Wow! I learned something just by reading the introduction. I know that SE were the acronyms for Standard English. However, I did not know that BE were the acronyms for Black English. I equated BE with the acronyms as Broken English but never Black English. Although the introduction clearly states that BE is the acronym for Black English. What I found interesting in the research study by Marilyn Rosenthal (1974) is that the children were able to distinguish the difference between Standard English (SE) being labeled as White and Black English (BE) being African American. I found it very interesting the students assumed that Steve (SE speaker) would have nicer presents and Kenneth (BE speaker) needed the crayons more. According to the researcher, the children had already developed attitudes toward African Americans and it is very obvious in this study.
Now, let me speak from experience and not from any research or opinions. I have conversed with people of different religion and ethnic backgrounds. Through my experiences regardless of the color of anyone’s skin, people speak both, the language of their environment and the language of their culture. We have a mixture of ethnic communities, whereas African-Americans and Caucasians live side-by-side, African-Americans and Hispanics live in the same community, Asians, African-Americans, Caucasians, and Hispanics just so happen to reside in the same community will bring differences of language and culture into the community. For some innate ability, out of respect of their cultural diversity, we conform to those differences. I have lived and still reside in a community that is comprised of these diverse backgrounds. I can understand the labeling of Black English as Ebonics. Ebonics was originated within the African community during slavery. In 1973, Dr. Robert Williams, an African-American social psychologist, coined the term Ebonics, in which he stated, “we know that ebony means black and that phonics refers to speech sounds or the science of sounds. Thus, we are really talking about the science of black speech sounds or language (Williams, 1997). This is why I am amazed at the acronyms of BE being associated or termed, “Black English” and not “Broken English” in the research study by Rosenthal.
As I mentioned in my Introduction to this on-line forum, I am a second grade teacher at a Title 1 Equity Plus School. As I observe my children writings and their spoken language, the English Language Learners (ELLs) and the American students (being that the English Language is the only language that they speak) are experiencing difficulties with the English language. Every morning during Daily Oral Language (DOL), I implement the writings of simple, compound, and complex sentences. My children must compose two sentences that are compound and complex sentences after reading and writing the example of a simple sentence displayed on the bulletin board. By doing this, I feel that my students will be able to develop an understanding of how language works. We must model for them, how to write and speak grammatically correct language. Hopefully, by modeling and with practice, they will eventually begin to write it and speak it. I must admit, there are times I do not speak Standard English. When I visit my hometown, that is a transformation in itself. Little by little, you hear yourself sounding like a Southerner, you begin to shorten your sentences, and the broken language you began to speak again because you have lived in this environment that cause you to conform to this culture.
As I read Chapter 1 of Joanne Dowdy’s ability to shift from one language to another, I thought of my English Language Learners (ELLs) and some adults that speak another language. I feel that being able to communicate with others in another language other than the English language is a blessing, which should be commended and not ridiculed. In the classroom, I noticed the difference in my English Language Learners (ELLs) when the ELL teacher comes into the room and would speak to them in their native language. It is like a relief to them to hear and speak their language. At work, I have several friends that are Greek. When they are working professionally, they speak fluent English. When we work together on the weekend, mostly Saturdays, in our relaxed and comfortable environment, they will begin to speak their native language. It is not out of respect, or they probably do not want me to hear what they are saying, but the need to communicate to each other in their language. Momentarily, they felt at ease just as Joanne Dowdy did in her definitive quote, “The chains fell from around my tongue, and my brain began to feel as if it were oiled and moving along without hiccups... I could travel up and down the continental shift, moving from Caribbean to English intonations, without anyone being offended. " Doesn’t that sound so eloquent? Basically, having the ability to shift fluently from one language to another is incredible to me.
After reading Chapter 2 about Ernie Smith’s experiences and accomplishments. I wonder how many students have been labeled under the umbrella of Exceptional Children (EC) and are placed in Special Education classes due to the lack of knowledge or understanding of that child’s culture and language he acquired from his environment in which he reside. Ernie Smith is an excellent example of what happens to children when they are judged by the way “that” they speak. Students are viewed as deficient and are immediately stereotyped as “ghetto” and are treated as such until that student develops negative behavioral issues and are classified as anti-social. A lot of our parents feel inferior because of their spoken language that does not coincide with the Standard English (SE). Consequently, communication and parental involvement is limited when it comes to their child’s educational experiences at school. In our efforts to bridge the gap and encourage positive involvement in their child’s education, we must brace and accept their differences just as they as entrust us with their precious gem (their child).
Comments (9)
Linda Younts
Shirly,
I agree with you that people speak both, the language of their environment and the language of their culture. We do conform to protect ourselves and to fit in. Especially during my high school and college years I remember having different sets of friends who spoke a different way and dressed a different way. I found myself with different types of styles and would dress the part to fit in with whomever I was with, including my parents. The language I spoke did vary depending on the crowd I was around.
I too used to do a Daily Oral Language with my students when I taught second grade, but have not in Kindergarten. It did help my students with their oral language skills. I agree with you that we must model for our students how to write and speak grammatically correct language. I do it tackfully, but if a student speaks inproperally, I will repeat what they say in the gramatically correct format. Some of my students start to pick up on the correct way to speak and begin to model and correct their peers. In Kindergarten I began building their oral language skills with puppets where they would answer the puppets question in a complete sentence. Read Alouds and Morning Message are also important times for developing oral language skills in my classroom.
