Writing is one of the few professions in which you can psychoanalyse yourself, get rid of hostilities and frustrations in public, and get paid for it. – Octavia Butler
Because I am not British, I blew up an application for a Writer/Editor post in The Hague. It seemed to be the perfect setting — the company is situated not so far from where I live, it seeks a Writer/Editor who would have to be “responsible for editing and writing of publications in English and making articles and publications available via intranet, website and other media, someone who can write speeches, produce internal magazines and blogs”.
In the ad, it said that the successful candidate will have to be: “a native British English speaker with outstanding writing skills, with accuracy in spelling and grammar. Ideally the candidate has a number of years of experience as a journalist or editor/copywriter for a newspaper, magazine or an online media company. Experience or interest in online communications and/or development work will be a distinct advantage. Knowledge of the Dutch language is an asset, but not a requisite.”
It seemed oh-so-tailormade. So I applied. I was a journalist for many years using English a lot in my line of work. I was educated in English. Whoever is familiar with the Philippines will know that we already learn the language starting from elementary school. I am very much confident that I can perform the writing and editing tasks they require. I had experience in every aspect of journalism — writing, editing, public relations, publishing. I was even a member of the Board of Directors of the union! I know how it works! Even if I read the ad upside-down, I know, I can perform that job. So I wrote a fresh cover letter, checked all possible grammatical and/or spelling mistakes and sent it via email, along with my curriculum vitae. It took me about two hours to finish the writing and editing of the requirements. After five minutes, I got a response from the uitzendburo telling me that I will not be considered because ‘I am not a native British/UK English speaker’.
Obviously, I was frustrated. So frustrated that while I was running late to a meeting that never was, I could not get out of the house without writing the uitzendburo first. I said that I knew that the opening required a ‘native British English speaker’ but I tried anyway because I believe that my country of origin does not compromise my writing and editing skills may it be in American or British English. Come on, American or British English, when one is a journalist/writer/editor, how hard could it be?
I admit that I do not have the British accent, but I also do not have a hard time understanding British English speakers. Hello, Harry Potter? Bloody hell. How hard could it be? Besides, I am not going to do debates or speeches, I am suppose to write and edit those stuff! I do not understand why someone has to have the right accent just to do that job. Well, maybe if I was applying for a call center! But I was applying for a Writer/Editor position! And if they have any idea what they are really looking for, they should know that when you are a writer/editor of English, the difference between American and British English are not so far off! Yes, there are differences in spelling (e.g. American: color, program; British: colour, programme) and grammar (e.g. American: I already saw that film.; British: I’ve already seen that film.) but grammar is grammar. Writing is writing. Editing is editing. Real writers are expected to be flexible and resourceful.
I actually found it funny that the ad suggested the need for a writer/editor “with outstanding writing skills, with accuracy in spelling and grammar” because if one does not have those qualities, he/she cannot be a writer/editor. When one is a writer/editor, he/she is expected to be accurate, precise and patient with text. That is all part of the package. Pardon. It MUST all be part of the package.
To vent my anger (American) or madness (British) out, I tried these quizzes to test my knowledge of the differences between American and British English. It was not perfect but I did good. Amazingly, to be honest. Because when you are rejected just because you do not possess a certain accent, you start to re-think your capabilities. I know the differences in spelling and grammar. I know the difference between a ‘tap’ (British) and a ‘faucet’ (American), or a ‘hood’ (American) and a ‘bonnet’ (British). But how am I supposed to know that a ‘vacuum cleaner’ in American English is a ‘hoover’ in British English??? Or did they just make that up because of the sound it makes??? But that is something that can be learned. It is always a good thing to have that opportunity, that room, to learn something new. Because only then can a day be never boring. And just because I did not come from Britain and use the word ‘barrister’ (British) instead of ‘attorney’ (American), that should be considered a handicap. Perhaps the word ‘discrimination’ has the same meaning in both varieties of English?#
