Ishana Bandyopadhyay

Exploring the Frame of Language that Exists in Pennsylvania:

(INTERVIEW):

What is your name & what pronouns do you use?

My name is Ishana Bandyopadhyay & I use she/her pronouns

Where are you from? 

My family is from Kolkata, India, which definitely had a big influence on my upbringing, but my birthplace and the place I was raised was Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA. Two very different places. 

What is unique about the language/the way language is used where you are from? 

English is used where I was born, in a traditional mid-Atlantic accent. Due to the vast amounts of under-educated people in this area, English is not always used in the most proper grammatical way. 

Furthermore, there are minor details about verb placements, like how Central Pennsylvanians often drop the infinitive "to be" when speaking in casual settings. 

In contrast, I was raised speaking Bengali, and that is the language spoken in my community at home, and by the people my family surrounds themselves with. It is unique to have a language to speak that many people around you cannot, for personal conversations in public or a feeling of home when surrounded by people of different cultures. This intersection of two very contrasting languages used within my upbringing has definitely been very definitive for me.

What kind of environment does this use of language create?

Growing up in a conservative area, I think that the political nature of the area I grew up in influenced the environment of the way important issues were viewed more than language did, but the political nature of the environment I grew up in also influenced why language was so important. 

As I mentioned earlier, many people in this area are undereducated, so conversing on this subject with people who are speaking grammatically incorrectly, on top of a lack of understanding, makes the conversation seem like it is going nowhere. 

In my household, we speak on these issues a lot but tend to switch to English when speaking about these concepts due to the intricacies of certain topics that may be hard to get across in a different language. 

Can you think of an interaction or saying that describes where you are from?

"Pennsyl-tucky"

This little phrase represents where I am from because it was a way of us making fun of our little town and its resemblance to Kentucky despite being a northern place. It ropes in a lot of the social and language cues I talked about previously and made it our own funny little joke. 

How has this use of language impacted who you are? 

I have seen both sides of educated and uneducated people and how the way you speak impacts how people view you. 

Moving from a suburban, almost rural area to Washington, DC, has had its challenges with the way I speak and adhering to the social norms of an urban, progressive area like DC. 

The benefit, however, is now I can converse with people on topics that I am passionate about without feeling like I have to fight to get my point across.

Where do you think you break away from this frame of language? 

Growing up in a conservative area with my own liberal views, I break away from this language a lot. People in Central Pennsylvania are interested in hunting, fishing, guns, farming, etc., and I simply am not. 

Moving away from this area has helped me break away from it and surround myself with people who have more similar interests to me than that. I have embraced my Indian culture proudly without feeling like I have to hide that side now. I also now have daily conversations about concepts that are more political in nature that would be looked down upon in schools/communities in PA.

POST-INTERVIEW: What does Ishana's Experience tell us about Frames?

Growing up amidst the contrasting linguistic environments of English and Bengali, Ishana’s experience highlights the impact of dual linguistic frameworks on personal development. Her story underlines the complex interplay between educational background, cultural heritage, and political beliefs in shaping one’s linguistic identity.

In Harrisburg, Ishana encountered a linguistic culture marked by grammatical nonconformities and colloquialisms unique to Central Pennsylvania. The term "Pennsyl-tucky" humorously encapsulates her environment, blending local idiosyncrasies with broader social and cultural implications. Yet, within her household, the richness of Bengali offered a different realm of expression and connection, demonstrating the profound influence of familial language on personal identity.

Ishana’s transition to Washington, D.C., marked a significant linguistic and cultural shift. Here, she found a space where her language, reflective of her education and liberal views, resonated more strongly. This shift from a conservative, rural backdrop to an urban, progressive one not only transformed her linguistic interactions but also allowed her to embrace her Indian heritage more openly.

Ishana's experience aligns with the components of Dell Hymes' "SPEAKING" model, inadvertently emphasizing each aspect's role in shaping human interactions. Her journey underscores that language frames are not rigid structures but fluid entities that adapt and evolve with our experiences, environments, and the people we interact with.

Her story is a compelling reminder that while language can confine us within certain social and cultural boundaries, it also holds the power to liberate and redefine our identity. Ishana's evolution from the restrictive linguistic norms of Central Pennsylvania to the more diverse and open discourse of Washington, D.C., exemplifies the transformative potential of language in transcending barriers and fostering personal growth. Through Ishana, we see how language, in its myriad forms, shapes not just how we communicate, but fundamentally who we are and who we choose to become.