"NOT On My Watch!" (Prescriptivism)

"NOT On My Watch!" (Prescriptivism) #weoutchea #gullah #geechee #ego #IPA #language #linguistics #linguicism #lesson #loudandwrong #clapback sunnmcheaux.com weoutcheamerch.com

[@gregmcnair4272]

I also have 3 pet peeves that people should stop. They annoy me endlessly: creaky voice, uptalk, and "air quotes", with the last being the most annoying.

[@deborahhoward5132]

Hmmm . . . Have you looked into therapy? 😊

[@TrickyTricky914]

I really don't understand why creaky voice upsets people so much. I watched an entire video on vocal fry and why and how it's so widespread and the entire time I was thinking "this annoys people? Why?"

[@cameoshadowness7757]

​@@TrickyTricky914because some people swear their way of talking (or a limited few other ways) is the right way and anything outside if that is bad/wrong. It's pretty sad.

[@gregmcnair4272]

@@deborahhoward5132 You know, I just may try that. :-)

[@gregmcnair4272]

@@lysanamcmillan7972 It always surprises me how quickly people can get into a huff over an opinion on KZbin. I would never call the police on someone for talking creaky...although for uptalk and "air quotes"...? I might consider it. (You realize of course that I'm joking.)

[@n.anderson5938]

“Stop turning tools of teaching into weapons of oppression.” 👏👏👏👏

[@Lyricalcandy1982]

"Confidently incorrect" is such a classy way to say "loud and wrong".…. Masterful as always Sunn!!❤

[@boredandonline]

Masterful speech.

[@MalleusSolum]

Two things I'd like to say: 1: Been wondering for years how the fuck we ended up with colonel being pronounced that way so thank you. 2: I absolutely used to be the kind of guy who'd be in the comments arguing in favour of "proper" English. Turns out some people actually can be educated out of such behaviour so another thank you on that front. The world is a much more beautiful place now that I appreciate differences rather them ridicule them.

[@Nerobyrne]

Yeah, it's one of the most ironic things about linguistics. The people preaching the most about it understand it the least 😅 That's not a mark against you or them. Not until someone who actually took the time to learn it teaches them been otherwise. You and me change our behavior. But the ones who don't are willfully ignorant, and that's horrible imo.

[@chseahawk]

I had been wondering the same. 😂

[@MalleusSolum]

@@Nerobyrne Yeah willful ignorance is abhorrent. I put active mental effort into being willing to change my mind about things. Sometimes I have to argue it out but that's part of the process of finding out if my opinions actually stand up to scrutiny.

[@nique2654]

🖤🖤🖤

[@kayearcher8407]

Glad you made it over the hill, welcome; want some cornbread?

[@dragonflies6793]

"Stop turning tools of teaching into weapons of oppression" damn, that's sticking with me

[@NicoleB-ev9vc]

This reminds me of when I would challenge my Grandfather's knowledge and intellect. He too was a Professor and I both adored and admired him. He would allow me to fully express my thoughts and opinions, always attentive, never interrupting. By the end, I was sure I had "won" the argument. He would then proceed to verbally and intellectually eviscerate my argument. 🥺😭 He was the best teacher I ever had. He would have been absolutely chuffed by Sunn's content.💖

[@Nikki0417]

Few people can clap back while educating people at the same time. If there's no award for that skill, there should be.

[@aazhie]

A No'Bull Peace Prize? XD

[@sunnmcheaux]

Good one haha

[@Bpaynee]

​@@sunnmcheauxI swear, some people act like Moses was handed the Oxford English dictionary or something... You have to pronounce things like they're written in the dictionary... Okay 😂

[@Swnsasy]

​@@BpayneeI had the same white man as a history teacher, 7-9th, Mr. Pliskin, and his eyes rolled out the back of his head talking about pronounce how the dictionary says too! Oh, he would get hot under the collar... I don't know if it was because his wife was from Camaroon and he was adopted by a family with the same background but he heard an English teacher saying that and let's just say he nicely let her know how incorrect she is and that he had an extra seat in 3rd period for her😂

[@Dkvizu]

Sunn comes from the top rope and…. BAWGAWD!! He has broken him in half!

