Teenagers are to be taught the art of speech.

[CVX]

By Polly Curtis
The Guardian - UK
8-9-4

Teenagers are to be taught the art of speech in an effort to improve verbal language skills amongst secondary school pupils.

Guidance is being sent to teachers ahead of the new term in September on how to give speaking lessons. The plans include taping pupils' conversations and playing them back to highlight their mistakes.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) guidance is aimed at 12-16-year olds. The 60-page document entitled "introducing the grammar of talk" also outlines rules for how teachers should speak English.

Youngsters will be encouraged to analyse their own language through the tape-and play-back sessions. They will be told the reasons for avoiding phrases such as "they was", "I done", and "ain't".

Sue Horner, head of English at the QCA, said: "Being able to speak accurately, clearly and in a comprehensive way is important.

"Getting pupils to explain their use of language can give them power over it. They are more likely to communicate effectively if they understand what they are doing."

EducationGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004 http://education.guardian.co.uk/scho...279402,00.html

[Warsai]

More power to them then, improving verbal communication is always a good thing.

[gr8geezer]

I bet advocates of the legitimacy of ebonics wouldn't like that sort of thing around here.

[xlt66]

Originally Posted by gr8geezer

I bet advocates of the legitimacy of ebonics wouldn't like that sort of thing around here.

Ah! Ebonics. You bring up some good and funny memories:

Question: Why were there only 49 contestants for the "Miss Ebonics U.S.A." Pageant?

Answer: No contestant wanted to wear a banner that said "Idaho"!

[xlt66]

Not to be outdone by Ebonics in California, the Southern Association of
Colleges & Schools is requesting billions of federal dollars to teach
"Y'allbonics" in all classrooms south of the Mason-Dixon line. Included
here are some samples of "Y'allbonics." If you do not understand any of
them, contact a Southerner for an explanation.

HEIDI: (noun) Greeting.

HIRE YEW: (complete sentence) Remainder of greeting. Usage: "Heidi,
hire yew?"

BARD: (verb) Past tense of the infinitive "to borrow." Usage: "My
brother bard my pickup truck."

JAWJUH: (noun) The state north of Florida. Capital is Lanner. Usage:
"My brother from Jawjuh bard my pickup truck."

BAMMER: (noun) The state west of Jawjuh. Capital is Berminhayum. Usage:
"A tornader jes went through Bammer an' left $20,000,000 in improvements."

MUNTS: (noun) A calendar division. Usage: "My brother from Jawjuh bard
my pickup truck, and I ain't herd from him in munts."

THANK: (verb) Cognitive process. Usage: "Ah thank ah'll have a Coke."

RANCH: (noun) A tool used for tight'nin' bolts. Usage: "I thank I leff
my ranch in the back of that pickup truck my brother from Jawjuh bard a
few munts ago."

ALL: (noun) A petroleum-based lubricant. Usage: "I sure hope my brother
from Jawjuh puts all in my pickup truck."

FAR: (noun) A conflagration. Usage: "If my brother from Jawjuh don't
change the all in my pickup truck, that thing's gonna catch far."

TAR: (noun) A rubber wheel. Usage: "I hope that brother of mine from
Jawjuh don't git a flat tar in my pickup truck."

TIRE: (noun) A tall monument. Usage: "Lord willin' and the creek don't
rise, Ah sure hope to see that Eiffel Tire in Pars sometime."

RETARD: (verb) To stop working. Usage: "My grampaw retard at age 65."

FARN: (adjective) Not domestic. Usage: "I cuddint unnerstand a wurd he
sed ... must be from some farn country."

DID: (adjective) Not alive. Usage: "He's did, Jim."

ARE: (noun) A colorless, odorless gas; oxygen. Usage: "He cain't
breathe ...give 'im some ARE!"

BOB WAR: (noun) A sharp, twisted cable. Usage: "Boy, stay away from
that bob war fence."

"I be thinkin that Ebonics be stupid" -Spike Lee