Blog Post 3

I have never before thought about the relationship between economic class and language. After reading these two pieces it is impossible to ignore the stark contrast between the way language is used. I would say I come from a middle class family as most people in America would say. Both my parents work but there was always someone there to take me and my brother to school, pick us up, and do homework with. My father made it very clear that family comes first. He never missed a recital, game, or academic decathlon. I think that is greatly based on the fact that he did not have someone able to do that for him.
He comes from a single family home and his mother was unable to go see him play football or meet with teachers. The father in Housework is withdrawn from his children. They have their place and he has his. When speaking to them it is always curt and detached. There was never a “how your day”. When Monica is doing her homework he speaks about the things she is learning and how he never learned them. My father is very active in my education and has been from the beginning. He was the parent I practiced spelling and vocabulary words with. I feel that my dad is so hands on because he did not have a parent that was able to do that for him. My father is also very affectionate with me and my brother. I have never once wondered if he loves me. There were no words of encouragement from Willy. Willy gave demands to Monica.
Maybe if my grandmother had had the economic stability she would have had the opportunity to be more active in my father’s life. She would have been around more to go to games and to say I love you; instead of my dad only seeing my grandmother on Sunday mornings when they went to church. I guess language in this situation is more body language. My grandmother may not have sat down and had dinners with my dad but she went to work to make sure he was provided for. In this case of my dad and grandmother language is not spoken through words but shown by actions.