Geneva Smitherman has a lot of ideas; some of which I don’t agree with and others which I really don’t agree with. Geneva makes a clear and straightforward argument that black dialects –or any non-white dialects for that matter– of English are being marginalized. That much I agree with. She wishes to see an integration of Black English into the classroom and a removal of the “standard” English. That much I do not. It is easy to make broad declarations of how things down here should work from her ornate scholarly throne, but reality is a bit thicker down here for someone still on the lower rungs of the academic ladder. Smitherman wishes to open a door that once opened cannot be closed; to allow every man jack to define and write his own personal
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This is not inherently a problem, but we are all inclined to support and fight for our rights and causes. The problem occurs when we lose perspective and sight of the goal. Geneva is right about there being a negative perception of all Black dialects and that absolutely must be changed and must be combated. Her evidence is personal anecdotes and the stories and encounters she has had with young black academics who relay to her the experience of having their dialects deflected and rejected in the classroom. What must not be combated is a standardized system of English. A standardized system through which English speakers can communicate. A standardized system so that someone learning the language can have a system of rules to follow instead of speaking however they like, chalking it up to a dialect and being misunderstood. Of course, one may ask “What is this ‘Standardized English’ you speak of? Define it for me.” A tough question and one for which I have no absolute answer. My closest thing to a definition would be that Standard English is the mother English that all dialects are born of. This establishment of this particular type of English is undoubtedly a remnant of America’s slave history; those in power made the rules and today those rules are still in place. What we must not forget is not everything constructed out of negative intention is inherently negative. Yes the Standard English …show more content…
How does one teacher assess and evaluate the writings of students in a classroom where a dozen dialects are spoken?
Truly, my questions are statements. I find Smitherman’s ideas far-fetched and not yet ready to be hatched. I believe Geneva is blinded by how accessible and understandable Black dialects are to her and have projected these feelings of understanding to all dialects. I believe if her plans were ever to come to fruition, then she is in for a rude awakening.
Do not misinterpret me. I am not saying Smitherman’s article is without merit. Quite frankly who am I as a judge in the face of such an academic? The article provides a means to voice so extremely valid concerns and claims: Features of today’s society and attitude towards black speech, literacy and dialect that simply cannot be ignored any longer. My only gripe is with the implied solution to these problems. Should Smitherman revise her writings and return with a more strict and regulated solution, and think she just might be on to
This is not inherently a problem, but we are all inclined to support and fight for our rights and causes. The problem occurs when we lose perspective and sight of the goal. Geneva is right about there being a negative perception of all Black dialects and that absolutely must be changed and must be combated. Her evidence is personal anecdotes and the stories and encounters she has had with young black academics who relay to her the experience of having their dialects deflected and rejected in the classroom. What must not be combated is a standardized system of English. A standardized system through which English speakers can communicate. A standardized system so that someone learning the language can have a system of rules to follow instead of speaking however they like, chalking it up to a dialect and being misunderstood. Of course, one may ask “What is this ‘Standardized English’ you speak of? Define it for me.” A tough question and one for which I have no absolute answer. My closest thing to a definition would be that Standard English is the mother English that all dialects are born of. This establishment of this particular type of English is undoubtedly a remnant of America’s slave history; those in power made the rules and today those rules are still in place. What we must not forget is not everything constructed out of negative intention is inherently negative. Yes the Standard English …show more content…
How does one teacher assess and evaluate the writings of students in a classroom where a dozen dialects are spoken?
Truly, my questions are statements. I find Smitherman’s ideas far-fetched and not yet ready to be hatched. I believe Geneva is blinded by how accessible and understandable Black dialects are to her and have projected these feelings of understanding to all dialects. I believe if her plans were ever to come to fruition, then she is in for a rude awakening.
Do not misinterpret me. I am not saying Smitherman’s article is without merit. Quite frankly who am I as a judge in the face of such an academic? The article provides a means to voice so extremely valid concerns and claims: Features of today’s society and attitude towards black speech, literacy and dialect that simply cannot be ignored any longer. My only gripe is with the implied solution to these problems. Should Smitherman revise her writings and return with a more strict and regulated solution, and think she just might be on to