The Ebonics Controversy Essay -- Education Language Speaking Essays

The Ebonics Controversey What is the controversy over Ebonics about? The Internet offers diverse views on the Ebonics topic. Ebonics entered the lime light in December of 1996. The television and news media have made the issue unclear and have left many people wondering what the recent controversey over Ebonics entails. Long after the "six o'clock news" has comfused and abandoned the public on the issue of Ebonics, the Internet is alive with commentary. Sampled together, the pages present a social mood, conscience, or lack thereof. Depending on the page you visit, you will learn that the answers for the above question are mixed, jaded and sometimes very opinionated. The term "Ebonics" is the most recently coined name for a speech pattern that has been around for several hundred years. Synonyms for Ebonics include, but are not limited to, Black English, Black Vernacular, African American Vernacular English (AAVE),"Jive," "Rappin," even the derogatory term of "Nigger Talk"(Shabaz). The words "language" and"dialect" are ambiguous and often interchanged when they should not be, because of the confusion they can elicit. For my own use of the terms, I draw on the commonly available reference book, Webster's New World Dictionary. I will use the word "language" to signify " the vocal sounds, words, and the ways of combining them, common to a particular nation." When the term "dialect" is used, it is to signify "any form of speech considered as deviating from a real or imaginary standard speech [or language]". The use of these two words as interchangeable has led to much confusion, particularly in the case of the Oakland Unified School District 's resolution. Through its use of the word "language", in reference to Ebonics,... ...us/AmendRes9697-006.html]. (4/12/97). Kephart,R. "Views of linguists and anthropologists on the Ebonics issue (Part 1)." [http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~rickford/ebonics/LingAnthro1.html] (3/7/97). Labov,W. [http://www.ling.upenn.edu/~labov/L102/Ebonics_test.html]. (4/9/97). Labov, W. "Can Reading Failure Be Reversed? A Linguistic Approach to the Question." [http://www.ling.upenn.edu/phono_atlas/RFR.html]. (4/9/97). Landrum-Brown, J. "Black English." [http://www.west.net/~joyland/BlkEng.html]. (3/7/97). "Original Board Resolution." [http://www.emich.edu~/linguist.issues.html/8-53.html#1]. (2/17/97). Royko, M. "When you talk Ebonics, words just get in the way." Chicago Tribune. [http://www.chicago.tribune.com/news/ebonics/ebon3.htm]. (4/9/97). Shabazz, A. "All Our Fault Now!." [http://www.afronet.com/COLUMN/ARCHIVES/121296malik.html.] (3/7/97).