Questions and Answers
What did the Oakland School Board want to recognize?
What does Ebonics mean?
Black sounds
Why did schools classify Ebonics as a language?
Kids who spoke AAE were automatically considered to be learning deficient.
How did the media portray the Oakland Ebonics controversy?
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What is language ideology?
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What does slang typically refer to?
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What is the push-pull syndrome?
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In which city did a similar controversy occur?
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Study Notes
Oakland Ebonics Controversy
- Aimed to recognize Ebonics as a legitimate form of speech within the education system.
- The Oakland school board's decision sought to address the educational challenges faced by students who spoke African American English (AAE).
Ebonics
- Defined as a dialect primarily spoken by some African Americans.
- The term "Ebonics" translates to "black sounds," highlighting its cultural roots.
Classification of Ebonics
- Schools believed classifying Ebonics as a language could help combat the stigma that AAE speakers were learning deficient.
- This classification aimed to validate the linguistic background of students and support their educational needs.
Media Portrayal
- Media coverage suggested that schools promoted "bad" English through this classification.
- There were misconceptions that classes would be taught bilingually, mixing Ebonics with Standard English (SE), rather than recognizing AAE as a valid dialect.
Language Ideology
- Refers to the shared beliefs about language within a society.
- These beliefs are often taken for granted, enforcing notions that nonstandard English is inferior or incorrect.
Slang
- Slang encompasses specific vocabulary and expressions that vary across different demographics such as region, ethnicity, and occupation.
- The notion that nonstandard speech, particularly among African Americans, is merely bad grammar overlooks its structured linguistic rules.
Push-Pull Syndrome
- Describes the tension within Black America between the urge to assimilate into mainstream society and the inclination to resist or separate from it.
- This conflict influences attitudes toward language and culture.
Similar Controversy
- A comparable debate regarding the recognition of AAE occurred in Ann Arbor, Michigan, further highlighting the complexities of language and education in diverse communities.
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Description
Explore the Oakland Ebonics controversy, which aimed to recognize Ebonics as a legitimate form of speech within the education system. This quiz delves into the implications of classifying Ebonics and its cultural significance, alongside media portrayals and language ideologies surrounding African American English.
