"Should students have the right to use their own language in an academic setting?"

Moises Rodriguez

Professor Young

ENGL 1100_34

September 16, 2015

My Language or Your Language, Which is better?

When it comes to academic writing there are certain things that must be taken into consideration. I personally say that if one is a science related field or major in matter of fact, everything must be kept in English, no slang or anything else should be use. Even for me, as a native Spanish speaker, do not concur with the idea of writing a science lab paper or report in Spanish, or both languages combined. If so is done, it would more likely create confusion in whatever topic the individual wants to touch upon. For science writing the language that it should be written in depends on the dominant language of the country, if it Spanish write in Spanish, if is Swedish write in Swedish and so on. However this is only for science and is my solemnly opinion.

Then let’s speak about other topics such as a creative English class or something of that nature. In order for an author to be authentic and original he must definitely do something different on his paper to stand out, what better way than using a foreign language or slang. As the poem that is use as an example in the Conference on College Composition and Communication appeal, “I play it cool and dig all jive / That's the reason I stay alive / My motto as I live and learn / Is to dig and be dug in return.” The use of slang definitely makes a difference. Not only does it sound nice, it also gives us a voice of an authenticity and originality of the author. Bottom line is yes, as authors we can use other ways of expressing ourselves, either is another language or slang, however in order for it to be legitimate it must be done at proper occasions.