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English as the global language
English language and Standardization
English as a global language
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Ebonics have gained prominence in the American education system. However, ebonics continues to receive mixed responses from the academic communities. The following bill proposes the "Equality in English Instruction Act." The bill would require the State Department of Education to immediately terminate the proficiency in Standard English for speakers of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) program, which is encouraging the teaching of “ebonics” or street slang in our schools. The bill would prohibit the state, its subdivisions, and local government agencies, including school districts and community college districts, from expending state funds or resources, or applying for federal funding, for the purpose of, or support for, the provision of AAVE instruction. The bill would require that any funding that already has been obtained for the purpose of, or support for, the provision of AAVE instruction be instead used for the classroom teaching of linguistic or communication skills in the English language. This memorandum contains a recommendation to the bill after identifying the major problems in the bill. I will reason from a linguist’s point of view and explain the rationality for voting against the bill. I will refute each of the statements that have been given in the bill to conclude logically that voting against the bill is an effective stance. • The bill states that by adopting the AAVE program the teachers are incorporating slang and avoiding to rectify the bad grammar in the “home language” Slang as often conceived is not sloppy or inexpressive. As matter of fact slang cannot be imitated easily and is very precise and expressive than the standard form. AAVE is what the African Americans have encountered since... ... middle of paper ... ...ommunity. Ability to communicate in Standard English will not improve your economic status or intellectual capacity. Access to politically mandated language in no way would guarantee economic success. Empirical evidence suggests that there has been a positive trend in the unemployed African Americans holding doctorates. Knowing Standard English form will not make students intelligent nor will it teach them the lessons of life. Access to the standard language may be necessary, but it does not guarantee success. Conclusion: In this irrelevant debate about the language form, we are deviating from the intention and purpose of education. To educate, means to make a child fully aware of his environment and open him to the act of thinking. As a well-informed society we should learn to appreciate the beauty of every English form and integrate it into standard form.
Wolfram stated that one unique grammatical convention of Lumbee English is the use of I’m instead of I’ve. Some examples are: “I’m told you all that I know” and “I’m been there before.” Another grammatical convention noted by Wolfram is the use of be instead of is, a grammatical convention similar to African American Vernacular English. One example is “he never bes there,” which means he never is there. Additionally, Wolfram brings to attention that Lumbee English adds a- prefixes to verbs. Some examples of this are “She’s a-fishin,” “She’s a-runnin,” and “He’s a-swimmin” (Wolfram, 2006). Lumbee English also has its own particular vocabulary that includes words like “budges,” which means a nervous irritation, “juvember,” meaning a slingshot, and “ellick,” which is a cup of coffee (Brewer & Reising, 1982). These unique grammatical conventions and vocabulary carry more weight in Lumbee culture than many know, because people of their tribe see Lumbee English as a representation of their history and of
Recent studies have been conducted to bring AAVE in schools which will result in higher test scores, however people are disagreeing with the idea because they don't want their children to learn “slags”, but AAVE is not a slang, just like standard English. “African American vernacular English, also known as “black speech” was created in 1973 by a group of black scholars who dislike the negative connotation of terms like “ nonstandard negro english” that has been cast in the late 1960s when the first modern large scale linguistic studies of African American speech communities begin”(John R. Rickford,2000). For many years, linguistics have treated AAVE as slang because they didn't want to give African American slaves the right to their own language. This all changed December 1996 when the “Oakland school board recognized AAVE as the primary language of its African American students, and took it into consideration to teach them standard English”(Monaghan 1997).
Also known as Black English, Black dialect, like many other dialects is drastically identified as a complete, “rule-governed”, form of language. To those who use black dialect, there is a less sufficient understanding of the actual meaning. The black community may protest Black English because of the controversy it causes. Because of these effects, some concluded that black people suffered from “self hatred” due to dominatio...
the Oakland School gone too far by wanting to teach a black slang language in
160). When boarding schools were first introduced the staff did not take into consideration that our language and culture were different than theirs. They labeled us as being dumb, passive, and having a learning disability just because we did not understand their language and lifestyle. Not only was that a problem during the boarding school era but still a problem in today schools. Dominant society does not want us to use our language they want to have control of us minorities. When my grandpa was attending Wingate High School he was placed in SPED just because he did not pass the English administered test. He was a Navajo fluent speaker and was labeled as being dumb for not comprehending what was said in
...i, Jamal, and Ron Dietel. "Challenges in the No Child Left Behind Act for English-Language." Weber.edu. Phi Delta Kappan, June 2004. Web. 4 Mar. 2014.
