Book Review
Word on the Street Debunking the Myth of a "Pure" Standard English by John McWhorter
McWhorter is a linguist who obviously loves his field. He goes into exhaustive detail backing up his theories with evidence before stating his conclusion. Despite the academic nature of his work, he remains readable, relatable, and relevant for anyone who has even a passing interest in language and sociology.
There are several different areas broached in his book, ranging from the evolution of language, the impact of the feminist movement, and the elitist refusal to translate Shakespeare and render it accessible. But the primary topic is a systematic analysis of Black English including its origins and relevance. McWhorter does not argue for Black English as a language, but as a dialect. He asserts that our preoccupation with dialectical urban speech as the source of the disparity between black and white students is really a red herring. There are differences in dialects all over the globe which do not act as a learning detriment. In fact, he provides evidence that Black English itself is not a learning detriment. Rather it is an easy scapegoat enabling us to ignore the real socioeconomic problems of race and education in America.
I'm neither an educator nor a linguist, but I found McWhorter fascinating. He provides a frank and thought provoking look at the evolution of dialect. I definitely know more now then I did before I read his work.