The negotiation of language in college settings

Clayton, Dominique

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/72991 Copy

Description

Title

The negotiation of language in college settings

Author(s)

Clayton, Dominique

Issue Date

2015-01-21

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Dixson, Adrienne

Department of Study

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Discipline

Educational Policy Studies

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.A.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• African American English
• race
• higher education

Abstract

The study examines the role of language for college students that grew up in African American communities and that are speakers of African American English. The study looked at the participants’ everyday talk and how they talked about their language practices and experiences, socially and academically. The purpose of this study is to understand students’ practices and experiences with language in college settings. The method that was used to collect data was a focus group. The major themes that emerged from this study were centered on the labeling of languages/and or dialects that the participants spoke, code switching, negotiation of space and racialization of language. The participants showed the complexities of being an AAE speaker in higher education. Throughout the paper, there have been instances of the participants implying that their experiences on campus and, in general, schools go further than their language use. Research that further investigates how AAE speakers navigate college spaces and how they perceive language is needed to get a better understanding of student language needs in school settings. This research supports that language practices, behaviors and attitudes are complex; they are fluid and change as the social context changes.

Graduation Semester

2014-12

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/72991

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2014 Dominique Clayton

Owning Collections