When speaking of “Standard American English” there is a lot of controversy surrounding it. One is the correct way that one should write and/or speak to follow those guidelines. There are many people who have previously and/or are currently being told that the way in which they’re speaking/writing is incorrect. So, it leaves one to question is there a correct way? Or, is every language effectively orally communicating and writing, according to grammatical correct rules- that are set based on the region at which the “language” was founded? What is the bad idea in this situation? And, what could possibly be a better idea? One example of this is African American English and how it is not used correctly according to “Standard English” Language. In the book Bad Ideas About Writing, Jennifer M. Cunningham, in her essay “African American Language is Not Good English” ( BIAW, PG. 88-92) suggests that the bad idea is the way in which society views African American language in its entirety. Believing what is correctly speaking/writing according to the unwritten rule of standard English. She believes that a better ideal way to approach this problematic issue is by teaching code switching in academia without belittling one’s language.
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According to Cunningham the bad idea in the statement “African American Language is not good English” is the way in which one views it. She believes that African American language is viewed incorrectly, and society should view it for what it really is, which is a correct form of language. And to further understand that the suggestion of African American language is not a correct form of English is insulting and disrespectful because “African American Language is not good or bad English because it is not, linguistically speaking, English.” (BIAW, PG. 88). There are some differences that set standard English and African American English apart, but overall, they are both correct forms of speaking. And if society can see that “We need to understand and explain African American Language and Standard American English as different languages, each with its own set of grammatical, phonological, and morphological rules (even though they share a lexicon or vocabulary)” (BIAW, PG 91) then there would be a better outcome and understanding on the views of it. Cunningham implies that a better idea for this problematic issue is the teaching of both languages. If academia will start a teaching environment to where students can learn, when and where to shift the use in languages, then it would become beneficial for them later in life. She believes that teachers should explain to their students that neither language has a higher linguistic hierarchy (one is not better than the other) then students would be able to better understand, retain and become skilled in using both forms of languages in the right settings.
In Mike Vuolo’s Podcast, “Is Black English a Dialect or a Language” There is a linguistics scholar by the name of Walter Wolfram who has a similar point of view as Cunningham. Like Cunningham he also believes that it is disrespectful “To say someone has no grammar when they have this highly complex grammar is a continuing tolerated form of discrimination in our society.” (www.slate.com) Further into this podcast Wolfram starts to go into more detail on his outlook on Black English (African American English) and his views are essentially identical to Jennifer M. Cunningham’s views. Wolfram believes that “We need to get to a position where we’re not simply saying you need to talk right, but saying you need to be more sensitive to the different situations.” (www.slate.com) both Wolfram and Cunningham both have key elements that are similar. such as, we as society must be open to change our views in this constant evolving world. And we as a society must teach each other the differences in languages without belittling one another. The only way one would learn to appropriate their writing is by learning and maintaining a mutual respect for all forms of languages and dialects. Being able to know when and where to use it will make you stronger as an individual (academic and socially speaking). It is my personal beliefs that a language and a dialect are practically one in the same, they support each other and build from one another. A dialect helps a language to become stronger because it is the core grounding that keeps languages evolving.
To become a good teacher, writer and listener you must have an open mind, whether it’s your beliefs that someone who may say “he talking” vs “he is talking” is speaking standard English. You should know and understand that although academia may not agree with the wording of those words, that they are correct according to the rules and conventions of African American language. As adults we are taught that for every problem there is a solution, for every solution there is a formula to help fix the problem. What if our solution is to stop normalizing what is bad English and the formula is to start teaching what is known as code switching, all while being respectful to others language.
Work cited:
Cunningham, M. Jennifer, “African American Language is not Good English.” Bad ideas about writing, edited by Cheryl E Ball and Drew M Loewe, West Virginia University Libraries, 2017, pp.88-92.
Vuolo, Mike “Lexicon Valley: Is Black English a Dialect or a Language?” Slate Magazine, Feb. 2012, www.slate.com/articles/podcast/lexicon_valley/2012/02/lexicon_valley_is_black_english_a_dialect_or_a_language_.html
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