Has your intelligence ever been underestimated because of the way you talk?

Question

I can communicate and express myself much better and eloquently in writing than I can talking. The way I talk and the way I write are like two different people-you'd never make a connection. In several situations teachers and professors have been so impressed with my literary assignments and when they find out I wrote them, they're surprised, they say "Wow, this was YOU?" People intitially assume I'm an airhead because I have a twangy babyish sounding voice. I also talk really colloquially, I say "y'all", "ain't" "sho" and I also conjugate my verbs wrong when I talk (I's) but I conjugate my verbs perfectly when I write and in foreign languages. But why should I talk in a stilted formal way when I'm conversing with people just to prove that I'm not some ditz? I always thought written language and spoken language should be separate-there's an appropriate setting for each.

I feel more like myself when I have deep conversations, but feel more comfortable having intellectual conversations with people I know, because whenever I try that with strangers and acquaintances, then I freak them out and then they judge me because I'm a nerd and they don't know what I'm talking about. What the hell do people want?

Yeah, exactly! Another reason why I have a hard time expressing myself is because I freak out and stutter; I have to improvise. When you write, you can think things through before you say anything and even make edits!

I understand what you’re saying, but certain people, myself included, have a hard time expressing themselves because I freak out and stutter. Spoken language is improvised and not all of us have the gift of eloquent improvisation. When you write, you can think things through before you say anything and even make edits!

I enjoy having deep conversations, but I’ve been restricted to only feeling comfortable having intellectual conversations with people I know. Whenever I try that with strangers and acquaintances, I intimidate them and then they judge me for being too “nerdy” and they don't understand what I’m talking about. What the hell do people want?

Answer 1

Most definitely! I'm a born and bred genteel southern belle...and when folks hear my accent they deduct a few points from my IQ. I write differently than I speak, depending on my audience. When I speak publicly or with friends, my speech is conversational, but in public speeches, I cut the slang. When writing, I tend to wax eloquent and poetic, LOL. It's just one of my many quirks, LOL

Answer 2

I think its kinda funny some day's.

I look like a cross between an old hippie and a redneck.

I understand English very well but refuse to use two dollar words to talk down to anyone.

I also understand Spanish pretty well.

Its real amazing in both cases when they think you don't understand the two dollar words or the language and you start making remarks about what they are saying.

Don't let the small stuff bother you.

have a nice day.

Answer 3

Yes I have felt that way before but not because of an accent. When I get nervous I start stuttering and/or I forget "that" word that I wanted to say or my mind just goes blank. It is really embarassing! When this is happening I can see with some people they think "woah, this girl is boring!" or "What's going on in this girls mind. She can't talk." I think you just need to decide if you are happy withyourself regardless of the reactions you get. If it is something that you can overcome then talk the way you feel comfortable, but if you want people to treat you the same whether they are talking to you or reading your writings then you are going to have to talk the way you write. Maybe you should talk the way you write when at school and work but when with friends you can let your hair down and say ya'll and ain't.

Answer 4

I don't think they are different. Though I speak much more formally then I type.

It may have to do with your culture. I am Japanese-American, but I was raised very informally. I know how to act in each situation though. I may call my parents Mom and Dad with my friends but when I am around my family it becomes Mother and Father.

Speak for your audience and you shouldn't have a problem. Talk southern with Southerners, Talk Ebonics with city people, Talk dignified and polite with your elders and family and talk how ever you like with your friends. This way your speech will never be out of place.

Answer 5

Sure has! My problem seems to be the inflection of my voice (my dialect). I've worked really hard to rid myself of this problem, but there are times (when I'm not feeling well, or I'm really tired), that it just blurts right out. Also, there's a lot of people around my area that don't really know that I do indeed have a brain! When I actually say something intellectual, they usually do a double-take.

Answer 6

I'm not that eloquent in my writing-but I understand. Not just the way I sound but I look young. Many think I'm 13 and I'm 22 so many don't think I'm smart because I'm a little girl

Answer 7

i feel the same way. where i used to live, if you talked smart all the time you weren't well liked. so when i moved i taught myself to kinda seem a little stupid. not like which ways up but more like. " you know we could solve this by building a time machine and..." i like to be a litle wild and have stupid thaghts and speak incorrectly(i usew like when ever i lose my train of thought), but when it comes down to it, i'm one of the smartest people in the school.

Answer 8

It's a sad fact of life that intelligence gets underestimated by your accent, the colour of your hair, the school you went to etc. I guess we just live in a judgemental society.

Answer 9

no im overwieght and missing a front tooth and so folks think im a redneck or stupid as fat and slow and stupid are linked in their minds but im one point off of mensas group and so im bright and funny and charming and witty and ive run a business for 25 years and raised a child whos going to a good college and excelling

Answer 10

I know the feeling......When I am talking to my friends I use alot of slang, therefore, they are shocked to find out that I have a degree in engineering......Funny how a slip of the tongue can make such an impression......