Stanford prof: Speakers of ‘black’ English face widespread discrimination

College Fix ^ | September 20, 2018 | Sarah George

[Two Kids' Dad]

If a group sets themselves apart from the main stream through alternate linguistics (among other things), they can expect to receive a different reaction. It’s purely their choice if they want to be associated with ebonics or standard American English or maybe elevate their vernacular by expanding their vocabulary in excess of that of mainstream America.

I believe we all have the capability of speaking well, regardless of race.

[Paladin2]

Import Bermudian English instructors at all levels.

[jacknhoo]

“dismantling this construction is part of the fight for racial justice”

LOL, you’ll never dismantle that and it has nothing to do with racial injustice, rather culture. You don’t hear that ebonics type crap from people born and raised in the suburbs and rural areas, even though some of them may be difficult to understand, it has nothing to do with their race.

These Stanford people need to get out more into the real world and stop imagining things.

[doorgunner69]

A black guy at my gym I thought was from the Caribbean due to his faint British accent and going to college in Canada turned out to be Fijian. Dunno why the accent, never been there.

[QBFimi]

Duh!

Sorry, but a -

1/ Goofy, difficult to pronounce first name, and ...
2/ A “May I AXE who’s calling?” on the telephone, and ...
2/ I be, you be, he bees conjugation

doesn’t easily fit in the world of professional business.

My mother in law was the daughter of two Russian immigrants, and attended public school in Brooklyn. Early on, she was put in a speech therapy class to kill both the Russian and “Noo Yawk” accents. She spoke the King’s English for all of her years.

If we weren’t so hung up on this tribalism krap, that could be easily done. In my airline career, I came in contact with literally thousands of Blacks who were not accent limited. Who the hell cares what language or accent you speak with at home - when you’re outta the house, leave it there!

Half my family were Scottish immigrants - I went tae firs’ grade wi’ a Glasgow burr. I leave that at home, too.

[Zionist Conspirator]

ZC says “Redneck Vernacular English” is viewed as less “trustworthy, intelligent and well-educated” than so-called standard “white liberal” English

Fixed it.

[Zeppo]

Professor John Rickford says “Black Vernacular English” is viewed as less “trustworthy, intelligent and well-educated” than so-called standard “white” English, and that “dismantling this construction is part of the fight for racial justice.”

Hey, 'Professor' (sic) John Rickford, maybe, just maybe “Black Vernacular English” is viewed as less “trustworthy, intelligent and well-educated” than standard English because it is less “trustworthy, intelligent and well-educated” than standard English.

[Political Junkie Too]

Mantan Moreland always had a scene like this in his Charlie Chan movies from the 1940s.

Incomplete Sentences

-PJ

[untenured]

I teach an upper division courses that draws a fair number of black students. The subject of so-called “black English” sometimes comes up. Almost all these students in class speak perfectly standard English, but tell me that when they are with black friends or black family members, they often switch to “black English.” So is to them just a dialect of English, and as long as they are fluent in both I don’t see any problem with it.

For people who live here, black or not, who never learn “standard English,“ of course that’s a different matter.

[caww]

Well I was a country bumpkin until I was married into another so called ‘class’ of people. I learned real fast to keep quite until I understood and could speak ‘their language’. Took a few years but I certainly learned.

However I will always be a country gal....no matter how many cities I’ve lived, or positions I’ve held. I know my ‘roots’ and I also know the ‘other side of the tracks’.

Point is until they get out of the getto’s or transform them ebonics and the like is here to stay. Take a trip and hear Pittsburghs language....now that’s another story!

[Zionist Conspirator]

A “May I AXE who’s calling?” on the telephone

That's actually Chaucerian Middle English, which for some reason has been preserved in Black Vernacular English, as well as among some Southern whites (eg, Lee Harvey Oswald).

I be, you be, he bees conjugation

Celtic English ("I do be openin' the door!"), often stereotypically put in the mouths of pirates and some hillbillies ("be you a Hatfield or be you a Coy rabbit?").

[yesthatjallen]

‘No whut i’m sayin’?’

[AndyJackson]

Where is our sympathy for the native born speakers of SFVV [San Fernando Valley Vernacular, e.g. Valley Girl] speach which I will not even attempt to label as a varient of English. This must be the most discriminated against group in the country. Open your mouth and utter SFVV and you will be assumed to be a blonde ditz, an empty-headed surfer boy if male, or of easy morals if female. You are open to derision anywhere outside of the Valley and even inside of the Valley. Unlike protected minorities, you can make fun of them, even in Hollywood movies.

And it appears that no amount of education can truly eradicate the taint of SFVV. You are doomed for life.

[Ancesthntr]

When 85% of the population has difficulty understanding you, YES, you are going to be discriminated against. Not because of your skin color, ethnicity or religion, but because people will always gravitate toward the option with the least effort.

I’m sure that my (very) white grandparents and great grandparents (I’m 99% European according to 23andme) suffered some discrimination, for just that reason.

The lesson that I was always taught was that if you’re among a majority who speak or act differently, then it is up to YOU to adjust - particularly for immigrants (as you CHOSE to move there). Obviously, this does NOT apply to the vast majority of blacks in this country, but the point remains - you want to be reasonably accepted and successful, then fit in. IOW, when in Rome, do as the Romans do - this isn’t a new concept AT ALL.

[HamiltonJay]

“Ebonics” is discriminated against for the same reason other poorly educated people are discriminated against... (Ebonics really isn’t ebonics, its just poorly educated english).... Poorly educated white folks were improperly conjugating the verb “to be” long before the slave trade.

[NorthMountain]

“Black Vernacular English” is viewed CORRECTLYas less “trustworthy, intelligent and well-educated” than so-called standard “white” English

[AndyJackson]

And try applying the “trustworthy, intelligent and well-educated” standard to the speaker of SFVV. Do you need intelligence to wax your surf-board or shop for a new outfit for Friday night’s party.

[blueplum]

how about Stanford and the rest of the universities get back to reading, writing and math and leave the social experimentation off of college campuses. In America, we teach western language and western culture and people can either learn it and navigate in the larger world, or not, and remain isolated into a little group of eubonics speakers. And if eubonics speakers think they can navigate in Japan or China or Iceland, let them wallow in their arrogance and ignorance as others pass them by and succeed.

[caww]

.....”when they are with black friends or black family members, they often switch to “black English.”....

Yes, I have experienced this even within bi-racial families at holiday gatherings etc. I just saw it as speaking their own language which frankly was a reminder they are a culture of their own.

[BenLurkin]

Eli Whitney.