In an attempt to measure the effect that dialect of presentation has on Black-English-speaking children's oral reading performance, this study measured the percentage of unknown words attempted by third and fifth grade subjects on equivalent forms of an oral reading task presented in Standard English, Black English standard orthography, and Black…

Measures of abstract reasoning ability, degree of bidialectism, and reading performance were administered to Black, inner-city third and fifth graders. Abstract reasoning ability significantly affected reading performance while expressive proficiency in Standard English and Black English did not significantly affect scores. The importance of…

Equivalent forms of listening comprehension, oral reading, and oral reading comprehension tasks in (1) standard English, (2) black English, standard orthography, and (3) black English, nonstandard orthography were administered to black, inner-city children. Subjects scored highest on black English, standard orthography and lowest on black English,…