Talking Proper

Abstract

In this important paper Labov, a sociolinguist, set out to challenge the basic principles of language deprivation theory. Deprivation theory (or deficit theory) had been used to explain the consistent trend of underachievement in schools among ethnic minority groups and working-class children, both in the United Kingdom and in the United States. The idea was that children from these backgrounds lacked some of the key language skills that enabled non-minority and middle-class children to succeed in schools. The empirical basis of the theory was the poor performance of these children (relative to their White and middleclass counterparts) on language assessments carried out by school teachers and researchers.