Panel Discussion

Hosted by:
The Linguistic Society of America

LSA 75th Annual Meeting 
 Washington DC
Grand Hyatt Hotel
January 4, 2001

Chair:

Cecile McKee, University of Arizona

Speakers:

Walt Wolfram, North Carolina State University
The Educational Context of Dialects

Charles DeBose, California State University, Hayward
The African American Literacy and Culture Project

William Labov, University of Pennsylvania
Using Our Knowledge of African American English to Raise Reading Levels in the Inner City

Geneva Smitherman, Michigan State University
Recent Publications Related to Ebonics

John Baugh, Stanford University
Beyond Ebonics: Some Implications for the Future

Session Sponsors:

Linguistic Society of America
Language in the School Curriculum Committee
Center for Applied Linguistics

Related Resources:

Dialects in Schools and Communities ($24.95), by Walt Wolfram, Carolyn Temple Adger, and Donna Christian, explores the role of dialects in the acquisition of educational skills such as reading, writing, and using spoken standard English. It also includes examples of dialect awareness activities. A useful list of vernacular dialect structures for a full range of American English dialects is included. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 10 Industrial Ave., Mahwah, NJ 07430-2262, 1-800-926-6579, http://www.erlbaum.com

Spoken Soul: The Story of Black English ($24.95), by John Russell Rickford and Russell John Rickford, is a highly readable account of the history, structure, and current controversy about Ebonics. The description shows how this dialect is effectively used by writers, orators, comedians, singers, and rappers at the same time that it is condemned in public commentary. John Wiley & Sons, 1 Wiley Dr., Somerset, NC 08875-1272, 1-800-225-5945. 

English With an Accent: Language, Ideology, and Discrimination ($21.99), by Rosina Lippi-Green, presents a sobering account of the manifestation of language prejudice in American society. The description shows how pervasive and subtle language discrimination can be in venues that range from animated films to the legal and educational system. Routledge Customer Service, 7625 Empire Dr., Florence, KY 41042, 1-800-634-7064, cserve@routledge-ny.com.

American Tongues, produced by Andrew Kolker and Louis Alvarez, is an award-winning video documentary on American dialects for high school level and up. It combines an entertaining presentation of American dialects with the reality of dialect prejudice in a way that encourages audiences to openly discuss their attitudes about dialects. A 40-minute high school version ($150) and a 56-minute adult version ($285) are available. CNAM Film Library, 22-D Hollywood Ave., Hohokus, NJ 07423, 1-800-343-5540.

The Center for Applied Linguistics has information on the practical application of linguistic knowledge to social and educational problems. The dialect/Ebonics link provides helpful resources and references on dialects, as well as detailed information about the Ebonics controversy.

The North Carolina Language and Life Project offers audio examples and video clips of documentaries on dialects. North Carolina is one of the richest dialect areas in the United States, with Appalachian, Southern, Outer Banks, Native American and African American dialects, among others.

 
Note: The list of Related Resources is adapted and used with permission from the following:

Walt Wolfram. 2000. Everyone has an accent. Teaching Tolerance Magazine, 18(23). ©2000, Teaching Tolerance, Southern Poverty Law Center, Montgomery, AL.

Download the Printer-friendly .PDF version of the program for Reading and Dialects in the Decade of Behavior.