Benjamin Connor

Let's look at a Southie frame of language:

(INTERVIEW):

 What is your name & what pronouns do you use?

My name is Ben Connor, and I use he/him pronouns.

Where are you from?

I grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts, and went to high school in Canton, Massachusetts. 

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

Since I’m just outside South Boston, often referred to as Southie, it’s common to have people with varying degrees of a Boston accent, and most Boston slang permeates casual conversation. 

However, neither of my parents are from the Boston area so how language sounded within our house was different than what it sounded like in shared spaces (such as school, my job, etc.). Additionally, since my mother is an immigrant, there are culturally specific language markers that come from Bulgarian language.

What kind of environment does this use of language create?

There is a certain bluntness that comes from the northeast, where there is little politeness because people see it as unnecessary. This can benefit important issues because there is a bluntness that ensures things are addressed in a direct way. 

Unfortunately, the historical legacy of Boston is one of colonization and imperialism, so sometimes the structural issues surrounding sexism, racism, and homophobia, aren’t addressed despite the fact that people speak so directy even if the topics are openly discussed. 

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

There are certain slang words that directly connect to Boston like “wicked” “rotary” “grinder” (sandwich), and other non-rhotic sayings like “pahk the cah in hahvad yahd” (park the car in Harvard yard) that people often use in pop culture when imitating a Boston accent. This is obviously exaggerated but nonetheless speaks for where I am from in a way. 

How has this impacted who you are? 

Since neither of my parents grew up in the area and I never got close with a lot of townies, I didn’t develop the accent, and only picked up certain slang words. I think my identity is more general location-based, rather than connected to the social/cultural language-defining features of Boston. 

I definitely have a hard time with the slow pacing of speech in other regions of the US (particular the south and Midwest), and can become suspicious of speech that “beats around the bush” instead of the extreme directness that you can find in Boston and New York (sometimes WAY too direct but still). 

I also don’t greet people that I don’t know when doing everyday tasks like walking down the street, grocery shopping, etc. I’m still polite to those people, but it’s considered a social faux pas sometimes in the northeast if you’re overly friendly because it usually means you want to get something from someone. My personal identities have been shaped outside of the location that I lived for the most part, but having a positive connotation on topics like sexuality prevented more struggle when I was discovering my queer identity.

So I guess you could say, all in all, the way language is used where I am from has created norms that have shaped me as a person, even if the stereotypical language used doesn't reflect my personal verbiage.

Where do you think you break away from this language?

Again, I didn’t adopt many of the slang terms or accent markers. Particularly because of mom is Bulgarian, there wasn’t really consistency within my household of how people spoke; It varied significantly between members of my family. 

I still maintain direct speech and language, but Bulgaria is extremely focused on community values and hospitality, so I can often be more open to strangers and of different people's lives and perspectives than the people who I grew up around.

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

Ben Connor's narrative is a profound illustration of how linguistic frames are influenced by a myriad of factors beyond just geographical location. Growing up near South Boston, an area with a strong and identifiable linguistic character, Ben's experience underscores how one's community and familial background can significantly shape their use of language, sometimes more so than the predominant dialect of their surroundings.

Ben's journey reveals that linguistic identity is not solely defined by the sounds and slang of one's environment. Instead, it is a tapestry woven from the threads of regional norms, family heritage, and personal experiences. Despite not adopting the stereotypical Southie accent or slang, Ben embodies certain linguistic traits characteristic of the region - the directness of speech, a cautious approach to strangers, and a subtle resistance to the area's traditional language markers.

Intriguingly, Ben's Bulgarian heritage introduces an additional layer to his linguistic frame. The emphasis on community values and hospitality in Bulgarian culture blends with the straightforwardness of the Boston dialect, creating a unique linguistic profile. This amalgamation of influences from his Bulgarian mother and his South Boston surroundings demonstrates how language can serve as a bridge between disparate cultural backgrounds.

Ben's story is a testament to the complexity of linguistic identity. It illustrates that the norms and behaviors of one's community can be as influential, if not more, in shaping one's approach to language as the actual dialect spoken. In understanding linguistic frames, it's crucial to recognize that they are not static but dynamic, constantly evolving with the individual's experiences and interactions. Ben's experience in South Boston, interwoven with his family's cultural background, highlights the intricate dance between place, community, and personal identity in the realm of language.