The Cost of Code Switching | Chandra Arthur | TEDxOrlando

[@zacharypeacock6278]

For years i would code switch so that other people wouldn't wouldn't look at me as uneducated. But now i choose not to because i am comfortable with who I am and don't have to prove myself to anyone except me. I realized that people will look at you and judge you just because of the color of your skin so why am I going to make them feel comfortable when they have already made a judgment of me because of my skin color. Now I will code switch when someone underestimate my intelligence just to show them that I can speak well when needed. But for the most part I speak the language that I'm comfortable speaking...

[@granjmy]

That's what I like about getting older. Wisdom, personal acceptance, just being who I am to a greater extent.

[@alienpopstarrr]

Zachary Peacock okay king behavior. we have no choice but to stan.

[@milflover6203]

I had an opposite experience w code switching. In middle school as a white kid, I was in the minority with filipino and kids in majority. So when I was with my filipino friends I’d talk like them and now in high school with my mexican friends I’ll talk like them. With my white friends or mixed groups of friends i’ll talk as myself.

[@echt114]

@Zachary Peacock: Stop lying. Your story clearly indicates that the judgments people were making about you were about education, not race.

[@92GreyBlue]

One should always strive to speak properly.

[@mugulakikawa]

I didn’t know this was called code switching. I do it all the time. Every time I get stopped by a cop, I emphasize my African accent. You have no idea, how many times it’s saved me.

[@carmenseguridad7105]

why does emphasizing your african accent help

[@mugulakikawa]

asha o it keeps me out of trouble. You have no idea how much it’s saved me. Even when I got locked up. 🥺🙈🏃🏾‍♂️🏃🏾‍♂️🏃🏾‍♂️

[@RayvenFeather]

This does not make sense. I would think that NOT emphasizing the African accent would be better for that.

[@GAZAMAN93X]

@@RayvenFeather it does. He's seen as not from the area.

[@MrRushBeatz]

This is so true. I have a Liberian friend, he speaks great english. When we got pulled over one night and he just kept replying to them with "I dont unda stand"(strong accent) and turning to me to explain haha. Cops gave a warning and we still laugh about that night.

[@carolllawrence]

Interesting. The first thing I thought is that if she didn't code switch, what would be the chances that she'd be standing on the red circle doing a Ted Talk about this or anything else. That's not intended as a negative comment at all. Every word she said is true. I'm 67 so I guess it hits me differently. I've had to do it all of my life. I'm extremely good at it. I just looked at it as a way of life. Do what you gotta do to get where you want to go. I taught my children to do it. I didn't know the term "code switching." I told them they just needed to learn the two languages of this country. I fully understand the feelings and especially the deep desire for "authenticity." Thirty/forty years ago I felt I had no time for such feelings. I had to be "smart" enough to do what I needed to do. This is 2020 and I'm happy that this generation is standing up. As for me, in this social climate that has remained largely unchanged, as have the hearts of people since the 60s, I continue to feel empowered to do what I need to do, when I need to do it, to get what I need. At the end of the day (as always) I take my authentic self, go home to the peace of my reality and sleep well.

[@dnmurphy48]

Well said. To get ahead you have to communicate. You adapt with the dominant culture or you ghettoise yourself. Code-switch is an abominable expression for what is basically a way of life throughout the world. we all adapt to circumstance.

[@Akilahfoye]

code switching is something we acquired from our ancestors when they didn't want the colonizers to understand their messages.

[@TwinMama828]

yes

[@dionsanchez4478]

Nicely put. But it isn't exclusive to the US. Code-switching is useful in other countries and other cultures.

[@chloebenjamin5599]

Yup she had to code switch for them to even listen to her. Sad reality

[@bd3825]

I agree with everything this lady said. She put it so eloquently.

[@granjmy]

She reminds me of Candace Owens and Ben Shapiro. I wish I could talk like those 2.

[@slicusdadon]

@@granjmy You just had to didn't you? Just had to. FFS.

[@granjmy]

@@slicusdadon What's your point? Seems like I offended you.

[@jubilantsleep]

@@slicusdadon Lol

[@lifebyjohnny]

@@slicusdadon Bruh Lmaooo @donna Morrow is a prime example of when you try to hard to fit in. I'm dead.

[@beneath.the.rosesluciddrea8470]

Yes on the subject, but... WOW she is a dang good public speaker. Her facial expressions, her cadence and pauses, her voice.. she is so comfortable up there. I wonder if I could ever do it that well in front of people. Also.. "Yall" is probably my favorite word because it can be used to express sooo many things. Y'all can be its own sentence.

[@anonamous6968]

She speaks Standard English very well. She is articulate.

[@blanco7726]

Yall sounds weird. Its you lot for me.

[@Mamignonne100]

Yes! She is A great speaker!

[@shahee6579]

@@blanco7726 you British?

[@blanco7726]

@@shahee6579 half

[@KingdomInnovate]

This was dope/ stellar ! I used to code switch either by using mo slang words on the Job or ; utilizing more serendipitous nomenclatures in the boardroom.

