How crazy is this? The DEA is having trouble understanding suspected criminals who speak "ebonics" and needs help "translating" what they are saying into Standard American English.
The Johns Hopkins student quickly learns that "ebonics" is not the preferred term (AAVE - African American Vernacular English - is), but it is still an interesting factiod from the web this week...
So... Do readers of this blog feel that ESL recognition / training is needed to reach our students who come from homes in which AAVE aka "Black English" is the spoken /written form?
I feel that recognition of the differences between these two forms of English and coaching in "code switching" is highly appropriate in K-12 settings.
It is a shame whenever good ideas are lost in (a lack of) translation or acceptance of "less prestigious" forms of communication.
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