From a young age, we are provided with false linguistic information. We are taught that there is only one right way to communicate verbally. It is the way of the majority: Standard American English. It is the language of politics, corporate America and ultimately, success. Then, we are ostracized and ridiculed whenever we are nonconformist. This is how society perpetuates this false narrative about speech and language. Thus, bi-dialectical African American children are placed in boxes from which they have no hope of escape. The stigmatization of AAVE causes repression instead of expression. In each grade level, the grammatical structures of Standard American English are constantly emphasized and outlined. Through exams, essays and speeches, the educational reinforcement ingrains the prescriptivist concept: this is the right way to speak. Any other form of language usage becomes unacceptable. Sadly, this results in internalized oppression. Children stop using the AAVE dialect and learn to police others to conform as well.
Speech Language Pathologists are at the forefront of educating teachers and parents about language. Students in Communication Sciences and Disorders must be sufficiently educated if they are to change perceptions of AAVE as slang or "broken English." A research article from 2012 seeks to uncover whether or not proper education of SLP students helps them learn the grammatical and phonological features of AAVE. journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1525740111430524 How amazing would it be for schools to teach a curriculum that promotes linguistic diversity! Every child should be made to feel that their dialect or language is a valid means of communication. Oppression through educational means is still oppression. It is wrong and it needs to stop.
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AuthorMy name is Shedira and I am a senior Communication Sciences and Disorders Major. My professional goal is to become an SLP. My personal goal is to inform people that AAVE is a dialect and a valid means of communication. ArchivesCategories |