Discussing
Who’s a idiot? Hearing the beauty in “broken” English

Tevin Brown

Tevin Brown
June 2, 2016

We should be wary of assumptions about vernacular - whether we're making them about athletes or fellow Christians.

Dave T
June 3, 2016

Tevin presents an interesting idea. But two ideas stand out to me as missing the mark.
1) Calling out Christians as those who favor those who are similar to them is like saying Christian often drink liquids. Everyone does this. All people from all countries from all faiths from all time tend to prefer people who are "like" them.
2) Sports reporters have a job; to communicate sports news to a wide, often national (even international) audience. So while counter cultural linguistics have their place, a reporters role is to help bring the story to many different people. For them, using dominant communication patterns is right. It will reach the largest audience with the greatest clarity. Frankly, I'm not certain what is meant by, "We gonna be championship". It would be helpful for a reporter with more experience and fuller context to help the majority culture to comprehend the intended meaning.

I hope people don't fall back on using language as a way of unfairly classifying and demeaning others, but using correct English would overcome that immediately for a person who values that connection with a national audience.

Ronald Rothhaas
June 3, 2016

Bad grammar is not just another vernacular. As the old ad said, "people do judge you by the words you use." Rather than saying we need to accept bad grammar as just another vernacular, why don't we call out the flawed educational systems these guys are a product of? Ultimately, God loves everyone. We need not excuse the lowest common denominator, however.

Russ Harris
June 6, 2016

Athletes are paid a big dollar. People think it is because of their ability to help win games. That is only partially true. They are paid because of their ability to make money for the team.

Stephen Lucas
June 6, 2016

I be in agreement. As an old man and a christian and a veteran, what comes to mind is not scripture about being kind and forgiving of one another, tho there is plenty of that that applies, but what we used to call the Viet Nam rules:
1) don't sweat the small stuff.
2) if it don't involve high explosives, people bleeding and/or dying, or hot pieces of metal flying thru the air very rapidly, it's small stuff.

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