John Baugh is Professor of Education and Linguistics at Stanford University. He has also served as President
of the American Dialect Society.
Review
"A lucid new study of...perhaps the most strident linguistic controversy in recent memory."
--The New Yorker
"John Baugh's recent book is arguably the most clearly articulated and detailed account of the controversy
that surrounded the Oakland Unified School District's policy decision in December, 1996, and his book suggests
why these issues will continue to be at the forefront of language education in the United States."
--TCRecord.org
"Recommended for all collections."
--Choice
Oxford University Press Web Site, October, 2002
Summary
The media frenzy surrounding the 1996 resolution by the Oakland School Board brought public attention to the
term "Ebonics", however the idea remains a mystery to most. John Baugh, a well-known African-American
linguist and education expert, offers an accessible explanation of the origins of the term, the linguistic reality
behind the hype, and the politics behind the outcry on both sides of the debate. Using a non-technical, first-person
style, and bringing in many of his own personal experiences, Baugh debunks many commonly-held notions about the
way African-Americans speak English, and the result is a nuanced and balanced portrait of a fraught subject. This
volume should appeal to students and scholars in anthropology, linguistics, education, urban studies, and African-American
studies
Clarifies issues an issue that has caused massive national confusion
Table of Contents
1. Linguistic Pride and Racial Prejudice
2. Ebonic Genesis
3. A Contentious Global Debut
4. The Oakland Resolutions
5. Legislative Lament
6. Legal Implications
7. Disparate Theoretical Foundations
8. Racist Reactions and Ebonics Satire
9. Beyond Ebonics: Striving toward Enhanced Linguistic Tolerance
Appendix A: Linguistic Society of American Resolution on the Oakland "Ebonics" Issue
Appendix B: Texas 75th Legislature, Regular Session: House Resolution 28
Appendix C: California 1997-98 Regular Session: Senate Bill 205