[@vanjabulajic1573]

Well said

[@missk3214]

😂😂

[@drenchy1011]

hahaha underrated comment

[@nica2653]

Yes! Yes! Yes! I was called an apple. Red on the outside, white on the inside. (Im a Native American woman)

[@veinteduece6625]

Wow that's a new one to me... Wow apple.

[@777sweett777]

WoW! 😳 I've never heard of that term before! That is so sad! At least you may have some privilege from not having very dark skin. Just because I can make crazy but true statement as that, just shows how much this world is soooo messed up!

[@filmtressmu8552]

Maybe because you really are White who's ancestor had $5. dollars.

[@Sporkonafork1]

@Herbal Shaman Siberians are from Asia exactly, we have been living on this continent for 20000 years, so not Siberian anymore that's for sure.

[@capturemorellc6818]

You are cute what’s your ig 😅

[@vicj9256]

I am going to show this to my Grade 11 & 12 Psych students. We are learning about groups and what it takes to fit in, as well as the complicated intricacies that "Third Culture Kids' need to maneuver, and how all of those affect identity creation. ( There are about 70 first languages in my school.) Thank you!

[@smithoma]

You should also introduce them to Communication Accommodation Theory, as well as Social Identity Theory. They are very similar, and a little more fitting to what she was talking about. I'm not saying she is wrong, as social science theories become multi-disciplinary, but usually code switching is reserved to (Cognitive and Socio) linguistics.

[@ZeusKnocksYouOut]

Why not teach kids to stand out rather than telling them that they have to fit in?... group identities are not paramount. INDIVIDUALISM IS PARAMOUNT(the enlightenment and all that). This is the problem today - postmodernism and neo marxism. its unfulfilling to a person to have their group identity be what they ultimately define themselves as because thats not who they really are... That being said as a teacher you should encourage your students to act appropriately in an academic setting. Standards are good. Standards = values = fundamentals to build off of and leads to goals to aim for. Goals and aims are what is fulfilling in life and gives people something to live for... students are being brainwashed by this postmodernism that possesses many teachers in the West which is a contradictory and dangerous ideology that leaves kids with a hollow sense of being by pushing their responsibility on others by making sure others tolerate them. Consequently this gives these kids the idea that everyone HAS to accept them when they most certainly do not, and the students shouldn't care. We can find a way forward to a more just society without pushing the responsibility of living onto everyone else, and thats by making sure students take responsibility for themselves. Students need to grow up in school. PS. We had the ultimate identity politics test in the 20th century and the result was 100 million deaths. We dont to play that game in the West now.

[@smithoma]

You can't avoid group influence on your individual identity. Too much influence on standards, values, and fundamentals creates group mentalities. You mentioned the ultimate politics test which resulted in 100 million deaths. That's because there was one man, telling a group they must be and act act his fundementals, values, and standards deemed fit. What you are talking about is fascism. What if a group doesn't agree with your worldview? One could argue that education is brainwashing one way or another; if it is post-modern, or idealistic. This post-modern, or neo marxist shift in society is result of globalism, and necessary if we hope to co-exist. Yes, students don't have to accept people being different. But if they hope to operate successfully in society, they will have to. No one can exist as a true individual. We as humans are pack animals. The reality of what you're suggesting is as theoretically implausible as Marxism.

[@armandopina8529]

be careful they don't accuse you teaching CRT. been code switching on more than 1 level. I'm almost a chameleon

[@topgurl9313]

Interesting talk. One of my favourites. She presented her argument, so matter-of-fact and unapologetically, with life experience and statistics. With a bit of humour in there too. This is what I want from Tedx talks.

[@IloveJC30]

Had to come listen to this again in 2020, so relevant!

[@GenXican84]

You'll need to preach that To the client..they're issuing the purchase orders

[@alienpopstarrr]

omg she is one of the best orators i have ever seen

[@saveUyghurs]

I love that her microphone is a skin tone color that is actually her color!

[@homiesapien2041]

Why

[@kenmtb]

@Nicolas Rojas Taborda why not?

[@user-mv7ho8ts7z]

Weird

[@jeffjohnston1961]

Who cares

[@ckinno]

@@jeffjohnston1961 these small nuances matter, when everything around you fails to consider your purchasing options even though you contribute to the economy.

[@charliebrownsdad178]

What an amazing person. She gets it.

[@davidw.4524]

Code switching is synonymous to sounding/acting politically correct and it's a deception. We live in a very diverse world and should learn to appreciate other people's cultures, languages and behaviors while maintaining our real self at the same time.

[@777sweett777]

That's EXACTLY what the speaker was saying. 👍🏾

[@TNDCBaby]

PC isn't the right word for it. It's a sound and not just the words and it is not about choosing the right words in order to avoid offending or use current terms.

[@Wandering.Homebody]

@@TNDCBaby PC totally isn't the right term. It's about sounding professional, and also, comprehensible to most.

