Trilingualism

According to Judith Baker in her article “Trilingualism,” Americans needs to know three forms of the English language. These three forms are the “home” English or dialect, which is usually the language spoken at home or the language of their peers. The “formal” or academic English is the form that is learned in school and from reading. The last form is “professional” English which is the language of a specific profession. This is either learned in school or while working (51-52).

The Primitive language myth entails that “certain tribes speak primitive language with only 200-300 words, and simple grammar” (71). This myth has been dispelled, but the myth continues to live on. This myth usually encompasses people in low income groups. According to Michael Stubbs in his article “Some Basic Sociolinguistic Concepts”, there have been studies conducted in urban Britain and the U.S.A., that the dialect in these urban areas are “inherently systematic and rule-governed, deeply organized systems of great complexity” (71).

David Bloome and Patricia Enciso’s article “Looking out across Columbus: What We Mean by ‘Multiple Literacies” discusses the different ways people use language and how schools should prepare students to survive in our society. The way a person speaks varies depending on the person they are talking to. A person wouldn’t talk to their mother the way they talk to their friend. Bloome and Enciso believe that to participate in the “economical, social, cultural, political, and educational life,” the individual would have to know how to use language in the way it would be appropriate for the specific social setting.

What all these articles suggest is that educators need to come together so we can teach all students. We need to be accepting of the different dialects, and help students become trilingual so they can succeed in any social setting.