DMN Blog: Gerald Sensabaugh delivers message to Brett Favre

[ethiostar]

Language is simply a form of communication. If someone's accent, regional dialect, or slang doesn't hinder the communication of ideas and comprehension, there is no need to get uptight about it.

Everyone speaks with some sort of an accent. No exception. Just ask someone in the different part of the country if you 'speak funny'.

 

[ethiostar]

Please enlighten me...Exactly what degree would that be?


Anyone who is actually defending this is either doing so against their own common sense, or is doing so because they actually believe Sensabaugh does not know how to put together a complete sentence. Sensabaugh attended UNC and I guarantee you that he most certainly does know how to speak properly...so let's not act like he isn't educated enough to know the difference, just because he's a football player.

Also, it has nothing to do with how much money he makes...this is completely irrelevant to the point.

Do yourself a favor and read up a little on 'linguistic style shifting'.

 

[7footer]

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The point is he doesn't care and most on this board don't care. It's not like he was writing a paper.

You are implying a great deal with this statement that you cannot possibly be sure of. And I never said he was writing a paper...Again, please stick to my original point if you are going to argue against it. Reminder: My point was that his use of the phrase "might can do it" was both funny, and completely contrary to the rules of the English language...You may not share in the opinion that it was humorous, but are you going to argue against it being improper?

 

[Sickwitit]

Can anyone explain how Favre is pronounced FARV?

ohhhh you came to the right place, we have an english speaking expert on this board....please answer this professior fail!

 

[Doomsday101]

Please enlighten me...Exactly what degree would that be?


Anyone who is actually defending this is either doing so against their own common sense, or is doing so because they actually believe Sensabaugh does not know how to put together a complete sentence. Sensabaugh attended UNC and I guarantee you that he most certainly does know how to speak properly...so let's not act like he isn't educated enough to know the difference, just because he's a football player.

Also, it has nothing to do with how much money he makes...this is completely irrelevant to the point.

Oh please give it a rest. Who cares if Sensabaugh passes your English test? You want to turn this into something other than football some life lesson by you? Please get out here with that. I don't have any idea about Seansabaugh educational back ground and neither do you.

Hate to tell you there are many who went to college for sports nothing more than that and without the ability to play they would be flipping burgers.

 

[7footer]

Do yourself a favor and read up a little on 'linguistic style shifting'.

Sure, I'm not saying that he wasn't speaking in a comfortable manner, or even in an excitable mode where he reverted back to bad habits...I was merely making a joke about it on the front page when a few posters tried to justify it because "he's a football player", or "he makes more than an English teacher". I have a very good understanding of why he may have spoken like this, and it was never meant to be a big deal until I started reading some of these off-the-wall responses.

 

[7footer]

Oh please give it a rest. Who cares if Sensabaugh passes your English test? You want to turn this into something other than football some life lesson by you? Please get out here with that. I don't have any idea about Seansabaugh educational back ground and neither do you.

Hate to tell you there are many who went to college for sports nothing more than that and without the ability to play they would be flipping burgers.

Let me pose this back to you...Why do you care?

I simply stated a fact and yet you saw fit to come and defend the indefensible...I have a Bachelors in Elementary Education and am currently taking courses for my Masters in...you guessed it...English! I have seen first hand the struggles within the school system to counter the constant onslaught of improper uses of the English language; which our students are bombarded by on an everyday basis. I know first hand what type of effect this lackadaisical attitude toward proper English has on our culture, and more importantly, the upcoming generation of young Americans who will compete for jobs in an ever increasingly desperate job market. This is why I care.

If it isn't your cup of tea...why not take your own advice and move on? Unless you are disputing the point I made, I see no reason to take a contrary stance...

 

[ethiostar]

Oh please give it a rest. Who cares if Sensabaugh passes your English test? You want to turn this into something other than football some life lesson by you? Please get out here with that. I don't have any idea about Seansabaugh educational back ground and neither do you.

Hate to tell you there are many who went to college for sports nothing more than that and without the ability to play they would be flipping burgers.

The other part of it is that, people use different variants of the English language on a daily basis. As in, we 'shift' our style of speech depending on the situation and the audience, its called 'style shifting' or 'code switching'.

For example, we use a different speech pattern when we talk with our buddies when watching football vs. when we speak with the pastor of a church. We are constantly switching between formal and informal patterns of speech throughout the day.

