Rajiv is English (ELL 101)

     
          Language plays a very important role in my life. It is an essential tool I use daily to communicate with society. English is the language I speak, read, write and truly understand. The language I speak at home is English, but is also referred to as, "Broken-English", because of my West Indian background. Outside of my home, speaking with the society outside of my family, I speak proper English without any of the abbreviated words, and tones as my native speaking. Both, "Broken-English" and "English" are generally the same language with few exemptions, in spelling, grammar, tone and use of vocabulary.

          Trying to recall how I first learned language cannot be recalled to one source. There were many sources along the way from birth till now. My first involvement with language came from my family at home, and progressed to school where it became my first, and still my only language, English. At home, the language spoken in the household was a broken form of English, with shorten words, abbreviated sentences, and a unique accent which is the identity of my West-Indian culture and background. At school, from Elementary, Primary, and most recent High School in the U.S. it is where I truly began to develop a level of understanding of the language in speaking, reading, and writing form. Even now there are many things still open for me to learn about the language.
 
           Language is a big part of my identity, Rajiv is English. English enables me to complete my identity in many different ways. It is the language I speak, read, write and understand. All of these abilities are in today's world essential to understand how society works. It keeps me grounded to my surroundings as well as work for me in reaching other out to others. I would say speaking at home is my personal language, communicating with my family is a unique way in which my culture and nationality plays its part with the language. Being a West Indian growing up in the Caribbean, it is our way in which we become as creative with the language as possible, even today back in Trinidad and Tobago my native country the language is still being broken down and injected with many different "slang's". I personally am not too creative with the language, but it is instinct into me by my culture and native surroundings in order for me to communicate with fellow West Indians. It is only then I will use the language in that form.
            I personally believe with knowing English to the extent I do, it automatically enables me to understand to a personal extent the world around me. Having the knowledge and ability to speak, read, write and understand the language of English, it enables me to have a grip of society and keeps me updated to my surroundings. Getting along with the world cannot only be determined only by my ability to speak, read, write and understand English, but it plays a big part in that respect. The world is fill with many, different languages, cultures and people. But I am fortunate to say it enables me enough of an understanding to get along with the world and keep moving forward.