[@dnmurphy48]

Bull, its adapting to the world around you so you can communicate and get ahead. if you don't then you're ghettoizing yourself,

[@davidw.4524]

@@dnmurphy48 Adapting? Well how does that work in certain countries like North Korea, Iran, China or Saudi Arabia. You can only get along with new people by importing your real self into that new environment.

[@brendatrimble9528]

Very eye opening. I have only just learned about "code switching". This is something most of us are guilty of. I have a "work" personality and a "home" personality. The language that I'm comfortable using with my friends, definitely wouldn't be accepted at work. I realize it's at a different level, but I've never thought of it from a cultural perspective. Thank you for explaining this so well. We can all learn something from this.

[@jackalopegaming4948]

A thought I had while watching this: I'm autistic, and I code switch too since I have to be seen as "normal" in some places but in others I can whistle to myself however I like or do other stimming.

[@youreincredible1648]

I look after austic children. Is it easier to code switch now your older. Did your parents and teachers think that was possible?

[@jackalopegaming4948]

​@@youreincredible1648 I didn't learn I was autistic until I was 25. I'm 32 now. Through grade school I was simply ADD and a bit odd. I still knew not to hand flap at school when I was angry or excited but could do it at home, especially on my own. Granted, I did have one time in a high school math class where I got lost in some music and was drumming and ended up disturbing the class. But mostly I was just labelled a little odd. I never screamed or really had tantrums, but my dad always found it difficult to motivate me and eventually gave up trying to push me when I was in high school. And I don't blame him since when he pushed I either pushed back or dodged and did my own thing anyway. Had he known I was autistic he might have looked into other ways of getting through to me. My teachers usually knew me as the smart kid who hated homework but aced tests, and some of them were genuinely puzzled by that but I kept proving that I wasn't cheating. I work at a grocery store now and when I tell coworkers that I'm autistic and/or introverted, they look at me like "Whaaaaat? No way." Yes way. I mask and code switch at work because customer service has a bit of a requirement of being "normal" and slightly extroverted. That's the emotional labor I put in, at least when interacting with others. The biggest thing I wish I'd had when I was younger was being taught how to better express my thoughts and needs. And I see so many autistic children having tantrums or withdrawing into their shells because they can't express their needs in ways others can understand, or will listen to.

[@Knoboddie]

"How to behave and speak in a way that made me a non-threatening person of color" Speaks volumes 😔

[@julian65886]

Afterwards she makes great points. She acted like the majority in school and was accepted. Sometimes racism is not about color, but about having a different culture. As a Latin I acted American.

[@veinteduece6625]

Re-evaluate your understanding racism and colorism

[@dalonbranch8270]

Am i the only one who was looking for her to break out in her other voice?

[@anonamous6968]

Yes. I do find it telling that in order to speak clearly and articulately she chose Standard English rather than Ebonics. I've noticed that this is often the case. If she spoke Ebonics her case would crumble immediately.

[@blanco7726]

anon amous dont think she speaks ebonics lol

[@TilTheBreakADawn]

@@anonamous6968 Why do you think "[i]f she spoke Ebonics her case would crumble immediately"?

[@gabbicassell7704]

anon amous You are clearly portraying the problem 😂

[@TilTheBreakADawn]

@dave young I don't follow. 1. What is the "it" you're referring to? 2. How is [whatever it is] changing white "dialect"?

[@freddy8942]

This hits so hard. Moved from Florida to Utah and forgot my actual voice.

[@KTo288]

This is more properly described as diglossia, than "code switching", using different registers or dialects of the same language depending on cicumstances.

[@saskiadavies111]

KTo288 and and she said, it's more than language: it's also culture.

[@tanajsiaaa]

KTo288 She literally explained that she meant code switching in the colloquial sense. She even defined it as you did above before indicating that at 2:35.

[@takodawhitefeather]

@@robertduerler7710 She clearly noted, "In the colloquial sense," dear listener... "In the colloquial sense." Geesh!

[@takodawhitefeather]

She's simply speaking in terms of switching between different discourses... primary versus secondary, and so on.

[@toniapurnell-respes1695]

Isn't the first referrer to "diglossia," in fact code-switching to a formal term from the layman's term as she explained it? I see negative comments, but no one's truly disagreeing.

[@gigantje1]

What a wonderfll woman. I do it too as a white man in Holland born and raised in Curacao, one of the Dutch Antilles. Espesially when i drink to much my Curacao accent pops up again. It is not just words and accents but also the gesticulations

[@filmtressmu8552]

Sometimes, I am not in the mood to 'code-switch' and I don't care who I offend. This is my land and I am indigenous. My bloodline is Choctaw and I have very dark skin. I look like this woman in the video. We will have our land back and be on a higher realm in a bit.

[@dnmurphy48]

You lost, deal with it.

[@filmtressmu8552]

@Bridgette Machuca From the time I was a little girl, I knew my grandmother was Choctaw. However, just two years ago I realized that my father and his family is too. I thought it was an amazing and incredible piece of my ancestry to discover. Yay!

