There is no doubt in my mind that it is everyone’s responsibility—including the dominant bloc—to assist a struggling part of society with a transition towards getting a good command of Standard American English. If this means, teaching Black English in the schools so be it.
The community that speaks Black English does not know any other language when they go to school. It is their language in which they were raised, with which they identify; thus, it is how they communicate and make sense of the world once they reach school years. How they got to that point does not really matter. Finding the reasons would only open up a complete different discussion, which to a certain degree would prove that historically, white Americans share the responsibility.
What matters now is that we are faced with a gap in education and performance. A nation has the obligation is to provide its citizens with services necessary to improve their quality of life, especially in terms of education. The end result will benefit all of us, not only the Black English speaking community.
Jairo Toro
Showing posts with label Ebonics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ebonics. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Yes no and quite possibly maybe
The dominant bloc of Americans are not responsible for BEV speakers to learn standard English, it is the responsibility of BEV speakers to learn to become linguistically functional in this society. There are ways that the school system can help BEV speakers, it should start early enough in the persons’ life so that they have to ability to adapt to standard English without losing part of their heritage. I think the main thing that should be done is to raise awareness in students minds of the difference between standard and BEV.
I found that the reading where the professor has her kids write a letter to the police using BEV was outstanding. It raised awareness in the students minds about using the language they were brought up with. If every person in the USA had to study BEV I think there would be a sort of backlash, you would find the eagle forum protesting the loss of English and that family values would be diminished (which is a big load of crap). I think that all of America should get a BEV enema during this year’s black history month.
I found that the reading where the professor has her kids write a letter to the police using BEV was outstanding. It raised awareness in the students minds about using the language they were brought up with. If every person in the USA had to study BEV I think there would be a sort of backlash, you would find the eagle forum protesting the loss of English and that family values would be diminished (which is a big load of crap). I think that all of America should get a BEV enema during this year’s black history month.
Ebonics
Ooops I did it again I wrote a whole post and lost it! Okay I was ranting about our Ebonics chat from last week. I quite enjoyed myself and the discussion that we had. I feel that Ebonics is not a language nor a Dialect but merely Slang. It is spoken by a small group if you look on the larger scale. We should have optional classes in High School or College to provide people with the history of Ebonics.It should be an elective. I realize it should not be forgotten, but I don't think it needs to become a Language recognized in america. I realize I may sound bad but it is how I feel. I have nothing against any race or color I just believe english was always here and why should it ever take a step back.
Cutting it to the wire...
The idealistic goal of America is the American Dream that anyone can "make it" here. While most people, myself included, would say the American Dream is dead, not all agree. This ideology has changed and grown since it's conception, but fundamentally it is still the same. Everyone has a different idea of what it is, but to me it means that everyone in this country has an opportunity for success. We have discussed in class that not everyone has equal footing because of discrimination, racism, and preferences. White kids have a better chance of success than most black kids. If we live in a society where our motto is success, it is important for the dominant bloc (in our case, white society) to give the non-dominant blocs the tools required to reach success. If anything, it is our responsibility to even out the playing field for this students.
Should speakers of Standard American English study Black English Vernacular in school? Yes and no. No for a few reasons. One, most speakers of Standard American English will not be more geared toward success by learning Black English. Also no because this vernacular is part of a culture that the majority of white kids are not exposed to. Someone in class (I can't remember your name, sorry!) brought up the social ramifications of a white person speaking Black English to a Black person. Of course, that makes me indignant because I think everyone should have the opportunity to do whatever they want, that just isn't allowed in social spheres. While I don't think it would be great to require this type of course, I do think it would be beneficial to offer some kind of history elective that teaches Black history and includes Black English. While I am sure in some school districts, such a class exists, but there was never an option when I was in school.
It's important to be realistic and know that things aren't fair. This is a concept that I have a very hard time accepting, but it is true. Even though I, and most of us, think it is important that Black English would be beneficial if used as a teaching device to bridge to proper English, the reality of that actually happening is slim. It's also slim that I will really encounter "Black English" in the same capacity as I have in this class. It's unfortunate.
B.Knee
Should speakers of Standard American English study Black English Vernacular in school? Yes and no. No for a few reasons. One, most speakers of Standard American English will not be more geared toward success by learning Black English. Also no because this vernacular is part of a culture that the majority of white kids are not exposed to. Someone in class (I can't remember your name, sorry!) brought up the social ramifications of a white person speaking Black English to a Black person. Of course, that makes me indignant because I think everyone should have the opportunity to do whatever they want, that just isn't allowed in social spheres. While I don't think it would be great to require this type of course, I do think it would be beneficial to offer some kind of history elective that teaches Black history and includes Black English. While I am sure in some school districts, such a class exists, but there was never an option when I was in school.
