3 - Language norms and practices

Summary

While working as a linguistic consultant for a job-training program in Philadelphia in 1987, I was asked to settle a dispute between a supervisor and a trainee. The job program was designed to train urban youth so that they could compete for positions in the cable industry. One of the supervisors, Lou Murray, was from a white ethnic community in northeast Philadelphia and one of the trainees was a young black man from north Philadelphia named Jesse Monroe.

For some reason, Lou Murray did not like Jesse Monroe and monitored him constantly. So one afternoon, it was not surprising to find Lou clearly agitated about something – and looking for Jesse. He confronted Calvin, a young man from Jesse's neighborhood who was also being trained, and asked whether he had seen Jesse. Calvin said: “No I ain't seen him.” The supervisor said: “I only said he could take a bathroom break. How long has it been since you saw him?” Calvin, visibly concerned with Lou's anger said “I don't know how long. But I had seen him.” Lou then flew into a rage and attempted to find Jesse with the intention of firing him for leaving the job training without permission.

Fortunately my partner, Deborah White, intervened and we attempted to mediate the misunderstanding. As we compared notes we realized what had happened. Jesse was actually at work in another part of the building. Lou had forgotten that he had sent him there.