A Study of the Stigmatization of AAVE A Language Study- Southeastern Louisiana University By: Blake Cox & Adam DiBenedetto

Introduction The English language– develops Dialects– many language varieties form Dialects and vernaculars– linguistically equal But are they considered equally appropriate in different settings?

The Purpose of the Study Is AAVE stigmatized based on its grammatical deviations from SAE? Based on the survey results, what implications can be made about the use of AAVE in the academic setting?

Summary: Demographics & Parameters People of different genders People of different races Students & Professors Students & Professors of different fields of study (English, Education, Kinesiology, Communications, Biology, Sociology, etc.) All participants from SLU (academic setting)

Summary of the Study Measured Results Numerical Values Avg. Rate of Seriousness of Errors (AAVE) = 3.811688 Avg. Rate of Seriousness of Errors (SAE) = 3.271429 Difference between the above averages = 0.540259 Summary of the Study 20-question survey Each question contains an “error” Participants rank errors (1-5) Each question requires an answer Summary of results is drawn

Difference of Averages Implications Difference of Averages T-test Results Approximately 0.54 Determines whether 2 data sets are “statistically significant” Measured Results Numerical Value Difference between averages 0.540259

T-test Results T-test value 0.05 marks the criterion for “statistical significance” Any p value > 0.05 is NOT statistically significant Our results had a p value of 0.0690 We cannot confidently say that our means are caused by anything other than chance Though Diff. of Avgs ≈ 0.54, t-test implies not enough evidence of a conscious choice by respondents

Answering the Questions Is AAVE stigmatized based on its grammatical deviations from SAE? Based on results, the analyses show that while the averages of the respondents’ rankings differ by approximately 0.54, the t- test calculation deems the results of the study, based on the p value that was calculated, “not statistically significant.” Therefore, results don’t indicate stigmatization of either language variety Based on the survey results, what implications can be made about the use of AAVE in the academic setting? Based on the results of the study, the difference between the rankings of the seriousness of the “errors” in AAVE and SAE cannot exactly be considered indicative of stigmatization of a language variety. This particular academic setting does not indicate that AAVE is stigmatized.