The articles from Dowdy, Delpit, and ABC News were interesting and informative. I found the Delpit article the most thought-provoking in reference to code-swtiching and standard American English.
I first reflected on my language background. I was taught standard American English growing up in school, and I spoke it at home as well. I minimally used code-switching between school and home, between formal and slang language, but even those deviations were minimal. Standard American English was not unusually difficult or insulting to me. However, I have come to realize that it can be the source of problems for others.
In the four years I’ve been teaching, I've discovered how difficult standard American English can be, especially when it is not spoken and/or valued in the home. Most of my students have been English language learners, thus standard American English is difficult for them. The majority of my students are proficient conversational speakers of English, but they lack formal academic English. Like Dowdy, I think my students also have trouble expressing themselves adequately in English.
After reading Delpit’s article, I’ve become aware that some find standard American English insulting. I think this is because standard American English is considered the “right” form and that other forms of English are considered wrong, incorrect, or bad. The implication being that if one uses Standard American English, he or she may look down on those that don’t.
Based on the readings and my own experience I have come to the conclusion that standards are important. I believe they are important because they are needed for understanding. So that d-o-g is an animal that barks and not something completely different. I also believe that one form of English is not better than another form. It is not important which form of English is chosen as the standard, so much that there is a standard chosen for academic and professional uses. Other forms of English can be used in informal settings, not as devalued or less important but preserved and appreciated. I believe that effective code-switching between different forms of English, based on formal and informal settings, is the key to being a comfortable, confident, and successful English speaker.
Laura Corbello
Comments (5)
Laura, I was also raised using standard English in school and at home. I agree that their must be a standard in order to understand one another. What do you suppose would happen if the code switching became the norm among all ethnic groups in the country? What happens then in college? The workplace? How would professors grade papers based on grammatical correctness? The list of questions would continue to grow. Just some thoughts....
Karen
Posted by Karen Chester | June 7, 2010 9:27 PM
Posted on June 7, 2010 21:27
Very well put!! I completely agree that one form of English is not better than another form, but that it is important for our students to understand code-switching and be able to speak correctly based on formal/informal settings. I do, however, believe that Standard English is Standard English, and this is the type of spoken language that is expected to be heard in "Corporate America", so let's give our students all the preparation we can to help them be successful in life.
I do agree that many students struggle expressing themselves in English, but as teachers I feel that this is part of our job. The better we serve our students by expecting them to use Standard English and give them the skills they need so they can speak Standard English the more easily to will become for these students to express themselves in a correct manner.
I don't think our students need to lose their heritage, their home language, or even their slang in order to present themselves as educated, intellectual people. They need to learn when it is appropriate to speak formally and when to speak informally (code-switching), but if we aren't giving them the skills they need to speak in formal situations we are doing our students a disservice.
Posted by Angie Sigmon | June 7, 2010 9:33 PM
Posted on June 7, 2010 21:33
Laura, I agree with your assessment of code switching and I think that's what it ultimately comes down to. Your comments made me think of Ruby Paine and her work on generational poverty. Dr. Paine talks about how we all know the rules for our "class". I think of standard english as being so easy for me, but so difficult for so many of our students. I'm sure for lots of our students that if they were to go home and speak standard english they would be ridiculed and made fun of as it is not the accepted form of communication in their family. If I change up the situation a little and imagine myself having a conversation with Stephen Hawking or Charles Krauthammer, I would be very intimidated and probably sound extremely unitelligent even though I would be doing my best to use perfect english! This, once again, leads us back to the code switching and mastering formal voice and knowing when and where to use our different voices.
Posted by Sally Elliott | June 7, 2010 9:35 PM
Posted on June 7, 2010 21:35
Laura,
I agree as well about code switching being a key to speaking. Maybe more code switching should be directly taught to students. We know our speech will change depending on the situation and purpose for speaking, so why not directly show/tell our students what the "rules" are for that particular situation? I don't believe manyof the students are getting the proper modeling at home, so as educators we shoudl take the lead and prepare our students for various ways express themselves verbally.
Michael Lemke
Posted by Michael Lemke | June 7, 2010 11:14 PM
Posted on June 7, 2010 23:14
I do think there is a time and a place for certain language. Code switching happens everyday many times a day. I hear my kids talking to each other at the lunch table in a manner that they would never talk to me in. I think it's important for them to understand that and know when it's appropriate. I think that all students should be taught proper English, because we all live in America where English is supposed to be the primary language. Don't get me wrong, I am all for other cultures being a apart of this melting pot society, but the kind of English being taught doesn't matter. As long as it's taught to children in the correct way, meaning this is how you should talk in school, and this is what is appropriate language when talking to your friends. I would want my children to talk appropriately in school and be taught what is acceptable and what is not, a continuation of what I would want at home and in my classroom.
Posted by Abby Boughton | June 8, 2010 7:57 PM
Posted on June 8, 2010 19:57