I think Cos is right on this one. In my personal experience, I've been amazed by parents who spend lots of money on video games but won't fork over the money to buy Hooked On Phonics for a kid with obvious reading problems.
Yeah but kids who had good families, whose parents didn't talk like that, who had no reason to talk like that, all of the sudden talking like that?
I'll piggy back a little as to what Sam said. As long as they can speak both and know when it's appropriate to use either, why would it matter if they are with friends and the structure of their language comes from W. African roots as long as when they are called to use academic English they can do that as well? If they are with family, and friends and speak in a dialect that everyone involved is more comfortable with who cares? What's important is that they understand there are times when non-standard English isn't appropriate.
I'm sure roman consuls in Iberia maintained good speaking, but I bet their kids after awhile, grew up speaking spanish.
Yes, there is certainly a good amount of posing and trying to be something else that goes on. But that doesn't make it wrong for a person to be comfortable speaking both standard English and a non-standard dialect when one is more appropriate than the other.
But they aren't learning where and when to do it. They won't advance higher than retail or blue collar jobs or even no jobs at all if they don't learn the proper way to speak at proper times.
I agree. Like I said learning when it's ok and not ok to use non-standard English is part of what should be taught. It's also important though to understand why some mistakes are made in order to better teach them. By assuming that they are ignorant when speaking non-standard English in a correct W. African structure only hampers their learning. If you can point out that there is a time when it's ok to speak like that and a time when it isn't. It's also important to not confuse slang and grammer usage that isn't proper either in standard English or W. African language structure. Depending which of the four groups (students with Hawaiian, Mexican, American Indian, or African American backgrounds ) it's important to know the linguistic charactersistics that cause common problems when learning Academic English.
But I'm saying htey knew, they grew up knowing, and then one day it was like, I need the bling, I need the cars, I need to talk like I live the life of a rapper. And this goes more so for young white males who can't even fall back on the W. African dialect excuse.
It is about communication Mr Cosby maybe correct . . . . But the main thing is . . . .The child and his parents understand each other. . . . those around them they associate with understand them Why is it a big deal that the Great and Powerful Coz doesn't would you DISS a person for having a thick accent? Why is ok . . but Dialects are not? why do Dialects denote a level of mental ability? If they Dr is saving my life. . I don't give a d*mn if he cannot speak at all . . .and it is a poor statement on a person that discriminates based on Dialect Rocket River We can always find a reason to Hate, belittle and hurt but rarely a reason to love, Nurish and support
The bottom line from what I am saying is that it is ignorant to speak that way all the time like many do when they KNOW how to speak proper English. It has been proven that the better you speak English the further you can go, and the same goes for a thick accent. It is VERY hard for someone to become the CEO of a company with a thick accent opposed to someone who speaks without one. That said a person who choses to speak with an accent even though they can speak without one is just as ignorant as a person who chooses not to speak proper English when they know how. Cosby's point is that many kids are choosing to not speak proper English because its cool and it is hurting them. If you don't think that not speaking proper English is hurting their chances at being as successful as possible than you are ignorant. Our society DOES discriminate against people who can't speak proper English, just as it does with someone who speaks with a bad accent. That's the way it is. Just because it shouldn't be that way doesnt mean it isn't. I use the word "Y'all" around friends/family often, but if I were to use that in business then I would consider myself ignorant for using this "dialect" just as much as I think these kids are ignorant that choose to speak this way in an envrionment where proper English will benefit you more.
Just because the people you are familiar with can understand you doesn't mean the larger population can. The larger population is the one that pays my bills, not my friends. And that, RocketRiver, is the main thing. So when I'm at work or work events, you won't hear any slang from me and you won't hear my accent come out. When I'm relaxed with my friends, you'll hear the natural words come out. It's all about knowing your audience. If you can't adapt to the larger community, you are at a disadvantage. Simple as that. That is one of the standard practices of our society. We should encourage people to follow the "rules" that are laid out to help ensure they achieve success. If someone wants to use their dialect all the time, that's their perogative. But when there is a communication barrier between that individual and the people that individual needs to achieve success, there is only one person to blame when they fall short.
