Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


WilliamsBonnieJ2008 lz.pdf (1.87 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Building a nation: language vs. dialect in African American vernacular English

Williams, Bonnie J.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1413474794

Abstract Details

2008, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, African-American and African Studies.
In 1996 the Board of Education of Oakland, California passed a resolution to recognize the language of African American students, which they referred to as “Ebonics”. This resolution sparked a large debate across the country about the legitimacy of African American Vernacular English addressing its position in our society as a language that is often stigmatized and devalued. The purpose of this project is to identify the major issues surrounding the language of African Americans. In order to do this I, draw from current research in the field of literacy, linguistics, education and African American studies. This examination includes studies on foundation issues of AAVE as discussed by authors J.L. Dillard, William Labov, and Geneva Smitherman. After exploring primary issues connected to AAVE such as recognition, respect and education of African American youth, I will explore the 1996 Ebonics controversy, illustrating problems with the language used in the resolution and how the reading of the resolution by the public is intimately informed by racist ideologies about Black people in America. An analysis of Oakland and the King case will highlight how a plan of action is viewed as more genuine when developed within a community and by its members. I argue that negative reactions to the Ebonics resolution can be explained by issues of distrust within the community for the current institution of education, and not by actual review of and dissatisfaction with the Ebonics program and its methods.
Ike Newsum (Advisor)
Lupenga Mphande (Committee Member)
Elaine Richardson (Committee Member)
59 p.
African American Studies

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Williams, B. J. (2008). Building a nation: language vs. dialect in African American vernacular English [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1413474794

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Williams, Bonnie. Building a nation: language vs. dialect in African American vernacular English. 2008. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1413474794.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Williams, Bonnie. "Building a nation: language vs. dialect in African American vernacular English." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1413474794

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1413474794
296
© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.