It is particularly evident with people who come from linguistically stigmatized groups like blacks, southerners and even New Yorkers. People learn Standard English for formal occasions but will switch back to the speech pattern they grew up with when among family, friends or other people from similar background.

 

[ethiostar]

Sure, I'm not saying that he wasn't speaking in a comfortable manner, or even in an excitable mode where he reverted back to bad habits...I was merely making a joke about it on the front page when a few posters tried to justify it because "he's a football player", or "he makes more than an English teacher". I have a very good understanding of why he may have spoken like this, and it was never meant to be a big deal until I started reading some of these off-the-wall responses.

And what i'm saying to you is that i don't agree with your perspective.

Linguists, who actually study this stuff, don't consider non-standard English as 'bad habits'.

 

[trickblue]

Can anyone explain how Favre is pronounced FARV?

IIRC, they are no pronunciation rules for proper nouns...

You can spell your name "Smith" and pronounce it as "Jones" if you wish...

It all depends on what the person wants to do...

 

[7footer]

And what i'm saying to you is that i don't agree with your perspective.

Linguists, who actually study this stuff, don't consider non-standard English as 'bad habits'.

Fair enough...I can handle debating an actual stance on an issue where a person takes the opposite viewpoint.

So tell me, why do you believe that speaking in broken English in a professional setting should be considered acceptable?

 

[Doomsday101]

The other part of it is that, people use different variants of the English language on a daily basis. As in, we 'shift' our style of speech depending on the situation and the audience, its called 'style shifting' or 'code switching'.

For example, we use a different speech pattern when we talk with our buddies when watching football vs. when we speak with the pastor of a church. We are constantly switching between formal and informal patterns of speech throughout the day.

It is particularly evident with people who come from linguistically stigmatized groups like blacks, southerners and even New Yorkers. People learn Standard English for formal occasions but will switch back to the speech pattern they grew up with when among family, friends or other people from similar background.

I agree and that very well may be the case. As I said I know nothing of Sensabaugh educational back ground I do know that because an athlete went to college it does not mean they are highly educated.

Some take full advantage of the opportunity to attend a quality school and make the most of it by getting an education others are there for 1 reason only that is to play sports and move on to professional sports.

Some will see their dreams come true and others pay the price for a wasting a great opportunity .

 

[trueblue1687]

And what i'm saying to you is that i don't agree with your perspective.

Linguists, who actually study this stuff, don't consider non-standard English as 'bad habits'.

The same "linguistics" incorrectly termed one lazy english "style" as ebonics....implying that blacks all talk that way, which is far from the truth. It is simply a way to justify speaking like a bafoon. However, like it has been said prior...who cares? It's the person speaking who draws the attention and looks simple. No skin off my crack.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Can anyone explain how Favre is pronounced FARV?

If you say it with a french pronunciation, it almost sounds like an "r" before the v. I can see how it slowly morphed into sounding like a full r, especially down south.

 

[ethiostar]

Fair enough...I can handle debating an actual stance on an issue where a person takes the opposite viewpoint.

So tell me, why do you believe that speaking in broken English in a professional setting should be considered acceptable?

His profession is playing football.

Not writing about it.

Not giving commentary on it?

If Mickey at DC starts writing that way then you would have a point.

 

[JBell]

I'm a grammar **** myself but if you have a 46 inch vertical you can talk/spell however you want.

 

[trueblue1687]

His profession is playing football.

Not writing about it.

Not giving commentary on it?

If Mickey at DC starts writing that way then you would have a point.

Couldn't resist commenting on your last point. Actually JJT writes like Sens spoke at times . That said, I'm not too interested in what JJT says more than I am about 43 playing hard.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Had to skip through all the lame grammer teacher stuff...i just wanted to say that i like that this particular team is finding ways to get extra motivated by what others say.

 

[DallasEast]

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[7footer]

The same "linguistics" incorrectly termed one lazy english "style" as ebonics....implying that blacks all talk that way, which is far from the truth. It is simply a way to justify speaking like a bafoon. However, like it has been said prior...who cares? It's the person speaking who draws the attention and looks simple. No skin off my crack.

Hello trueblue,

I agree with what you said, except for the inference that his only applies to African-Americans and Ebonics. In fact, I believe the biggest culprits to be the young entertainers you see on television shows and music videos...Mostly young white celebrities and entertainers who have even invented a shorthand language that carries over from "texting". Gerald Sensabaugh may be using Ebonics in this particular case, but I believe the overall problem is much bigger!

Anyway..."How bout them Cowboys?!?" LOL