3/15/05

"Language is the dress of thought." Samuel Johnson

At the affair commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, Bill Cosby lambasted Blacks who habitually use nonstandard English. "They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English" he exclaimed. "I can't even talk the way these people talk: 'Why you ain't,' 'Where you is' . . . And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk. . . . Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. . ."

While Cosby's talk was either applauded or decried as being "politically incorrect," he made a good point - only he needn't have limited it to Blacks. We hear improper English almost everywhere we go, which makes it harder than ever for teachers to convince their students that there are rights and wrongs in how we speak.

We're all mindful of the "likes" and " you knows" that pepper young people's language today. We used to decry "and uhs" that broke up the continuity of thought, but today's insertions are far worse. "I was like happy to see my mother." Unfortunately, popular television shows only reinforce this type of "language." It's pervasive and as hard to control as the spread of kudzu. We were once concerned about proper uses of who and whom. Today, we might say, "Who cares?"

Although we know that our use of language says a lot about who we are. How can we convince our students? Perhaps a realistic look into their future might connect with them. According to responses in a recent survey of 119 manufacturers in the Mid-Atlantic region, firms cannot find workers with the right skills. Were they talking high-tech abilities? Not at all. Forty per cent found that the basic proficiencies of reading, writing and math were lacking, while 14.5% stated English language skills were lacking. Tell that to your students, especially if they are in middle or high school!

If you gave middle and high school students the title of this Ellie's Word, would they be able to explain and expand on it? Can we convince them that incorrect use of our language will hinder their progress in college and in the workplace? Would they be motivated if they understood that only the lowest paying jobs will accept such uneducated verbiage?

I think a possible solution is to focus on their writing. Ask them to write a paragraph or two on a topic such as these: (1) My favorite way to spend a weekend is ... (2) I was proud of myself the time I ... (3) It's the year 2025; here's what I'll be doing. Have students read them aloud and ask classmates to critique.

If you've had success in overriding the prevalent condition, won't you please share it? Send me your success stories, and I'll send them out in an Ellie's Word. I believe that teachers are still able to stem this tide of garbled and unimaginative growth in our language. Let's do it!

Are your students correcting spelling and mechanical errors in their sentences?

Be sure to check out the recent additions of help and enrichment to the Teachers' Pages on Word Web's web site.

Please contact me (emiller@seepub.com) with questions or comments. I'd love to know how you are making out with Word Web and how your students are doing!

That's my word for this time, Ellie