[@filmtressmu8552]

@@dnmurphy48 Nope, you lost--and you're dealing with it now. lol

[@filmtressmu8552]

@@dnmurphy48 Nope, you lost. Now, you're dealing with it. Yay!

[@dnmurphy48]

@@filmtressmu8552 Very childish and silly and inaccurate response.

[@miguelmagana7460]

OHHHH MYYY!! spending time learning culture appropriation instead of living.. My life for the past 2.5 years Thanks for this talk so much

[@slagwill5599]

It’s just a matter of cultural adaptation. Historically we’re in a land not of our choosing, really. Therefore if we choose to play their game - then we have to make certain adjustments in order to smoothly maneuver. Speaking their language is one of a type. But this depends also upon the character of the person in question. One may be of such a nature that they can impose their will upon the environment and force others to adapt to them. It’s not a static scenario, and one style is not “better” than the other. One person adapts and switches, another simply moves in a different direction altogether, while a third type simply refuses to bend at all. All three types are needed and play their own part in the whole.

[@jsanns]

This is fantastic. I've never heard of 'Code Switch' before. My company sent us this TedTalk and I'm so glad they did. Thanks for the education.

[@sophiadavenport3959]

As a woman of color I can totally relate to Chardra's experience but there's nothing wrong with someone speaking proper english.

[@thefam6952]

Patricia the booke this wasn’t about speaking proper English

[@thefam6952]

Patricia the booke this was about culturally hinding parts of one’s self for the sake of making the ruling class uncomfortable

[@bluebirdredrobin6827]

No such thing as “proper” English. Language is not static.

[@ddawn23]

At no point did she argue there was something wrong with speaking proper English. Whatever "proper English" even is.

[@daarmonet]

lol you must've misunderstood because that wasn't the point at all

[@dancrowe8274]

I've never had a issue with anyone who respects my space. I don't talk to people since I moved to Cincinnati due primarily to the rudeness of people in general here. Talk how you want but in the job market we are all are expected to work to the same level as everyone else and there are no excuses.

[@SinewRending]

Sounds about white.

[@kakababuda5755]

Do american police just point guns at people without any strong reason,

[@latonia9478]

yes!

[@oliverstone9577]

Yes

[@veinteduece6625]

Yup!

[@RAWouthere]

Yep.

[@jaelzion]

Yes. Yes, they do.

[@looberummer7627]

For some time I had no idea what the word was until I stumbled upon a KZbin comment and decided to watch this.

[@stifledvoice]

"Oh stewardess, I speak Jive...."

[@arieluv615]

😂😂😂 love that movie

[@Aditya-f8t5z]

Love to Moorika, the strongest cow, always teaching its children the best knowledge 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@mrs.morris5506]

That time this white chick from high school told me I was an oreo....sheesh! I WILL NOT apologize for speaking phonetically. I WILL NOT apologize for being highly educated. To each his own. If others want to keep it hood, more power to you. That's not my way.

[@RedPanda450]

I get her point. I just don’t think that code switching is necessarily bad.

[@bookswithbenjamin8902]

It's a survival tool

[@jaelzion]

I don't either necessarily. It's something that happens naturally as you learn to nagivate different contexts. But I agree with her that the failure to code-switch should not result in limited professional opportunities, being assumed to be unintelligent or getting shot by the police.

[@focusfernand0]

Is it safe for me to assume that the school she transferred to in the 3rd grade was predominantly white?

[@evanhdez]

Yea

[@jenniferbullett7254]

Of course.

[@앙기모띠-x9s]

What's the point of that question

[@focusfernand0]

@@앙기모띠-x9s honestly can’t remember, that was 4 years ago. But it was probably for an academic study I was doing in college

[@앙기모띠-x9s]

@@focusfernand0 Wow never expected to get a reply from a comment 4 years ago.

[@dionsanchez4478]

I understand this from a mixed-race background. The issue is also that of cultural norms in communication. When a person who speaks "ghetto" enters into a different culture i.e. corporate business...there are accepted symbols and rituals, hence it is important not to stand out as different. Code-switching, in my view, is not a negative trait or should make you feel like your true-self is being suppressed. You are simply functioning in that space in a different culture from your own not work one.

[@elisabethmulder4315]

As far as language is concerned I do agree. One could see the “proper” American language as the national anthem that binds people from all different backgrounds together as one American nation. Being from Europe myself, most countries have multiple dialects, yet generally one was chosen to represent the country as a whole, mostly for administrative purposes. Dialects are still used in the respective areas and sometimes even taught at school as a second language. Having one official language unifies a country and may even prevent certain regions from striving for independence. As for other aspects in life I would say that it is up to yourself as an individual and your own good judgement. It is about trying to find a balance between being authentic and not offending others in particular circumstances. Overall, tolerance is key in a country blessed with such a rich diverse population.

