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.  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.