[@sunnmcheaux]

💀‼️

[@bunjichronologic5865]

*glass break*

[@nique2654]

Lololol

[@threemothers]

O yes!! Class has started. Present and correct. I’m here for all that I need and want to learn. Thank you Prof. Beautiful lesson. Bless!

[@tuttyusbuttyus]

i’m front row center.

[@JackBarlowStudios]

The entire concept of the IPA, a system for directly “writing speech,” if you will, independent of language, is honestly a fascinating bit of human innovation. What’s more, the need for it to exist at all really highlights the parallel yet divergent evolution of written and spoken language.

[@AlphaOmega925]

The purpose of language is to convey meaning and information. If you can be understood, that is all that matters.

[@Lqtech00]

That’s where I’ve landed.

[@kitm141]

But, but… how do I subtly dismiss, patronise and exclude people who aren’t like me? :) I love when people say “that’s a made up word!”. My guy. All words are made up.

[@jcfyre]

My favorite part was listening to you with a Merriam-Webster dictionary confirming everything you said on the spot. Just like music theory, there are standard conventions, but if we have learned anything from Jazz music, we know there are more ways to flavor the language of music and still communicate effectively. Very well done my friend! Great video. Never stop.

[@lililangtry1881]

This is a great analogy, thank you!

[@RabbitsRi]

When I studied linguistics, I was a terrible student. But there are some lessons that really hit home for me. The first, and most important, is that language changes. Whether it's a rapid onslaught or changes that have been decades in the making. Language changes: words gain or lose meanings, spelling changes, pronunciation changes, grammar changes, and finally what is or is not accepted changes. But we make language what it is, not the other way around. And the Mavens who want to cling to outdated and bigoted notions need be left behind.

[@msshellm8154]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 'Though, there IS a word for a language that never changes. "Dead." (Latin. Ancient Greek. Aramaic. And so many more that we understand, but are now frozen. They are fossils.)

[@kezibythelake]

I request "Stop turning tools of teaching into weapons of oppression" merch.

[@patriciabronk1786]

I like this lesson. American Sign Language is actually French sign language that borrows English words. Sign Language is not Universal and it is cultural based. You are a great teacher. More, please! 🤟🏻❤️✌🏻

[@bekaz13]

I didn't know this! Thanks for sharing 🤟

[@xenontesla122]

Yup! The wonderful thing about the IPA is that you can also show how different people pronounce the same word, without the bias of whether it's pronounced "like it's spelled". That commenter incorrectly thought that it's a dictionary of every "correct" way to say a word.

[@draconity]

Your videos are like therapy for recovering pedants.

[@duncansonoryan]

This. And it helps us autistics answer questions we've always had like why colonel is pronounced so differently to how it's spelled.

[@UncleverCarapace]

You're both so right. God, I could've used this years ago. I've learned better, but still. I was an asshole about language for way too long.

[@hellomello258]

I'm a linguist and a pedant (from a family of pedants). When it comes to linguistics my pedantry often kicks in when people insist prescriptivism is right, especially if they're condescending about it

[@UncleverCarapace]

@@hellomello258 Same, these days. If you're gonna start telling people how their languaging is incorrect, you bet your ass I'm finding every "mistake" you make.

[@SnakeladyGreta]

I took phonetics in 1991 and it was seriously one of the most enjoyable classes I ever had. I wish I retained the knowledge from so long ago.

[@darksativa8228]

I wish I had known all of this earlier... like when I was raising my kids. They were taught American Standard as the only proper English. I regret that so much. Thankfully I also raised them to speak up if I was wrong. My daughter learned a love of words and writing so she looked into stuff on her own. She began correcting me then taught me about what she had learned.

