations, allusions and nuances, is simply an unimaginably challenging task. For this reason language has not been, cannot and will not be built and finished. It must be drafted, then altered, reformulated, revised, modified and corrected for every infinitesimal detail. Dead wood must be cut away to stimulate new growth. Ancient expressions are made obsolete to make room for neologisms. The constant metamorphosis continues today and forever. But the maintenance of the language must be carried out, carried out by the people. Therefore, every speaker of any language actively participates in influencing the evolution of their language. From my formal verbal communication to the discriminatory effects I have heard about, I intend to summarize and provide information about the effects language has had on me and the effects I have had on language. Accent, one of the subtlest qualities of language, has great power in social situations. Growing up, I was a quiet and obedient boy at school. This meant that the vast majority of my speech was developed and practiced at home. Naturally and inevitably, this led to a moderate Indian accent. When I arrived at UWC, I felt no shame in my way of speaking, despite the marked difference in the way of speaking around me. I have made absolutely no conscious effort to alter or perfect myself. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The only discernible change has been a rapid acceleration in the volume of my speaking. However, my accent has drastically returned to normal in my four years here. This subconscious convergence, I believe, is to be expected, especially considering the large increase in my word count. The more we talk, the more we converge, except for one situation where great efforts are made to preserve the original. In my case, the accent changed due to the subtle but profound differences between the voices around me and my own. However, people are not always as kind as UWC students. When I was young, my mother once told an anecdote from her past working life involving accent and culture. Some basic information is missing here. His company, based in Japan, employed large numbers of Indians, a quality the Japanese disapproved of. Furthermore, most Japanese do not speak English fluently or proficiently – some possess only the ability to convey basic information. On this particular occasion, he was participating in a party organized for the employees of the aforementioned company. My mother was chatting with one of her colleagues when the topic of English came up in their conversation. In a vain attempt to be kind, my mother complimented her colleague on his English. The colleague calmly said, “Yes, I understand English, but English Indians don't speak it. This cutting comment demonstrates the insensitivity that the accent can undergo. Through no fault of her own, and in multiple different contexts, my mother, and indeed many others, have been humiliated time and time again in similar ways. The cause can be attributed to inherent cultural tensions, but it manifested itself through his accent. The formality of language is another attribute that can vary widely depending on the social, cultural and contextpersonal. My idiolect, the individual and singular language I speak, is incredibly formal. My tone and choice of words differ little depending on the audience and, as a result, should mostly be polite and courteous. In one case, I was walking with a friend when we both realized we had no idea where we were going. After realizing this, I commented: “We are wandering aimlessly. ” at the same time they observed, “We're not going anywhere. "The example is one of many moments in which a sharp contrast was posed in my idiosyncratic language. There are a couple of possible reasons why my idiolect possesses such a strong and eccentric formal register at all times. The most likely theory that I conceived is my spelling history. While studying for the annual spelling competition in Hong Kong, I acquired a vast database of words from the word lists better you have to use the acquired vocabulary. So I started looking for every possible opportunity to refresh and strengthen my memory of these words. After the first year it became a habit. After the second, I now think about it as much as I breathe Along with this questionable strategy, I had a friend in Hong Kong who constantly bombarded me with new and alien words. This friend, Timothy, was a source of new words to use in my memorization technique. This combination of factors has led to my language thriving in terms of breadth of adjectives and nouns. A more recent possible theory is my enthusiasm for the world of mathematics. Mathematicians need to be extremely precise when writing articles and books, as the terminology and jargon used can be complex and particular. They also need to be short, as many documents can run to hundreds of pages. Having read many of these publications, I have adopted their articulate and concise writing style in my verbal communication. The effect of this maintained formality is astonishing. Among those of my parents' generation, it instills a sense of maturity and sophistication. This, of course, is desirable. In fact, it leads to more conversations and interactions between me and adults. This, in turn, educates me further. Eventually a cycle forms. Intellect generates intelligence. Among my contemporaries, however, feelings are mixed. Some are annoyed, believing that my ways and my words are intended to present me apart from their peasant issues, above such humble speeches. What they don't understand is the true intention. It's not a form of overt prestige, rather a method with which I can truly thrive. Other peers admire and respect my language, interpreting it as a sign of intelligence. Although I am not suited to admiration or impressions, I much prefer the second attitude to the first. In recent years, a fascinating situation has emerged within my clique of friends in relation to prestige. Slang and common words, traditionally considered hidden prestige, have become the standard in our year group. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay So we have founded an exclusive culture of refined language which, because of its foreign, otherworldly character and its minimal use, has been regarded among us as a form of hidden prestige, a way of distinguishing ourselves. I find it interesting that, in environments where covert prestige has become prevalent, the meanings of covert and overt prestige can be reversed. Yes.