Ebonics

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Ebonics

INTRODUCTION

The main topic of this paper is the USA, and I have chosen to concentrate on a

fairly new issue, the language know as Ebonics. There have always been changes

in the English language. This is how the language came about and evolved from

standard British English to American English.

During the last few years, as the world has become more sensitive to the rights

of minorities, women, animals, etc. a new form of changes has taken place. These

changes have become known as Political Correctness.

Ebonics is the political correct version of Afro-American English. I intend to

show that – and comment on how – racialism and competition affects a society and

how this, in the case of Ebonics, is actually happening in today's America.

Nuuk February 1997 Ral Fleischer

THE QUESTIONS ASKED I will attempt to answer the following questions about

Ebonics; - what is Ebonics? - what are the underlying reasons behind Ebonics? -

who is prospering from Ebonics?

What is Ebonics? Most people outside of America have at most but a vague idea of

what Ebonics is all about. Apart from being a buzzword in American media since

December 1996 what are the fundamental concepts behind this expression? Where,

how and when did it start, and who started it?

What are the underlying reasons behind Ebonics? To fully understand Ebonics,

some historical background is needed. One has to have some knowledge on how the

English language has developed in America. Furthermore one has to be aware how

the American society is loaded down with the influence of stereotypical thinking,

racialism and competition. In his autobiography, the famous black spokesman,

Minister Malcolm X, portrays the undisguised hostility that exists between white

and black people in America. He illustrates this conflict with the following

words: "…You cannot find one black man, I do not care who he is, who has not

been personally damaged in some way by the devilish acts of the … white man!.

The greatest miracle … in America is that the black … has not grown

violent … they would have been justified by all moral criteria, and even by the

democratic tradition" (The Autobiography of Malcolm X, page 371 & 349)

Is Ebonics simply the democratic consequence, a black non-violent upraise

against the "devilish acts of the white man" as as foreseen by Malcolm X?

Who is pros...

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standard of excellence for all its students. 2). Oakland Unified School District

is providing its teachers and parents with the tools to address the diverse

languages the children bring into the classroom. 3). The District's objective is

to build on the language skills that African-American students bring to the

classroom without devaluing students and their diversity. We have directly

connected English language proficiency to student achievement. 4). The term

"genetically-based" is synonymous with genesis. In the clause, "African Language

Systems are genetically based and not a dialect of English," the term

"genetically based" is used according to the standard dictionary definition of

"has origins in." It is not used to refer to human biology.

Hooked on Ebonics, p. 50

Ebonics: A Way to Close the Learning Gap?, p. A01

Among Linguists, Black English Gets Respect, p. A10

Race, Culture and Intelligence, p. 104

Two Nations, Black and White, Separate, Hostile, Unequal, p.42

Ebonics: A Way to Close the Learning Gap?, p. A01

Synopsis of the adopted policy on standard American English Language

development, appendix 1

Ebonics: A Way to Close the Learning Gap?, p. A01

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