Production and perception of word-final "th" was assessed among 40 Black English- and 40 standard English-speaking children from grades one to four. The two dialectal groups were significantly different in production but not in perception of the word-final "th." Sequential developmental stages for the acquisition of word-final "th" are proposed…

The extent of differences noted between adult phonologies of Black English and standard American English were less evident in emerging phonologies since unique error types were not exclusively characteristic of either group. Findings have implications for articulation testing of Black English-speaking children who have acquired their adult…

Examines the reasons and myths surrounding the Ebonics controversy, which concerns the use of the English dialect spoken by many African-American children in Oakland, California, schools as a strategy for teaching Standard American English. Implications for diagnosing and educating special-education students whose primary dialect is Ebonics are…

In order to investigate the possible consequences of dialectical differences in the classroom setting relative to the low income black and white first grade child and the prospective white middle-class teacher, 25 black and 25 white university listeners yielded speech recognition scores for 48 black and 48 white five-year-old urban school-children…

It is not necessary for Black children to lose their ethnic, linguistic, and cultural behavior patterns when learning standard English, if they are taught by enlightened teachers using innovative educational programs. (Author/MC)

The syntax of 14 child speakers of African American English (AAE) with and without language disorders were compared. Findings suggested that shared features between AAE and Standard American English may be more diagnostically salient than features not shared when identifying children of AAE language backgrounds with language disorders. (DB)

This article reviews the major components of Public Law 94-142 and the implications of this law for Ebonics-speaking children. (BE)