On the Teaching of the English Language

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Abstract

NEWER approaches to language learning are based, not on doctrines of authoritarianism (long outmoded in other fields), but on the findings of linguistic scientists. Standard English is a dialect spoken natively by only 5 per cent of the American people. For the 95 per cent, the standard dialect is essentially a foreign language, which is to be acquired along with suitable manners and habits of dress as a hallmark of social prestige. Only when the fact of this motivation is faced, and other facts about language are known and applied, can our schools hope to give students linguistic security and control of standard English.