[@MissMaam2504]

I have hated the word Colonel since learning how to spell it in elementary. To-damn-day years old and finally an explanation as to why it is pronounced so different than it is spelled. Sunn you are the real MVP. 🥰🤗🥰🤗🥰 "Colonel" is still a stupid word. 😂

[@msshellm8154]

I have a special love for the 'stupid' words, they've usually had the most fascinating stories. I have an abiding love for etymology, because it is precisely _about_ the origins, changes to, and meanings of, words. It is an amateur love, but I do enjoy the occasional rabbit hole 😊 The Prof.'s explanation for 'colonel' has definitely put me in my wordy happy-place lol

[@JubileeBloom]

I just found your channel and I am definitely sticking around! I'm in a class currently on language/linguistics and social justice and this fits right in with some of the things we've been discussing.

[@someblaqguy]

You've no idea what you've stumbled into, lol. I'd binge watch his videos if I were you. Welcome, friend and enjoy.

[@venisglover5603]

Jubilee Jubilee Jubilee... Allow your "stumble" to help you dive head deep into the abyssal pit, known to many, but not enough, as Professor Sunn m'Cheaux. Welcome 👏🏻

[@chantristrammell6088]

As always, an amazingly brilliant take on how to handle someone when they are confidently incorrect.

[@Kronslew]

And in addition to all that Sunn said, if you listen to Linguicists who study pronunciation about their opinions on specific IPA codings they can disagree on what is useful or 'correct'. It's an academic field trying its best to mirror reality, what gets sent out to the general public is never the only way to do or think about things.

[@doreenblaine9961]

Thank you for trying to clear the muddy waters. Thank you for helping me understand. There are things we don’t know and don’t know why. It will blow peoples mind. I was flabbergasted when my DIL told us it was illegal to wait in the parking lot of a closed gas station for a ride. I argued with her saying that was silly. I’m ashamed to realize after the fact she was conditioned. She was protecting her children and I challenged her. In front of my grand babies who may someday be challenged in a dark parking lot for being black. My heart breaks. We talked about it later, when I realized how I fucked up.

[@marethahoneyb1541]

The ego on this one while making accusations of ego tripping, but they took the bet n lost miserably n I luv’d every bit of that dog walk🤣

[@TinkOutLoud]

That was the most graceful “you tried it and failed” I have ever witnessed.

[@Anddroiden]

may i request more history of words, that was surprisingly interesting and that's with me already finding such things interesting.

[@AddilynneLastname]

🌟🌟🌟VERY THIS 🌟🌟🌟 the FIRST THING anyone learns when actually STUDYING linguistics is that linguistics is DESCRIPTIVE NOT PRESCRIPTIVE great video

[@smileyrenee]

I just dk what else to say except i love you. Thank you for always being so eloquent. I learn something from you every video and I am extremely grateful to have found your content. Thank you!

[@andthatsshannii]

I’m not a linguistics expert but I am a literature and linguistics teacher at the UK equivalent of high school. It has always been fascinating to me that the most ardent prescriptivists haven’t read a single book about linguistics, let alone been experts - not for decades. At the moment, the government in the UK have said that kids should be explicitly taught grammar and know all the metalanguage about how English works. I’m not against that! However, the government undoubtedly did this as a way to police “proper English” for students. In their enduring incompetence, they didn’t actually provide any upskilling or CPD information, just a vague list of terms we had to teach. So what happened? Linguists all over the country (but specifically at UCL) used it as an opportunity to create a descriptivist model, which I adore

[@serpilkaddy1609]

Oh my.... that was beautifully done! ❤

[@Thermo_D]

It's genuinely amusing watching people who really don't know anything about linguistics try and explain something they thought they heard once somewhere else. It's like mansplaining, but well actually exactly like mansplaining. It's mansplaining.

[@JustFluffyQuiltingYarnCrafts]

Thank you for stroking our minds with knowledge. ❤😘

[@kaylynnanson6231]

Another beautiful lesson, prof. ❤🎉

[@karenjanusch7978]

I love these knowledge drops! 😊

[@grlwchip6998]

I loved when I found u on the internet because it always bothered me how people gatekeep language bc all language is for comunication.

[@Stevekixs]

This is why I love your channel

[@mediaaddict3997]

That was stimulating.

[@eclairdawnlight8470]

I love that we have IPA, because our language isnt a phonetic one. Granted few are (that im aware of). Its a good tool for learning... Gatekeeping language or thinking oneself more sofisticated because of it though is just dumb

[@Heather-fx7sr]

This is where you really shine. God I love linguistics

[@startermaniac4454]

Sometimes your lessons make my head spin. This is one of them.