[@PHlophe]

Dion, she never actually talked about "ghetto" SMDH ! here we go again

[@maxb9315]

Code-switching is not solely associated with ethnicity/race. It's common in class-based societies, such as Britain, and especially England. You might have heard the maxim that as soon as one Englishman opens his mouth to speak, another Englishman despises him.

[@SugahShy]

This is an interesting topic. I am reminded of my friends whose families had totally different languages at home, but spoke English without even a hint of an accent outside their homes. We had it too, down to the names we used with each other. Maybe it would help if children were instilled with the knowledge at home, and early on, of the duality of living in a melting pot, along with the reassurance that it is ok to take pride in both their home identity and their outside world identity. I don't know. But, it certainly is something to ponder.

[@quhawks48]

There is no ‘our’ truth. There is only THE truth.

[@gertrudebuck366]

“KID!” I TRULY CANNOT STAND THAT WORD! THE WORD IS CHILDREN CHILDREN CHILDREN

[@jusme2317]

I am a middle school teacher and I cannot emphasize this enough ✊🏾

[@CooriPalaire]

Awesome Chandra. Thank you.

[@celbelle]

I've been thinking a lot about why I code switch as a hispanic. Its never intentional. It almost feels like second nature.

[@omarmartinez481]

This was literally an amazing talk

[@PHlophe]

Qué linda mujer !

[@aceCOOKSit]

I look like a threating person of color soo learning how to code switch has saved me a few times. A chameleon of sorts that can blend anywhere. Learning the language of code is essential in an urban setting.

[@dionsanchez4478]

LOL. threatening person of color...not a typical white person's phrase...that is from the LEFT or progressives.

[@norellleung]

Amazing presentation. Important, transformative message.

[@alessiab426]

The questions at the beginning reminded my of a Kafka novel

[@sr2ky]

I'm a Spanish native speaker and I've been studying English by myself since I was a child. Even when I've been raised and I've been living in a Spanish speaker country I think in English all the time. It's hard 'cos mostly, when I'm speaking to my friends, my brain automatically switch to English and I always have to reprimand myself to not code-switch, in order to not sound cocky. People need to stop making feel others uncomfortable for that ability, they think it's cockiness...it's not!!!

[@techiefan1986]

ca Did, just ignore videos, in the USA we live in a world of professinal victims that will make trivia videos in order to get sympathy, when in reality everyone talks differently in different situations to communicate, bond, or fit in. It's not a race thing they try to make it out to be. Everyone experiences this regardless of their skin color.ust a first world problem, complained by those that have little harsh problems in their life to complain about.

[@sr2ky]

@@techiefan1986 Excuse me, can I ask you to re elaborate the idea? Sorry, it's just that I don't know if it is your autocorrect but I couldn't catch a part.

[@techiefan1986]

@@sr2ky , basically, it's not a problem to take seriously, it's just part of human nature. It effects everyone, in everyday situations, regardless of their race or origins.

[@painlife6799]

I said "y'all" during my business presentation at school :(

[@user-dq7cm6ug4h]

Good

[@painlife6799]

@@user-dq7cm6ug4h good?😂

[@user-dq7cm6ug4h]

@@painlife6799 If you think saying y'all is unprofessional then I feel sad for you. Professionalism doesn't mean a closer proximity to whiteness.

[@user-dq7cm6ug4h]

@Hard To Say You missed the point entirely, and y'all isn't improper it's the contraction for you all.

[@emilyflores9844]

I guess if I lived in the north or somewhere beyond the south then y'all in the board room would sound odd or improper but y'all said in the boardroom is fine here down south

[@filmtressmu8552]

I have that magazine and read that article. It's a shame, this is one area that needs to be made over. We need a humanitarian endeavor to fund our business ventures.

[@rainyfeathers9148]

Are we pretending this coding switching makes a difference (O_O")? That's not how it works, let us not eloquate and articulate ourselves into ignorance. The police are what they are, she could've been shot up anyway if she saw the guns and screamed. The old woman knows what she and so does this lady.

[@decembersveryown5935]

A person can speak grammatically correct English without loosing their cultural identity

[@maxonmendel5757]

What if your culturally identity is grammatically incorrect?

[@nickagriesti6708]

She doesn't suggest that they cannot.

[@oliverstone9577]

It's funny you say that because English, as a language, is ever evolving and changing. The English we are using right now was just slang once ago, so how can you debate which culture's version of English is the correct one, especially when each dialect has it's own unchanging lexicon?

[@OfMiceAndMegabytes]

December's Very Own not according to most in the urban community. Obama being the glaring exception unless you're born and raised in the hood and reflect that most times you're rejected. Speaking from experience

[@amandlakhumalo4728]

Code switching isn’t only about the way you speak. It’s about the way you dress, the way you style your hair, the music you listen to etc. It’s about hiding certain parts of you that make you you in order to be “accepted” and to get access to certain opportunities or privileges not afforded to a lot of people that look like you. She did touch on this but maybe you have selective hearing🤷🏼‍♀️

[@GYNCgynus]

Greendays okay... but My Chemcial Romance had it hands down. I have to start dawning my skull stripe beanie after that. So impactful.

