Your Land, My Land

  In the narrative essay "Your English, My English" (2014), written by Cantice Greene and Gaiza Lawson, Greene and Lawson suggest that we should try to communicate with people of other cultures and speak different languages. Greene and Lawson give several examples of the personal experiences in which they encountered while learning a new language and exploring a new environment. Their purpose was to inform us that in order to  understand others and their cultures, we must expand our minds instead of limiting it to one set way of living. The intended audience is for anyone thinking of learning a new language.
  I enjoyed reading the article and it reminded me of when I took Spanish in junior high school. I was a member of the Spanish Club and we would go to conventions  and compete in contest that only allowed you to speak Spanish. Afterwards, we would go to the Mexican restaurant and eat the different foods. It was a wonderful experience and someday I would like to take another Spanish class to refresh what I had previously  learned in order to communicate more with people now, since it seems that Spanish is the next most popular language spoken.
  Greene acknowledges that she was introduced to different languages as she was growing up and had some experience with the Mexican culture. She felt as though it was easier to relate to Spanish because she didn't think she would make it to other countries,"so Spanish just made sense" (127). Even though she was inexperienced with the Mexican culture, "the negative experiences didn't water down my enthusiasm for the Spanish language" (128). Greene also went into details about a story from the bible where God thought more than one language should be used. "Let Us go down and confuse their language that they may not understand one another's speech"(Gen 11:7) (129). "The Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth" (Gen 11:9) (129). She also adds that "it takes most of us great effort to attempt to communicate with people who speak other languages and live by different customs" (129). Lawson goes on to support his example by comparing the American culture and the way American's get their divorce to that of the African culture. "In American culture I learned you have to one person and divorce according to the law if you feel like the marriage is falling apart" (133). "In Africa, if the marriage is not working, the man sends the woman back to her family with her luggage and that means their union is over or he can take a second, or third wife to add to the first according to tradition" (133). I agree with both Greene and Lawson that learning a new language is beneficial and even though it may be a challenge, overall it can open up a new way you look at different cultures and understand their way of living easier.