An article currently appearing on MSN news:
JOHANNESBURG – “You speak English so well” are words many people of colour in South Africa have heard at least once in their lifetime. However well-intended it may be, though, it’s simply offensive.
On Radio 702’s Weekend Breakfast, a listener by the name of Malcolm called in to congratulate host Phemelo Motene on the way she speaks English. (He didn’t, actually, having called on another topic, but mentioned it in a preamble.)
The radio host responded to Malcolm’s comment by saying that she takes offence to the statement he made.
“The assumption that us, who are not of English origins, chose to speak English is a sad thing she says,” (sic) Motene says.
“To congratulate me, and to make it seem like this is an accolade (sic) is extremely offensive because of our history.
“It’s not an honour to speak English well… It’s very painful that we find ourselves where one language is more dominant than the others.”
The opening paragraph is as absurd as it is untrue. Only a warped viewpoint could translate such praise into something offensive. This perception has been nurtured by endlessly dwelling on all the negative aspects, for members of ‘other’ races, of colonialism and of apartheid, to the extent of bleating, against all common sense and evidence, that positive sides do not exist.
Should an English speaker have occasion to learn Chinese or Spanish (as languages spoken by more people than English) and receive praise for proficiency in speaking them, can you imagine this being taken as anything other than a pleasing compliment?
Is there something wrong with me that I find no pain whatsoever in contemplating the fact that my language is not the dominant one? Is there anywhere on earth where no particular language is dominant?
This is not so much a case of people who take such offence having a chip on their shoulders, it is more one of them electing to carry round a great big log. This is done in apparent blissful ignorance that it is not only extremely uncomfortable, but also makes them look ridiculous.
Colonialist's Blog 
Voice from Cork. (A bit raspy, therefore. 😉 )
There are Polish people here and German people and Irish people and also a fair number from India, Lithuania and various other places, and if anyone non-Irish is complimented on their English they without exception take it as a compliment. It really takes a politically blinded SJW to make an insult out of it.
She could also have said with a smile (and a Queen’s accent): “Thank you, dear, actually I learned English when I was a child.” Correcting the “error” of the well-meant compliment. It wouldn’t have cost her any skin off her teeth. But if you’re into “all publicity is good publicity”, making a scene is more effective than being nice.
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Putting it into a personal perspective, I would be delighted if somebody complimented me on the way I spoke Afrikaans. even if the acquisition of that language was forced upon me as a child against my own preferences. I would now be proud of the accomplishment, however it came about.
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I think she has a right to be offended!
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She has the right to feel what she likes, but absolutely no justification. It is a martyr complex. Why should this cause offense?
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I have no idea, but I also can’t police everyones offence if that makes sense.
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It does, in a way, but at the same time If I said I was offended by the fact that you had pointed out she had such right it would be really silly. Even if I did feel that way (of course I don’t) it would be something best kept to myself as not making sense to others.
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I can see where you’re coming from!
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I also found this article a bit irritating although I couldn’t pinpoint exactly why. Technically speaking, only the European English South Africans have English as their native language. An Afrikaaner also has a tough time speaking English, so what? Articles like this just cause issues and take up space when we could be reading something worth while
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It could be argued that regardless of the faults in writing, the article was the product of good reporting. What is truly irritating is the ridiculous attitude of the announcer, and the fact that it is echoed in a number of other similar immature reactions with a racist basis.
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The ironic part is that — be it “their” language or not — few people speak well. Our own president is a glaring example.
Still, I can somewhat understand the underlying sentiment. At the same time, I agree it takes effort to look for and find insults even when not intentioned.
If I say Obama spoke well I’m likely to be called a racist but not if I say Clinton and Regan spoke well.
I’m sometimes told I write well . . . I be no sure if be it an insult as engleesh ain’t my native language . . . but, it is my adopted (native) language. Regardless of which language I use, I’d like to think I’m expressing myself (speak or write) well.
. . . but, that’s just me . . .
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Your pres is a classic example of one who puts his mouth into gear before switching on his brain. Assuming he has one, of course. Most of the English haven’t a clue how to speak English. Have you tried to understand a Yorkshireman? Or a Welshman – ?- although they’re OK if you get them to sing it.
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Not all Yorkshire men and women have a thick accent. I am perfectly clear… by gum!
You should try the Geordie accent. I once listened patiently for five minutes as someone gave me directions. “What did he say?” asked the daughter. To which I had to answer
“I have no idea!”
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I think it is Somerset that has things like, ‘Baintim zoor?’ That means, ‘Are they not sour?’ Eek!
I have become quite good at comprehending Geordie after constant exposure to a business associate who suffered from it!
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If you work with business people who are from different countries or their regional dialects are quite =different, eventually, you get used to their way of speaking the language (and they, yours HAHA)
All that matters is that communication of ideas or information passes – it is so tiring that so many look for ways to be offended instead of trying to get along – and which means being flexible about language sometimes.
Good post.
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Accents can be catching, too. Particularly the American one. When I was involved with Rotary Exchange Students I used to be amused at how they came back after three months with marked American drawls and referring to things like sidewalks for pavements.
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Well I’m glad you think you do, I’ve been trying hard enough to bring you up to scratch, you’re not there yet, but keep trying, there’s a good chap 😀
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I’m sorry, I’ll read that again . . .
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that was in reply to disperser I think,
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Well I’m glad you think you do, I’ve been trying hard enough to bring you up to scratch, you’re not there yet, but keep trying, there’s a good chap 😀
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How do you get it to print the same thing twice? It won’t let me do it!
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I’m damnd if I know Lesley, I often get stuff appearing twice on my computer beliegve it or not, and that’s incoming stuff.
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Maybe it’s a bit paranoid, and doesn’t think it has done a good enough job the first time so tries again?
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No!<I think it's because it's a nasty HP thing, I wanted another ASUS but the War Office liked the way this one looked so I did as I was told. 😦
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