by Corinne Kessler
Among humanity, embracing the variety of dialects is a gateway to diversity and wholesomeness within society. In the eyes of a writing teacher, he or she may believe that formal communication along with proper grammar, diction, and punctuation is the most effective form of language. However, I believe writing teachers should embrace the varieties of English as opposed to limiting the expression of ideas to “standard” grammar and diction. It is important to consider that “linguistic variation may be caused by differences in pronunciation, syntax, vocabulary, formality, and the ways in which language is used” which emphasizes how different forms of language should not be criticized for lacking formal standards (Uccelli). The wide range of dialects has much educational worth to offer, whether they are formal or informal, and possess great value in terms of the backgrounds and cultures they originate from.
Jamilia Lyiscott sheds light on this idea in her Ted Talk, “3 Ways to Speak English”, as she presents how she “code-meshes” and “code-switches” between her three different vernaculars: with her friends, in the classroom, and with her parents. It is important to note that, “each English she uses has rules and grammar, each is a language of its own, but not always recognized with such legitimacy” (Uccelli). Through being a “tri-tongued orator”, Lyiscott illustrates the value of each of her dialects in the sense that she has formed each one to suit the appropriate audience and setting. As Lyiscott unpacks what it means to be “articulate”, she explores the complicated history and present-day identity that each language represents. In doing so, Lyiscott strengthens the idea that educated ideas and worthy language does not necessarily have to be formal; just because one does not speak proper English, does not mean that their form of language lacks value or educated ideas. Lyiscott aims to emphasize to her audience that through acceptance and understanding, people can appreciate what others have to say despite being in a broken tongue or not (Lyiscott). In correspondence to Lyiscott’s message, writing teachers should embrace the abundance of dialects by acknowledging that they all tell a different story as to how the people speaking learned these languages and developed them over the course of time.
Take the tongue Lyiscott uses to speak with her parents, for example. Lyiscott and her family are from Trinidad, and she was raised in a Black-Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City (Lysicott). Even though the official language of Trinidad is English, it is a very slang version which explains the broken English that Lysicott speaks with her parents. Slang, broken, or informal, this dialect still encompasses historic value; the dialect that Lyiscott’s family uses to communicate with one another reflects their background and culture which exemplifies how humanity is not limited to blossoming in one singular way. Applying this idea to the classroom, writing teachers should recognize how all humans are raised in terms of developing their language and appreciate these upbringings of language as they are all capable of possessing educated ideas.
Similar to Lyiscott, Vershawn Ashanti Young, author of, “Should Writers Use They Own English”, supports the idea of “code-meshing” and “code switching”; both Lyiscott and Young view the acceptance of various dialects as culturally enriching to the world. In terms of the development of dialects, Young claims, “much of what is learned is learned informally and often only partially” to stress that not all people are raised to speak languages in a formal manner as each origin, culture, and background approaches the learning of language with a different style (118). Furthermore, Young touches upon the evolution of dialects as he explains how, “social or cultural representations of recognizable forms of writing persist… [and] those recognizable forms of writing exist across several intellectual generations” (118). In other words, from the time dialects are rooted from their social and cultural origins, they develop and carry on as time progresses.
Lyiscott and Young both provide valuable insight as to why embracing different vernaculars is important to the development of diversity not only in the classroom, but among society as whole as well. This acceptance encourages humans to form a more inclusive community as it helps eliminate negative stereotypes and personal biases about different groups. By taking in all flavors of dialect with an open mind, this helps people recognize and respect the ways of being that are not necessarily their own. Accepting the wide range of dialects in the classroom is only a stepping stone in the direction of this movement, but it is a monumental step in working towards a more diverscially accepting society.