[@thefirm4606]

‘The enters French…’ 😂😂😂❤❤❤

[@ayates6333]

Thanks for the lesson. Always on point.

[@singularityjackson]

I just love the way you break it all the way down👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@Camie.in.Philly]

Eye luv dis gy

[@olgawilliams1394]

❤Even his t-shirts are on standby, prepared to clap back with a quickness! 😮😂

[@sarahbrown2827]

I took one phonoloy course and found it fascinating how unconsciously we ascribe rules to sounds, like how some dialects add an 'r' in wash and Chicago. IPA is so useful in making those rules visible. Its a way of noting language sounds on paper, potentially recording the changes in dialects over time.

[@robertacomstock3655]

I came for perspectives, stay for the dazzling smiles!

[@hangryjuju]

When I saw Iyanla in the thumbnail, I was like Nooooo not Iyanla 😆

[@taiperry3554]

His knowledge is so attractive, and makes me feel so dumb at the same time. Like I want to learn so much from him.... Yet I'm upset at myself for not knowing so much.

[@ladylilac4363]

Thank you. Once again I learned something.

[@Ceares]

Went running to your store to grab that shirt and then saw the "all words are made up" one, and oh lawd! Thank you, thank you, thank you. So happy to be able to wear it instead of just repeating it constantly.

[@medsurgcutie]

Ooh she tried it😂😂

[@sungodis22]

I love how you kick knowledgeable & give the ashy a side of shea butter, Sunn!😝👏🏽🌹🙌🏽💯🥳

[@staytuned2L337]

**shakes hand out** gottdamn

[@beverlyobasiolu]

Solid burn returned. The internet will not win!

[@masixchell]

I love this channel !! One of my top favs. Ty for your teachings 😎🙏🏽

[@chicanegra8198]

I know this was not the intended purpose of this video, but Sunn, thank you sooo much for pronouncing the word colonel. In my country everyone calls ut differently, and I'd given up on ever figuring it out 😂

[@teresaabrown8077]

😎 😎. Thanks for the Clarifying. My Brain is a Sponge and Soaking Up Knowledge for Power and Growth. Have a Blessed Day!! Besos ✌. Stay 💪

[@inesspanni]

@acbeale Chile. . . you came fully unprepared and ill-informed on so many levels!!! Which made Sunn's informative response delightful to experience. Hope you learned both lessons - linguistic & the cost of ignorance!!!❤😂❤

[@msshellm8154]

I only did Linguistics in 1st year at Uni ( _many_ moons ago ... 1992?) but I had always believed that the IPA was a 'recording device,' used to transmit how a word _was_ spoken, not cement into which it was set. I'm actually relieved to be on the side of the angels on this one! (I'm also delighted to learn about the linguistic journey of 'colonel!' Now, if someone could explain why we [Australians] and the Poms/Brits pronounce a certain rank "lef-tenant" [lieutenant] I'd be eternally grateful. I speak Australian English and have never heard a satisfactory explanation!)

[@wartgin]

Seconding the request lieutenant pronunciation, please.

[@KH-us3rv]

I learned something new today! Thank you!

[@DeadBore]

People talking about “correct pronunciation” I think often forget one of the easiest ways to document how much “correct pronunciation” changes. American English and British English. There’s 2 completely different phonetic spellings you can often flick through. Why do you think that is? Because people say it differently. It’s the only way language is made

[@trentonavery6565]

I’m, over here, just now, learning about the IPAs existence🤯🤯🤯

[@alfiegrace]

I really enjoy your videos, Sir. Thank you!

[@meh.7539]

Thank you once again, Sunn, for taking the time to educating me.

[@ummeiguess]

9 times outta 10, You are so refreshing 😆 thank you for your service ✌🏾 😂 hbhm

[@LittleGrayMouse]

I love learning from you and your videos.

