NP Ebonics (was It ain't only Rock & Roll, it's Jazz too)

[thomas kyhn rovsing hjoernet]

On 14/03/03 14:01, "Elainemmbell at aol.com" <Elainemmbell at aol.com> wrote:

> In a message dated 3/13/2003 8:50:41 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> MalignD at aol.com writes:
> 
>> By what logic should it become the  obligation of teachers to "respect" the
>> "home language" of their students?  The teachers' role is to educate their
>> students, not "respect" what is, in fact, dialect.

>> Š

> As is so often the case, MalignD has phrased this rebuttal beautifully, both
> in language and logic.

By what standards?

> And being able to do such things is one of the
> considerable rewards of learning how to speak formally, not in dialect--any
> dialect.

Your formal standard here is one among many 'languages', it's not neutral in
any way as you seem to imply, it is, however, invested with ideology,
interests, and power. The term 'dialect' is inscribed in a figure of center
(neutral standard; objective; positive)/periphery (dialect; subjective;
negative), which is in itself a good reason for avoiding it.

> The opponent logic suggests that if a sighted child were to be born to blind
> parents, it would make lots of sense for her school teachers to pluck out her
> eyes out of respect for her heritage.

Equating non-adherence to your normative standard with being blind is a pure
insult. 
Respect is not the same as an intentional becoming-alike. Teaching a
normative standard does not rule out respect.


Jesus,
Thomas