Provides a framework to describe the variability between negative auxiliaries in predicative constructions based on a quantitative analysis of data collected on African American vernacular English. Results indicate that, with the possible exception of the negative present variation, the alternations all belong to one underlying system. (56…

An idealized model of mutual second dialect acquisition in a bidialectal speech community is presented, placed in historical context, and used to illustrate the inherent social nature of hypercorrection and hypocorrection. The controversy surrounding hypercorrection for Black English is reviewed, and hypocorrection is shown to reinforce…

Asserts that speakers of Black English and their behavior evoke strong responses outside and inside their communities. Asserts that members of the black communities are rarely permitted to describe or defend their language or ways of using it. Offers the essays, comments, and class interactions of an African-American/Linguistics class on language…

By presenting examples from eight Appalachian children's books, this essay argues that these books promote standard English and denigrate toward Appalachian speech. Although the books address the emotional effects of assimilation and isolation, they fail to understand the language Appalachian children actually speak. (KS)

Investigates the coherence of nonstandard discourse linguistic sources. Provides examples, such as experimental writing and schizophrenic speech, that establish the necessity of the coherence mechanisms. Emphasizes that, by ignoring nonstandard samples, researchers overlook powerful ways to test theories of discourse. (HB)

Recruiters (n=65) rated effect of specific social dialect characteristics on job interview and rated their perceptions of social dialect speakers. Results revealed that 58% of Appalachian English variables presented and 93% of Black English variables presented were considered to have negative effect on job interview. For both dialects, nonstandard…

Presents first a short article, "Response to the Issue of Ebonics," written by a Pennsylvania high school student. Follows this with an article, "Building Bridges to the 'Language of Wider Communication'" which reflects on ways of using the language children bring to the classroom as a means of building bridges to wider…

Statistics from several southern states show that African American high school students fail their regents writing exams at a considerably higher rate than do white students. A study evaluated failing regents essays written by African American high school students in several states to determine what the source of their failure was. Results showed…

A study investigated African-American children, Section 1703(f) of the Equal Education Opportunity Act of 1974 and the attention paid to teaching these children to read in current reading method textbooks. The main aspects of Black English were identified and recognized as significant barriers to reading achievement. The contents of 14 of the most…

Reading aloud is an important motivational strategy not only for primary school children but also for upper-elementary, middle, and high school students. Teachers should pursue an instructional balance that considers both a sensitivity to curricular mandates and a perspective that reading aloud is beneficial to students. Poems, short stories, or…

Writing teachers need to recognize the special circumstances of culturally displaced students. A specific category of such students are those from the Asian subcontinent, who are not exactly non-native speakers of English, but who do speak non-standard American English. These students occupy a subaltern (marginal) position: they can neither be…

Discusses four alternative policies that schools might implement with respect to dialect variability: try to wipe out nonstandard English; teach nonstandard English to standard speakers; accept dialect diversity; or encourage bidialectalism. (RM)

Current work in American dialectology is summarized and commented on. (Available from: See FL 508 214.) (RM)

Brief reports are presented on several doctoral research projects on language acquisition. These projects concern such topics as: the linguistic expression of causal relations; language development of hearing children of deaf parents; bidialectal skills of black children; and language acquisition among Kaluli Children in New Guinea. (SW)

A discussion of language judgments, particularly negative judgments of nonstandard variations of English, and the "errors" of speakers of English as a second language. (RM)