[@cashbrandon9945]

That was excellent! Great job.

[@chrisfry436]

The most amazing part of this speech was the fact that four police officers came to a burglary call on a sunday afternoon!! lol

[@damgonzalez0]

Cultural appropiation isn't a thing, nobody in the world thinks it exists excepting America, because it's their reaction to the systematic and institutionalized discrimination that exists in their country: since their laws aren't being modified, and no policitician is doing anything to solve that terrible situation, Americans have begun to believe that things like cultural appropiation are the ones causing discrimination, when it's just the system itself who is causing it. The sole result of this type of thinking is even more polarization, antagonizing blacks and whites more than ever, when they should actually be working together to finally make a change.

[@rachelmyles2729]

Cultural appropriation does exist people do it all the time

[@lucabrooks4519]

Are you seriously going to sit there and deny that cultural appropriation exists?

[@damgonzalez0]

@@lucabrooks4519 As I said, it doesn't exist. You invented it. Pls stop.

[@Gunbudder]

i code switch against my will. i will automatically code switch to sound more like whoever i'm talking to. i hate doing it, but i can't stop myself, so i've learned to just deal with it

[@mohamedkamara8225]

That used to happen to me. I had no Identity, I was a chameleon adapting myself to whoever I was with to fit in. Please don’t give up, you are doing this to try to fit in and be accepted. Love yourself and present yourself as you authentically are, no matter who’s watching !

[@iamtheshaker]

Why does articulation correspond to Code Switching?

[@dnmurphy48]

It doesn't. Code switching is just academic drivel or person of colour whining. We all adapt to circumstances, no matter our culture or race.

[@jaylahallen4326]

Because of dialects some articulation of certain sounds are more prominent and in other dialects it is not. That becomes apart of code-switching. Cutting off the ending of words, replacing the th with a d or removing the r sounds of words are all examples of different articulation changes. The person who previously responded to you just sounds bitter. Most people the are not from the background of their intended audience may choose to code-switch, that includes White people. He chose to make it a race thing when it not, although it usually is used by people of color.

[@hellohi7012]

Absolutely amazing talk!

[@juicesandberries1]

Excellent!

[@stina8485]

Would love to have listened in on follow up conversations.

[@claireyang7440]

I (and my class) was given a banana on the first day of fifth grade Chinese school. The teacher (from Mainland China) proceeded to point to the bananas and say, “you all are yellow on the outside and white on the inside like those bananas”.

[@emolyemu89]

I was always called a coconut or oreo, because I'm a biracial woman who loved ALL types of music dressed as goth and pinup and spoke English vs. AAVE.

[@Slarti]

Was it white people who called you those names.

[@ko2744]

Very true about y'all. Stopped saying that when I moved from KY to NY.

[@MagicalAuroraDream]

I moved from Washington state to Virginia in 7th grade and whoa what a shock! I'd never actually heard anyone say "Y'all" before.

[@lauraashley5392]

I’m just learning about the term code switching. And I remember as a child my mother would also train me not to speak like the locals. As where I am from (Small city in England) we would say things like “am ya” instead of are you. “I ay” instead of I didn’t “day ya” instead of didn’t you. I’m am grateful for these teaching though as it truly sounds awful speaking like that. But sometimes I do slip up. Especially when it come to street/urban slang.

[@MrLosilluminados]

So is Spanglish considered code switching?

[@kimberlyhoward4032]

Well I know conformity is healthy but not at the expense of your inner self, learning to socially adapt to our environment isn’t a bad thing it can be simply a way of expanding your experience, picking and choosing for you when and how you want to adapt not losing yourself in the process. I’m not much of a conformist and have no desire to conform to most expectation, I’m a you get what ya get kinda girl 👧

[@eugenejackson1358]

wait... ::checks Title:: is this about Code-switching, or white guilt because she wants to fit in?

[@vonjackson2421]

Sad that soooo many non blacks don't understand truly what she's talking about.

[@jessicahembree5663]

When i hear "code switching" it makes me think of people intentionally misleading others such as adults answering children who ask where babies come from It feels manipulative. I had a manager try to use slang to show that he could relate to half-his-age employees.... there was no kind reception or feedback. He came off as fake, weak, and deceptive. We felt insulted.

[@rakitadavis1603]

Love everything about this.

[@TerrellThinks]

This was lowkey just a promo for her tech company.

[@KeturahTori]

The cost if exposing your code to your enemy is far greater. Imagine native code was known during world war..we probably would have lost

[@focusvenesa]

How about not putting so much value on what 'others' think. My last job I showed up to the interview with curly hair and no makeup. This was a thought out decision. I wanted to be who I was going to be on the 2nd day. Meaning my employers were going to hire me not based on society's definition of 'better'. I rather focus on doing my job than maintain a fake persona. I would question if the white friends the speak mentioned are truly friends. Friendship is accepting a person even when wearing "Jodeci boots".

