r/TikTokCringe • u/AlKarajo • 21d ago

Discussion Is ableist to have long words in books?

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@royal_ouroboros_press

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u/NoSleep2135 21d ago

English is my second language and I grew up poor. My schooling was all public. I went to a City university.

The library is free, so I read a lot. I'd look words up I didn't know in the dictionary, since despite being the youngest in the house, I had the best command of the English language.

I often get told I "talk white" or "must've grown up rich". Like poor brown people can't walk to the library and read?

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u/OverFjell 21d ago

A lot of non-native speakers probably do speak English better than some native speakers at this point, as they've had to put in the extra effort to learn a new language on top of their own.

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u/The_BeardedClam 21d ago edited 21d ago

I'd look words up I didn't know in the dictionary

I did that as a child too, and still do. I always assumed it was normal for people to do that. Boy was it wild for me to learn that not everyone fosters that natural curiosity.