[@dr.rustyrustic]

A couple days ago I was talking with my dad about the word "colonel" and asked why it was pronounced that way! 😂 And now I've found the answer! Thank you for this video❤❤❤

[@P-nk-m-na]

the IPA is also great for developing conlangs, which is the only place prescriptivists can even TRY to have real points! (theyre still wrong tho)

[@lolap3667]

I love learning from you!

[@josiejones1969]

Thank You 🙏🏽 KING 👑 🌟😉🤔

[@tyleri.4219]

Even within the IPA, there is a huge range of how people transcribe the same sounds for field data

[@pb4897]

You are so, SO awesome! I check my feed all the time waiting to see if your face pops up. The things I've learned listening to you...

[@muertito8077]

Thank you Sunn ❤🌞

[@Sootielove]

My sister is a linguist and she loves the ipa for helping her pronounce foreign words regardless of spelling. Honestly it should be far more common to learn!

[@boredandonline]

All together now...."Awesome"!

[@Che1980s]

Masterful!

[@ahfimiwonawun]

Even though certain people been telling other folks that the way they speak is broken, I knew it was a case of the pot calling the kettle Black, especially when I came upon certain words with pronunciations that just made no sense even according to the rules they laid out for their own language. I’ve been inquiring for decades as to what manner of wizardry the letters “AR” possess that affects the word “kansas” in such a fashion. I can understand how colonel sounds like kernel better than I can understand what in god’s name happened with arkansas.

[@ahfimiwonawun]

@@lysanamcmillan7972 , Thank you.

[@akatheempress]

Teach!

[@ericeyerman6285]

I like that you put this person in his place. I have a learning disability with make this even harder to use the IPA or learn this. You need not reply back. I'm white and know clearly that you deal more with the minorities. But so much of thing you say do help people with learning disability just to accept themselves. I thought you needed to know.

[@kikicogger2284]

It’s interesting how these “Pronunciation Police” only seem to get upset by the different pronunciations of a word when it’s pronounced differently by a group of black people. You don’t see these people correcting British people on how they say “Aluminum” or how Canadians say “zed” instead of “zee.” Heck, they probably wouldn’t even correct a Bostonian saying “Caah” instead of “Car.” It’s understood that English isn’t pronounced the same everywhere. Why is it any different for speakers using African American Vernacular English?

[@oniciamuller]

Clue is my favorite game and the pronunciation of "Colonel Mustard" used to trip me up so bad. Like how, Sway? To learn that the French was responsible for killing Mr. Mustards name!

[@TheKrispyfort]

Thank you 🙂

[@TheJackOfFools]

This is great

[@mzdrea9468]

Arguing with a linguist about word is wild😂

[@horseshoes3523]

Hey Now!! Tell it like it's T I L📚 💡

[@boredandonline]

Damn! Thank you!

[@felicayolanda]

@Sunn m'Cheaux you have slayed another one. Continue to educate my dear sir. We are all different with different ways of saying things and speaking. If we all spoke and pronounced words the same, what fun is that? We'd all sound the same, and that seems quite boring if I may say so. I love to hear different people say the same word but differently perfect 🥰. I, for one, do not harp on how someone pronounce words it's the meaning behind what they say I'm more concerned with.

[@mariadelamain2520]

Way cool info

[@fariesz6786]

i do agree with her statement though that historically accurate fact. sic wording.

[@FujishimaAkiko]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@shondadiggins21]

She knows he's a whole professor right?!?!

[@KatByte4U]

😂😂😂

[@purpleness64]

Preach

[@moremiaj4786]

I suppose the entire idea of Dialects, is that even within the same language, there are differing way of pronouncing the same word.

[@PheobeKate-1111]

thank you!

[@angelbulldog4934]

Reverted back...that's a trip to the Department of Redundancy Department. 😅

[@aurorafeinlein3150]

Thanks

[@JeffStrange]

✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾

[@yugoxgc]

Im sorry but Anyone claiming There's a "correct" pronunciation of anything in English has never studied linguistics or not even attempt to peek at the world outside their closed circle. There's like 40 different dialects in UK. Yeah that many just in UK. Most ppl dont even know the most common basic 10 from around here. Anyone that thinks RP is THE correct one is just flat out lost