[@kbg4life07]

Venesa it doesn’t sound like you work in corporate America because that’s just unprofessional.

[@focusvenesa]

@@kbg4life07 wearing my hair natural and wearing no makeup is unprofessional? I hope you're not an employer. Promoting self-hatred by saying natural is unprofessional is sad. Coming to work with good personal hygiene, clean clothes, kept hair (meaning not a rolled out of bed look), good work ethics and being respectful are on my top things of professionalism. Hey, not all of us are free from the bondage of other's opinions. Just something to think about.

[@TNDCBaby]

@@kbg4life07 Say what? There is nothing unprofessional about curly hair and no makeup. What in the world?

[@TNDCBaby]

@Jim Elliott Right! LOL

[@XX-bn9sf]

@@focusvenesa Why is it acceptable to expect good personal hygiene, clean clothes, kept hair? I always hated showers, washing clothes, etc. Both make me feel itchy and it's just not me to be clean... I got bullied in school for stinking. Isn't good personal hygiene, clean clothes, kept hair and so just another form of code switching society forces on me?

[@bri.bri19-96]

Damn I’m feeling like this in life right now idk how to be or what to be 😩 I try to be myself but like you said , it’s not always received well, I see the way people treat me when I do, how I’m not taken seriously , how I get taken as some sort of a joke , 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@georgeerhard1949]

I don't see code switching per se as the problem, it's a symptom of the larger issue. That said, adapting speech patterns and dress to better 'blend in' also doesn't change your morality or values. You are still "you".

[@Newview.592]

Thank you sharing ...

[@edwinamendelssohn5129]

Show me where Appalachia English is spoken in the public square. Bronx English? Etc

[@monicalopesministries5512]

Nailed it!

[@totonow6955]

The Invention of Whiteness Theodore W. Allen starts in US 1675. Elite Ruling class strategy after Bacon's Rebellion- reject it.

[@dnmurphy48]

Huh?

[@totonow6955]

@@dnmurphy48 see Theodore W. Allen and Jacquline Battalora on KZbin.

[@victorobembe6950]

Excellent!!

[@TechnoGlobalist]

What she says goes the other way around or does it not?

[@TechnoGlobalist]

I agree with her 100%.

[@raymondcarter8915]

When in Rome.

[@lava200]

Would you tell that to a Scottish person who came to America? Or perhaps Elon Musk?

[@Karen_Marie]

@@lava200 of course. If you move to a society (it's not your right to live there) it's your job to assimilate into that society.

[@jolp9799]

@@Karen_Marie would you really say that to a british person speaking in their accent tho

[@maxonmendel5757]

@@jolp9799 if i were with somebody visiting from UK and we went to a McDonalds together and they ordered a "fizzy drink", I would be kind enough to say to them after we were seated in private conversation that in America we say "soda" or "pop". I had to deal with that when I moved from the midwest to the south. When in Rome is right. Its frustrating, maybe, but it's the fact of the matter. It's not the majorities job to cater to each individual. It's the individuals responsibility to speak the language of the majority.

[@dakotachenoa474]

That's true! What would have truly been amazing is if the colonizers learned the Native American language instead of forcing this on the true Americans and others that they enslaved.

[@Tamiekawordsmith]

This is so good!!

[@VredesStall]

So, in other words, code-switching is just a polite way of saying how to "act / talk white".

[@ryarbrough1195]

No. Code Switching is an adaptation, the direction depends on the circumstances. My children grew up between Hawaii and Japan, with infrequent visits to the U.S. mainland. They learned to code switch between languages and cultures.

[@9290SC]

Code switching = speaking proper American English vs not. No one wants to say it though. Has nothing to do with switching between actual languages. It essentially means being fake, I don't see how people do it. I'm too real. And no, i'm not one who equates speaking proper English with whiteness, by the way.

[@VredesStall]

@@ryarbrough1195 You want to insist on "keeping it ghetto"... than dont complain when society treats you that way (which they will). Speak proper English and speak & sound like you've got some sense about you.. or go be ghetto on someone else's time.

[@victorycounselingcenters323]

This is well said!

[@goaheadmakemyday7126]

I must be lucky to have a standard american accent as my default dialect. I couldn't code switch with fellow blacks if I tried.

[@bernardobila4336]

I was expecting her to code switch

[@noway1343]

She did

[@mohamedkamara8225]

Didn’t she code switch the whole video ? Or is that just her lmao

[@HotaruTomoe0106]

Wait... you have to use "you all" and not "y'all"? xD TIL. Still gonna use "y'all", though. However, I imagine if I was going to address a large group of people from different backgrounds, I would drop a lot of the contractions I use on a daily basis to sound more 'proper'.

[@tobin2517]

Actually you would say " everyone" as in Hello everyone. Or everybody. Hello everybody.