It's important to be realistic and know that things aren't fair. This is a concept that I have a very hard time accepting, but it is true. Even though I, and most of us, think it is important that Black English would be beneficial if used as a teaching device to bridge to proper English, the reality of that actually happening is slim. It's also slim that I will really encounter "Black English" in the same capacity as I have in this class. It's unfortunate.
B.Knee
Monday, October 22, 2007
Ebonics
To my understanding it would be a great idea to have some classes that would help bridge Ebonics to standard American English. I feel it would be a great asset to those who speak it. (lower class black communities.) Modern America speaks standard American English. It would be harder to find work and a career when you could only speak Ebonics.
I don't think it would be necessary for everyone to study Ebonics. I think they should have some courses, but not mandatory ones. I think if we made a mandatory class for one dialect/language, we would have people wanting mandatory classes for every dialect/language.
I don't think it would be necessary for everyone to study Ebonics. I think they should have some courses, but not mandatory ones. I think if we made a mandatory class for one dialect/language, we would have people wanting mandatory classes for every dialect/language.
Yes to more Ebonics
Spending time on the BAV is a chance to study as many as possible aspects of how this and other English varieties of language are used in different social groups in the US. Since BAV is mainly used by the working poor black and whites urban segment of the American population, studying it may shed light on language discourses that have been used to “mold” our initial opinions about it . In the US, there seem to be more tensions between blacks and whites than any other minority group and whites. Therefore, exploring its provenance and use may help us better understand and accept the descriptive side of any language.
Ebonics
1. I think that there should be a bridge between Black English Vernacular and Standard American English. And yes it is the dominant bloc’s responsibility to do so, since it is that same bloc that establishes the social structures that isolates the users of Ebonics in the first place. In order to fully recognize a group or culture ways of speaking, we should provide a time in school to teach children how to go from point A to point B, while using the language that they most understand. This may just be the way for them to advance along social classes. SAE is the key to a cohesive understanding for all the inhabitants of the US.
2. I think that I should be offered as an optional course. It would be a chance for those interested in the language and or dialect (don’t know which one it is really) to not only understand the workings of it, but also to learn more about the sub-culture of African-Americans and others that use Ebonics.
2. I think that I should be offered as an optional course. It would be a chance for those interested in the language and or dialect (don’t know which one it is really) to not only understand the workings of it, but also to learn more about the sub-culture of African-Americans and others that use Ebonics.
Perhaps I've become too utopic...
1. Does the dominant bloc (essentially white America) have a responsibility to speakers of Black English Vernacular to create educational bridges to Standard American English? Why or why not?
Yes, I feel we do have an incumbent responsibility to develop, at the very least, a transitional system; not to assimilate Blacks into the dominant bloc linguistic culture, but rather to encourage connection and function between it and the culture that employs Black English Vernacular. I think this accomodates what Raymond is talking about with the necessity to use dominant Standard American English, but gives appropriate reference to why the distinction is important.
2. Should all speakers of Standard American English study Black English Vernacular in school? Why or why not?
While the idealistic part of me would argue "yes" for the plethora of benefits I could see being had by doing so, the pragmatic part of me is aware of the problems with the implementation of this - I can almost envision, sadly, a scenario playing out similar to the previous century's attempts at integration; everyone up in arms, and fighting to maintain a status quo, under the false pretense that this change would result in the degradation of their society.
Yes, I feel we do have an incumbent responsibility to develop, at the very least, a transitional system; not to assimilate Blacks into the dominant bloc linguistic culture, but rather to encourage connection and function between it and the culture that employs Black English Vernacular. I think this accomodates what Raymond is talking about with the necessity to use dominant Standard American English, but gives appropriate reference to why the distinction is important.
2. Should all speakers of Standard American English study Black English Vernacular in school? Why or why not?
While the idealistic part of me would argue "yes" for the plethora of benefits I could see being had by doing so, the pragmatic part of me is aware of the problems with the implementation of this - I can almost envision, sadly, a scenario playing out similar to the previous century's attempts at integration; everyone up in arms, and fighting to maintain a status quo, under the false pretense that this change would result in the degradation of their society.
Black English
1.) I beleive that the dominant bloc has a responsibility to speakers of Black English. I think that we all have some kind of help to offer out to others. I think that this help can be down outside of the classroom. I do not think that we need to create educational bridges to help these Black English Vernacular speakers. I think that there is more help and education that is provided by communication with others as well as movies and television shows. I also can see that I am not in that a type of area where it has become a problem. I think that the people that are in those situations are in a better position to make that decision.
