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Ebonics. Definition. Term was created in 1973 by Dr. Robert Williams combining the words Ebony + Phonics Reflection of the multinational linguistic results of the African slave trade.
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Definition • Term was created in 1973 by Dr. Robert Williams combining the words Ebony + Phonics • Reflection of the multinational linguistic results of the African slave trade. • Ex. In American Ebonics is a dialect of English, in Brazil Ebonics is a dialect of Portuguese, in Haiti Ebonics is a dialect of French.
Competing Definitions • Prior to the term Ebonics were the terms: Black English, Black English Vernacular (BEV), and African American Vernacular English (AAVE) • However, the term Ebonics was the first to consider the international scope of the linguistic consequences of the slave trade.
Competing Definitions: Dialect or a Language? • It can be argued linguistically whether Ebonics is a dialect of English, or it’s own distinct language. • However, this debate is trivial. The value of Ebonics is the fact that it is a systematic and rule-governed pattern of speech.
Effects on Education • In 1996, Ebonics gained global attention when in Oakland, California a school board passed a resolution declaring it the language of the districts 28,000 students. • There are many governmental programs and services for students who speak languages other than English. Making this resolution so controversial.
Effects on Education • A lot can depend on the definition one choose of Ebonics. It can affect educational policy and economic decisions that could have significant social, educational, legal and political consequences. • One example is the huge financial costs of including African American students into bilingual education programs. • Despite the definition, many feel that it is to the advantage of African American students to help them gain the proficiency the need in standard English.