[@fergochan]

Technically you're supposed to just say "you" or "ye" to a group of people and "thou" or "thee" to a single person. Of course, that's only if you really stretch the meaning of "supposed to". I really hate the idea that there are right and wrong ways to talk. As long as you can make yourself clear that should be enough.

[@HotaruTomoe0106]

Wait? "Thou" or "Thee"? Do people actually still talk in Old English?

[@fergochan]

@@HotaruTomoe0106 not that I'm aware of. My comment was aimed at the incoherence of this idea that there is a "proper" English, because if there was we'd all still be talking Old English.

[@HotaruTomoe0106]

@@fergochan Well, yeah, probably. English is very weird language though. It's no wonder that in the time it's encompassed the world, it's taken on various different forms.

[@kiwi_konny14]

i'm only here for my english work

[@banksta3]

What do we think about politicians using "code-switching" when talking to layfolk? Those who when addressing congress, use the Kings English, yet when addressing their potential constituents, use slang and drawl. It is insulting? Endearing?

[@Brockers123]

I’m white and English. I’m in a bare diverse school so I have different ways I act around my mum and dad, my closer mates and my school mates. I use more slang around my school mates, less around my mum and dad and my closer mates. I’d this a similar thing?

[@anonamous6968]

I can understand her. I can't understand some people. This is a problem. I can't learn all dialects. We do have a common dialect. It's more realistic that we all try to speak a common dialect so that we can understand the majority of people. She is encouraging chaos. Everybody speak however they want. “Long may your big jib draw.”

[@topgurl9313]

9:38 I always look for who doesn't applaud positive statistics like that and wonder why they didn't.

[@ConceptHut]

This goes both ways in a difference of speaking and behavior. A white person that speaks white person and behaves as a white person will be treated differently by a person that is of a different ethnicity and acts as that other ethnic group.

[@ninamackinnon4503]

ConceptHut people of color tend to have worse consequences for not being able to/choosing not to code switch though. the only thing white people might experience is being poked fun at

[@charlesodonnell2993]

I grew up in a multicultural/transnational family where we code switched to avoid being crude, rude and socially unacceptable as we went out into the world. We were taught that this was "being polite and respectful to the people you are among". They reciprocated.

[@PHlophe]

Charlie, you have not watched the clip. You misunderstood the type of code switching she is talking about. Honey .

[@VincentLaw3]

All languages have their respective registers, it's a recurring pattern of language and not some kind of opression mechanism. Even us white males have to adapt our speech according to the context. That means speaking the formal register of our variety of language, just like almost everyone else in the world today.

[@TorTheWeirdo]

It’s true, everyone code switches. You wouldn’t talk to your Grandma the same way you talk with your friends at the bar. However, your culture is easier to digest than the cultures of others. Put yourself in every example she gave. Your authentic self would surely be enough then maybe someone in her shoes.

[@julian65886]

Jesús Christ code switching is easy. When in Rome do as the Romans

[@saskiadavies111]

Vincent Law there are degrees and varieties of switching. It isn't as easy as formal or informal. You don't have cause to use anything more than that. Others do. Your reality does not define everyone else's.

[@Karen_Marie]

@@TorTheWeirdo Of course it's going to be more difficult for some to code stitch than others but that doesn't mean that as a society we decide we no longer need standards. There exists a certain formal or professional standard that everyone code switches in and out of. Why is this a bad thing? Lowering standards is disgenic and in the long run disadvantages everyone. While holding high standards only disadvantages those who do not have the will or mental capacity to meet them.

[@SpamNeggs23]

Vincent Law you have a very shallow understanding of what is being presented here.

[@yeshuabenyehova]

I love watching people like Candace Owens code switch then turn around and talk about how African oppression is not real.

[@ivanaj3317]

Thank you so much for not being hateful, but still getting your point across clearly. I can identify with a lot that you said. You are very inspirational.

[@stefanniecundiff1554]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Love this. I'm wondering though, what's the difference between code-switching and register? Is there a certain overlap? The "y'all" example makes me wonder, as it's really more of an adjustment from informal to formal register than code-switching. With that particular word, at least in the South, it's commonly used by people of all races. However, if you were born/raised in the South and relocate to the East Coast, the decision to say "you all" instead of "y'all" is more of an example of code-switching. One would likely decide to use the standard "you all" instead of "youse guys", for instance.

[@jillianboyer82]

I suppose for a white person (Speaking from american experience), there isn't much of a difference, because we don't really have a code to switch from. For African Americans and other people who speak differently than the standard american English, its about changing your accent, your slang, your vocabulary and basically everything that makes up they way you talk. I believe her repeating using the word "Y'all" as her example was simply that, an example. I am a white american living in america so I have no experience having to code switch, however I know that with the amount of racism in this country, people are less threatened by people speaking the same standard way that they do. Hopefully this can change. once again tho, im not a POC of any standard to this is just my thoughts

[@adriantheexpat]

Code switching includes the assimilation into the dominant culture to fit in. The example she gave was changing how she dressed in school and adopting new musical interests.