I agree that people who are bilengual should be commended and not ridiculed. Just recently one of our Hispanic teachers was in Big Lots talking on her cell phone in Spanish to a friend. A lady told her that if she was going to live in America that she needed to speak in Engish. This teacher said it was all she could do to restrain from saying things she shouldn't. The teacher went to the manager of Big Lots and they escorted the lady out of the store. Way to go BIG LOTS!
Smiths's experience also had me wondering how many students have been labeled falsely due to their dialect. It is sad that this is happening. As an educator, I look at a student's background and take that into considertion when determining a child's performance.
Posted by Linda Younts | May 24, 2007 4:39 PM
Posted on May 24, 2007 16:39
Shirley,
Sorry for the typo error in your name.
Linda Younts
Posted by Linda Younts | May 24, 2007 4:41 PM
Posted on May 24, 2007 16:41
shirley,
i feel as if my hispanic families are the most reluctant to communicate with me. i have a wonderful friend that translates for me when ever i have conferences or any other need to speak to the families. my friend is also hispanic and she has helped me understand the hispanic culture. these families and the SE school systems are obviously different. i wanted my friend to tell me what the families think of me/our school and what they need from me. i had many questions...such as why little fatima called me..."mi maestra" and not mrs. byrd-wyatt. i was told that in their culture they are not allowed to call their teachers by name. they have to say, "teacher"...just as we never call our doctor by name. we helped the family understand that it was ok to call me by my name. i also wanted to know if it was ok if i tried to speak my very poor spanish to communicate with my families...i was told that hispanic families do appreciate my horrible attempts to communicate with them using their language. now occasionally when a hispanic family comes into the office and the secretary panics, she calls me. all i do is try...im limited. they usually smile and thank me for helping. i do consider all children "gems" as you call them...dont know if their is a better word for them. and just like gems they come in so many colors and they are found all over the world. each is unique with its own sparkle and brilliance. when communicating with parents i think that the most important thing to do is to let them know that you love their child no matter what race they happen to be...
donna byrd-wyatt
Posted by donna byrd-wyatt | May 24, 2007 6:19 PM
Posted on May 24, 2007 18:19
Shirley,
I really love when you mentioned the beauty of being able to shift languages and dialect.
To me, that is so important because I believe that language and identity are so intertwined that they cannot be separated. Just as we have to shift our identity when we are around different people -- as you allude to in being "Southern" and how that looks in different settings -- so too does our language shift.
I think if we can get away from thinking of language in hierarchies, then we'll be making significant progress in how we deal with language minorities.
Prof. Alecia Jackson
Posted by Prof. Alecia Jackson | May 24, 2007 8:19 PM
Posted on May 24, 2007 20:19
I have to admit that I have often felt uncomfortable in public places being around people who are jabbering in a different language, and have insensitively "thought" to myself, "Why don't they learn to speak English. After all, this is America." I never thought of a person's mother tongue as being a part of their identity. If a person's mother language is part of his/ her identity, why should anybody refrain from speaking it, especially if only to make insensitive and misinformed people feel comfortable? Why should they try to hide it and not use it to communitcate with family, friends, and aquaintances who share the language of their heritage? I should feel no more offended by hearing people speak a foreign language in an English dominated society than I would when hearing people speak various forms of the English language.
Reading the first section of this book has caused me to evaluate my thinking about my own language as well as how I think about and respond to the diverse languages of others.
Posted by Vickie Howell | May 24, 2007 8:54 PM
Posted on May 24, 2007 20:54
Shirley,
I thought your statement "I feel that being able to communicate with others in another language other than the English Language is a blessing" was brilliant. The ability of children at a young age to adequately speak two language never ceases to amaze me. We should praise and admire those students who speak a native language and adequately speak the english language. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to acquire not only one language but two. I remember in my undergraduate years struggling to learn just the basics of Spanish. How remarkable is a child who can do it so easily.
I feel the same about students who develop the ability to code switch. One has to be very intellegient to use both BE and SE. The ability to speak fluently in both ways will allow the child to relate to people from all walks of life.
Moreover, I also enjoyed your discussion of Ernie Smith. That chapter truly opened my eyes to the issue of "labeling" children. As adults we sometimes think that labeling is the way that students will gain help. We do not think about the adverse effects that the label may have.
Posted by Kelly Mabe | May 25, 2007 8:22 AM
Posted on May 25, 2007 08:22
You taught me something.I didn't know where the term Ebonics orginated from and did not consider BE as Broken English, but see how that could be confused. It was helpful for you to clarify that. It was an interesting point that you made regarding our innate ability to conform to differences out of respect for diversity. It is nice to know that there are communities that do that. I am wondering how far-reaching that it? In my own community I do not see that and wonder if it is a lack of culturalism or a defense mechanism by those who are resistant to change. For example I hear people make comments about the number of Hispanics moving to the area and why they need to learn to speak Spanish. They seem to have no idea how hard the school system works to integrate and immerse their children into the English language. Nor do they consider how difficult it is for us to communicate with their parents. I would like to think that other communities are more accepting.
Sara Joyce
Posted by Sara Joyce | May 25, 2007 1:03 PM
Posted on May 25, 2007 13:03
Linda,
I love your comment about Shirley's post. (I love the information in your post, Shirley. I enjoyed your insight.) And I agree. We DO conform to protect ourselves and fit in. We do it through language, social interactions, social cues, dress, and community. When I think about how our cultures and social experiences, I find this fascinating!
Posted by Anonymous | May 28, 2007 4:32 PM
Posted on May 28, 2007 16:32
Oops! The above comment was mine. Sorry! :)
Posted by Jeanna McIntyre | May 28, 2007 4:38 PM
Posted on May 28, 2007 16:38