Defined and distinguished
by one’s words,
Accents characterize roots
and homeland.
Mother tongue and
fatherland influences,
Immediately assign an
identity of tradition.
Travels and interactions
may mollify a tone,
Brogues can be distinctive
and recognisable.
Pleasing to ears and
welcome in their greeting,
Or invite hostility and a judgement
of ethnicity.
At times one silences one’s
language and voice,
In certain circumstances perceived
nationality kills.
Freedom of speech still languishes
in many worlds,
Lineage and linguistics
prepare the communication.
Inheritance disseminates and
shares its intonations,
Individuality should be
heard in one’s vocal appeal.
©Copyright Eileen T O’Neill 01/03/2015
Poets United Mid-Week Motif: ‘Mother Tongue.’
So true, Eileen, that accents do characterize one's roots and homeland. Today in church we heard a pastor who came from Germany but spoke perfect English....but there was an accent that makes a person realize that he was not a native English speaker. Sad if one's accent would invite hostility, but I do there are some circumstances in which it does. I like your last line. Individuality SHOULD be heard. And we should appreciate that individuality! I like your take on this subject, Eileen.
ReplyDeleteAnd sometimes when one lives away from the homeland for many years, accents become neither here nor there. Nice poem with a lot of truths.
ReplyDelete"Accents characterize roots and homeland" this is a great truth about mother tongue and I like how you've taken mother tongue to be the key to one's identity and touched the various aspects of human nature centering on this one language...a profound write Eileen...
ReplyDeleteI didn't attempt to address this, such a huge subject. You have managed to cover a lot of it succinctly yet coherently, and give us new thoughts to ponder.
ReplyDeletewell stated. language a gift unique to the human speicies. or is it? unfortunately, in these calamitous times not always embraced but used as a tool for dilineation to separate, to discriminate. humans who should be proudful of the diversities in ethnicities and ways to communicate, we choose to turn this into a negative and destructive tool. oh well, nice write Eileen.
ReplyDeletegracias
How I agree. "Vive la difference"
ReplyDeleteso beautiful and heartfelt
ReplyDeleteYes...much hangs on the coat tails of an accent or a language...it sometimes feels subconscious how we judge and measure...thoughtful write..and made me stop and think of how i hear
ReplyDeleteOh I do understand - with a mother tongue that's not English I hope to keep that little difference... Wonderful
ReplyDeleteI have always loved accents and regionalisms but have heard the story of prejudicial treatment from more than one of my friends. Lately it is the "sounding white" bias I have been hearing about, though many people of color in my generation wiped away class accents to make corporate advances. I would the world we could just stop with all the judgment and enjoy the sounds around us!
ReplyDeleteI love how this tripped on my tongue...it is true just here in the US with many accents...
ReplyDeleteDonna@LivingFromHappiness
oh yes , individuality must be heard
ReplyDeletea lovely write, even here in Trinidad and Tobago, one can tell by slight accent tones someone from the twin island of Tobago
ReplyDeletehave a lovely Sunday
much love...
everyone has a voice.
ReplyDeletelove to hear you sing here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://ihopsmithwalkingpath.blogspot.com/2015/03/haiku-and-poetry.html
So true, every word, whatever the accent, the meaning and importance of it, is heard with an open ear.
ReplyDeletePoppy
One's mother tongue.......a source of pride. But also, sometimes, of prejudice. Well and thoughtfully written, Eileen!
ReplyDeletei liked learning new languages, even the basic / everyday terms only. i think languages are built through tradition and culture. Such a poem covering this sentiment, Eileen
ReplyDeleteHow sad to think how accents can invite judgement & hostility among people. As someone who lived in a nation of many languages spoken, this issue commonly happens & it saddens me tremendously whenever I saw groups of people making fun & laughing at how someone would talk & the words sounded differently beyond the standards set by common ears. This is a very powerful poem, Eileen, and indeed an eye opener.
ReplyDelete- ksm
Very interesting reflections on accents and identity, Eileen. I also find that my reactions to accent differ whether the accent is in my own language or in a foreign language or/and if I am in France or in another country.
ReplyDeleteGreat response to the prompt. A well written prose poem.
ReplyDeleteInheritance disseminates and shares its intonations,
ReplyDeleteIndividuality should be heard in one’s vocal appeal.
Wonderful ending Eileen! Yes, accents cannot be disguised as the glottal stops peculiar to each language make the accents different. The Spanish speaker will always speak with a strong 'r' even when speaking English. Good observation!
Hank
How I wish there wasn't a need to "fit in" and silence our own voices. I love accents though. I love hearing different languages. I wish all of our differences were embraced. Your words do hold so much truth!
ReplyDeleteMy Mother Tongue is "North Wisconsin Hillbilly". But taking pride in where one originated should never take precedence over the seeking out of similarities rather than differences. Well written piece, pertinent in today's world, and thought provoking to boot,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
People give up their language seeking social identity, mobility...This reminds me of some other cases I know of where individuals have lost their Mother Tongue...but, I don't think it is very easy to gain a second Mother Tongue in life. Great piece!!
ReplyDeleteAnd above all else we be one
ReplyDeleteunder this shared moon and sun...
Though some revere the flag or tongue.
'tis t'ward Heaven alone I shall run...
I love accents as they define the person to a region of their world - the place they most likely call home.
ReplyDeleteI love what you wrote about individuality in the closing line...
ReplyDelete