Student Essay on What's a Language, Anyway?

Essay about the identity any particular language gives you when viewed from an outsider's perspective.

Speech is much like the fashions in clothing. Most of us dress according to "the style of the day." The shoes we wear and the shirts we put on usually what is considered "fashionable." If you choose to ignore the understood dress rules set by society, than your chances of being accepted become slim. In the same manner, when you ignore the majority's methods of speech, you become less accepted for it. If you buy a "cool" Tommy Hilfiger shirt, nobody looks at you any less for giving in to the standard instead of wearing a pink and orange poke-a-dotted shirt like you might have wanted to. You have not degraded yourself for conforming, but instead have opened opportunities for an audience. Just the same, when you change your manner of speech briefly to fit into.....