discussion questions one and two

discussion question #1 (in 200 words)

Language is generally one of the most readily identifiable aspects of a person’s culture. With perhaps the exception of skin color or gender, nothing can identify you as a member of a ‘different’ or ‘other’ culture than the words you use – be they a variation of English, such as Black English Vernacular or texting slang, or an entirely different language. Language also plays an important role in the immigration debate and in the labor market, as language itself can be seen as both a marketable job skill and a signifier of cultural membership. 

Based on your readings and discussions in class thus far, what might a person’s speech patterns reveal about them? What would be the benefits of schools providing instruction to students from minority subcultures in their native language or an English dialect (such as Black English Vernacular) other than Standard English? What are the potential drawbacks of allowing students to use non Standard English? What are the potential long-term impacts in the workplace of lingual diversity in the schools? Provide examples to support your answer from the text, your readings, outside research, or from your own experience where applicable.

discussion question #2 (in 200 words)

Language is generally one of the most readily identifiable aspects of a person’s culture. With perhaps the exception of skin color or gender, nothing can identify you as a member of a ‘different’ or ‘other’ culture than the words you use – be they a variation of English, such as Black English Vernacular or texting slang, or an entirely different language. Language also plays an important role in the immigration debate and in the labor market, as language itself can be seen as both a marketable job skill and a signifier of cultural membership. 

Based on your readings and discussions in class thus far, what might a person’s speech patterns reveal about them? What would be the benefits of schools providing instruction to students from minority subcultures in their native language or an English dialect (such as Black English Vernacular) other than Standard English? What are the potential drawbacks of allowing students to use non Standard English? What are the potential long-term impacts in the workplace of lingual diversity in the schools? Provide examples to support your answer from the text, your readings, outside research, or from your own experience where applicable.