Description

The media frenzy surrounding the 1996 resolution by the Oakland School Board brought public attention to the term "Ebonics", however the idea remains a mystery to most. John Baugh, a well-known African-American linguist and education expert, offers an accessible explanation of the origins of the term, the linguistic reality behind the hype, and the politics behind the outcry on both sides of the debate. Using a non-technical, first-person style, and bringing in many of his own personal experiences, Baugh debunks many commonly-held notions about the way African-Americans speak English, and the result is a nuanced and balanced portrait of a fraught subject. This volume should appeal to students and scholars in anthropology, linguistics, education, urban studies, and African-American studies.

Reviews

"A lucid new study of...perhaps the most strident linguistic controversy in recent memory."--The New Yorker

"John Baugh's recent book is arguably the most clearly articulated and detailed account of the controversy that surrounded the Oakland Unified School District's policy decision in December, 1996, and his book suggests why these issues will continue to be at the forefront of language education in the United States."--CRecord.org

"A valuable contribution to the background of the Ebonics debate...a book written from both a personal standpoint as an African American and a professional one as a sociolinguist."--English Language

"Recommended for all collections."--Choice

Product Details

176 pages; 8 b/w line illus; 5-1/2 x 8-1/4; ISBN13: 978-0-19-515289-0ISBN10: 0-19-515289-1

About the Author(s)