Dialect is a collection of mistakes

Variability in Language and Dialects

  • Language Variation: No language is spoken uniformly; variations arise from:

    • Idiosyncratic Differences: Unique ways individuals use language, influenced by personal habits and vocal characteristics.

    • Systematic Differences: Variations based on geographical locations, ethnic groups, social class, and age.

  • Definition of Dialect: An identifiable variety of a language; examples include:

    • American English: Southern English, New York English.

    • British English: Variants within the UK, Australian, New Zealand English.

    • Other Languages: Varieties of French, Portuguese, and Spanish depending on region.

Prejudices Against Dialects

  • Stigmatization: Certain dialects, such as Southern American English and African American English (AAE), face societal prejudices:

    • They are often seen as uneducated or inferior compared to 'Standard English'.

  • Standard English: Perceived as the 'correct' form of the language, with specific grammatical rules.

    • Variants of Standard English exist in different countries (e.g., British vs. American).

Misconceptions About Non-Standard Dialects

  • Standard vs. Non-Standard: Misconceptions frame non-standard dialects, like AAE, as simply incorrect or inferior.

    • They are often described as lacking grammar, which is not accurate.

  • AAE Overview: AAE is recognized by linguists but is stigmatized and often mischaracterized by the public:

    • In reality, AAE has its own grammatical rules that differ from Standard English.

Linguistic Structure of AAE

  • Grammatical Complexity: AAE follows complex grammatical rules, just like Standard English:

    • Speech patterns might appear as mistakes if viewed through a Standard English lens.

  • Common Stereotypes: Misunderstandings regarding AAE include:

    • Lack of verb conjugations, which is an oversimplification of AAE's structure.

Educational Context and Teaching Strategies

  • Educational Strategies: Addressing how to teach Standard English to speakers of non-standard dialects. A case study:

    • Oakland Board of Education proposed integrating AAE understanding into instruction to aid in teaching Standard English.

    • This approach faced backlash due to misunderstandings about teaching AAE.

Teaching Methodologies and Studies

  • Case Studies: Examples of programs that highlighted the importance of dialect awareness:

    • Österberg (1961): Comparative study in Sweden showed that teaching students in their local dialect improved learning outcomes in Standard Swedish.

    • Yiakoumetti (2006): Instruction comparing Cypriot Greek and Standard Greek led to better use of Standard Greek in students.

    • Taylor (1989): AAE contrastive analysis helped students reduce AAE features in writing.

Summaries

  • Linguistic Equality: All dialects, including AAE, have rule-governed structures that meet their speakers' needs.

  • Pragmatic Arguments: Emphasizes equity in education; speakers of non-standard dialects must often learn Standard English for academic success due to social biases.

  • Conclusion: Explicit instruction on dialect differences helps improve understanding and use of Standard English among speakers of non-standard dialects.