2.) I beleive that speakers of Standard American English should not be required to study Black English Vernacular in school. I think it should be an option that is available to learn the history of the language. I think that if we are forced to learn Black English then it could be argued to be forced to learn all other lanauges. Standard American English is what everyone learns in school. Even though I hated learning Standard English, it is necessary for Americans to learn. There should be no exceptions; everyone has to learn it and is what we should base our language off of.
2.) I beleive that speakers of Standard American English should not be required to study Black English Vernacular in school. I think it should be an option that is available to learn the history of the language. I think that if we are forced to learn Black English then it could be argued to be forced to learn all other lanauges. Standard American English is what everyone learns in school. Even though I hated learning Standard English, it is necessary for Americans to learn. There should be no exceptions; everyone has to learn it and is what we should base our language off of.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Black English in school
1. I definitely think that anyone in school who makes an effort to learn should have some resources to give them extra help. If their is a school with a large ratio of people who speak Black English they should certainly have some "bridge help" but no, I do not think it is the responsibility of everyone else to make it happen. Someone can come from another country and not have a "bridge class" readily available for their aid, but they should have access to some kind of tutoring or help.
2. Hell no. What good does it do for individuals to study what is beneath their intelligence? Frankly, I think the varieties of the English language have only gone down hill. Call them stuffy, but the British sound a thousand times better when they open their mouths than the majority of Americans, and that is where "English" came from. What will I ever use Black English for??? I can understand it adequately when I hear it but their is no feasible purpose for me to actually study it in school, except in a sociology class or something. I really don't look at it as part of a culture, at least not a cultural element anyone should be proud of. If they want to speak an African language, great, I respect that. But to study black english would be to move backwards upon everything we were taught from grades 1-12 and in college. Hell, why isn't there a class to teach us British English? That would certainly be a bridge for me.
2. Hell no. What good does it do for individuals to study what is beneath their intelligence? Frankly, I think the varieties of the English language have only gone down hill. Call them stuffy, but the British sound a thousand times better when they open their mouths than the majority of Americans, and that is where "English" came from. What will I ever use Black English for??? I can understand it adequately when I hear it but their is no feasible purpose for me to actually study it in school, except in a sociology class or something. I really don't look at it as part of a culture, at least not a cultural element anyone should be proud of. If they want to speak an African language, great, I respect that. But to study black english would be to move backwards upon everything we were taught from grades 1-12 and in college. Hell, why isn't there a class to teach us British English? That would certainly be a bridge for me.
Heathens
The worlds of business, politics, academics, and the media of necessity require a lingua franca. If you do not have proficiency with this language, you cannot participate in these worlds ("the dominant bloc", as you say). In our case this language is what is called "Standard English". This is not fair to other English dialects, not to mention other languages, but this is just the way it works. At other times in history it has been other languages (Latin, French, etc.). If we accept this necessity, it would seem to follow that we owe everyone a chance to acquire the standard vernacular. But why do I feel there is something here analagous to the attempts of missionaries to Christianize the heathens, even as some said the heathen's soul was beyond redemption?
Friday, October 19, 2007
Ebonics in school
I think that since there have been statistics about how kids do better when there is a bridge from BEV to standard english that it would be a positive thing to create for many of the inner city schools where the population is mainly African American. If it can help students succeed, then why not spend a little more money to get every child a fighting chance at success? As for having everyone study BEV, i don't think that it is necessary. I would like to see classes offered in schools or colleges that focus on the writing in BEV, and the imporatance of why they were written that way, but it is not a subject that is critical to the development of kids in school. If BEV becomes required, you would almost have to require the many other languages and dialects to be taught. The class should be there for those that want to study it as it is very useful information of our history. But it should not be a requirement for everyone to study. Standard english is what is used in America, that is why it is called Standard. It is something that everyone needs to be able to reach to live in America.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Ebonics
Hi all,
Interesting discussion today, thanks for that. I wanted to ask two questions that might provoke some discussion here.
1. Does the dominant bloc (essentially white America) have a responsibility to speakers of Black English Vernacular to create educational bridges to Standard American English? Why or why not?
2. Should all speakers of Standard American English study Black English Vernacular in school? Why or why not?
Have at it,
Tiffany
Interesting discussion today, thanks for that. I wanted to ask two questions that might provoke some discussion here.
1. Does the dominant bloc (essentially white America) have a responsibility to speakers of Black English Vernacular to create educational bridges to Standard American English? Why or why not?
2. Should all speakers of Standard American English study Black English Vernacular in school? Why or why not?
Have at it,
Tiffany
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