African American Slang has had many other names: Ebonics, Jive, Black English, and more. The Oxford English Dictionary defines slang (in reference to language) in three different ways: 1) the special vocabulary used by any set of persons of a low or disreputable character; language of a low and vulgar type 2) the special vocabulary or phraseology of a particular calling or profession; the cant or jargon of a certain class or period 3) language of a highly colloquial type, considered as below the level of standard educated speech, and consisting either of new words or of current words employed in some special sense. Whatever one’s perspective on slang, it is a natural and inevitable part of language. In this paper I will discuss examples of current slang being used that some people may not understand.
Fein is not extreme in the way he states his opinions. He moderately states that “we could systematically dedicate some class time to slang vocabulary” (Fein 101). This provides explanation that we should incorporate slang in the classroom, but only at a certain time and methodically. He also declares that “rather than present definitions of the vocabulary, I suggest that we send the students on a scavenger hunt” (Fein 101), implying that students should discover slang on their own. He also articulates his idea that “we should help students develop a sense of linguistic boundaries so that they will understand when it is appropriate or inappropriate to use certain slang terms” (Fein 101). Fein is not overbearing in his argument. He provides evidence for his idea that slang should be used in the classroom in a certain manner, but he also explains that certain slang is to be avoided and we should teach students about when it is appropriate and
One student stated that “as long as I know how to speak slang and proper English, I should be ok” (Godley, p. 708). However, nearly all students felt a need for speaking AE or, at least, avoiding slang in work settings (Godley, p. 708). Students’ arguments in favor is maintaining AE in work situations appeared to be navigated by the belief that AAVE is perceived as negative in mainstream society (Godley, Page 709).
In order to be productive in the American school system, most instructors would agree that knowing the English language is the best way guarantee success. By allowing the student to use only English in the classroom the instructor is guaranteeing that their pupil will know English well enough to survive in America, given they were provided with at most a year of immersion into English. This is the best way to ensure success because even after a year in the English as a Second Language program studies have found that “students are only performing academically ‘average’ and only adequately prepared for the next year”(Toohey 63). Which in comparison to those who have had to face English head on, they appear to be more likely to succeed. This is d...
Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad(1974), says that “ English is an international language, link language, important for social mobility, essential for personal growth and developmental, essential for higher
Although some people believe the entire world should speak English, the reality is that all Americans should have some degree of formal education in a foreign language. Foreign language skills could have a positive impact on race relations in America. The number of minorities in America is rapidly increasing. In fact, "minority" groups will soon form a collective "majority" of the citizens of America. Considering the fact that many minority groups speak English as a second language and America has no official language, compulsory foreign language classes are viable options.
Knowing English constitutes an advantage in the contemporary world. Modern Age made communities and nations come closer through advanced communication channels, and today world communities are largely integrated. English had become a part of daily lives of many people through media and globalization. Bilingualism could be good for people who speak English as a second language. Since English is widely used in the international business, one who speaks English will have competitive advantage over others when seeking an international job.
English language as a global language and the most widely used language in the world. In 2014, there were more than 50 sovereign states and less than 30 non-sovereign entities where English was an official language. Some users of English as a second or foreign language are increasing dramatically, there are estimated at 300 and 100 million people respectively (Crystal, D. 1985). Hence, English is an important language to improve it. There are some reasons to improve English language. One of the reasons is to get access to knowledge by improving English. English is the language of science, technology, the Internet, business, popular entertainment and sports. Most of the researches and studies are published in English especiall...
The disheartening thing is that English is learned through ineffective methods of teaching and taught by the less skilled or undertrained teachers. Furthermore, many financially unsound academic institutions are not able to provide necessary infrastructure for teaching this important language with the right audio-visual support. Apparently, nowadays, English language is either spoken in inaccurate pronunciation or written in incorrect syntax. On the other hand, the essence of English literature is not understood properly by the budding learners. All such conditions demand the application of simpler methods of English Language Learning and Teaching (ELLT). Moreover, the present globalization trend demands the use of correct English with which the dream of a global village can be materialised