In 1983, Professor Harvey Daniels summarized the research on language to nine key points, his Nine Ideas About Language. A common theme throughout these nine ideas, however, is the idea of equality among languages. Daniels emphasizes that the rules of language are arbitrary and, therefore, differences among languages should not be considered as 'mistakes' but should be seen as equally valid, structured choices. In other words, just because Standard American English (SAE) uses a structure that places an adjective before a noun that doesn't mean this is the 'correct' word order that should be used by all languages. Similarly, there isn't anything inherently more 'right' about using the word dog to describe a furry, four-legged animal than chien or perro. These are simply the sound-object pairings for these particular languages.
I think most people would find these cross-language ideas reasonable--the difficulty, I believe, is to get people to appreciate that these same ideas apply to dialects as well. For example, if 'my car needs washed' is correct word order for Pittsburghese, then this phrase should not be perceived as "bad grammar" but as the reflection of a structured, well-ordered alternative system to SAE. Just as different languages select different combinations of words and rules, dialects do the same. However, the perception of one, inherently 'correct' dialect is a pervasive idea throughout our culture.
Sadly, the selection of a 'standard' dialect means that people who do not speak this dialect will face discrimination in school, in the work place, and in our society at large. And, yet, who stops to think about why the 'standard' dialect is the one that has been selected as 'standard.' People often refer to the idea that this is the dialect that is used on TV...well...why is it the dialect chosen for TV? The real answer to this question is one that makes us all uncomfortable...the 'standard' dialect is the dialect spoken by those in power, those who represent the majority in a culture.
"Well..." some people respond, "that's just the way it is and if you want to succeed in our society, you need to learn to speak without an accent and to use good grammar." First, everyone has an accent--the standard dialect is simply the accent that has been chosen as the default for a culture. Second, "good grammar" is a direct consequence of which dialect has been selected as standard. As Daniels points out, "the need for mastery [of the approved pattern of speech] arises only out of the prejudices of the dominant speech community and not from any intrinsic shortcomings of nonstandard American dialects."
In the end, I think Einar Haugen summarizes the importance of this issue best..."Any scorn for the languages of others is scorn for those who use it, and as such is a form of social discrimination."
What role does such discrimination play in our classrooms and on our campus? How can the negative consequences of speaking a "nonstandard" dialect be addressed? Can a culture develop that recognizes the equality of all dialects?