User:Lihuamh/Prestige(Sociolinguistics)

Introduction
The level of prestige a group has can also influence whether the language that they speak is considered its own language or a dialect/variety (implying that it does not have enough prestige to be considered its own language).

The relationship between language and identity construction as a result of prestige influences the language used by different genders and races.

The result of language contact depends on the power relationship between the interacting languages/ groups that are in contact.

Standard Varieties and Covert Prestige
Prestige varieties are those that are regarded mostly highly within a society. As such, the standard language, the form promoted by authorities - usually governmental or from those in power - and considered "correct" or otherwise superior, is often the prestige variety.

Linguist Rosina Lippi-Green believes that this belief in a standard language defends and rationalizes the preservation of the social order, since it equates "nonstandard" or "substandard" language with "nonstandard or substandard human beings."

Linguists believe that no language, or variety of language, is inherently better than any other language, for every language serves its purpose of allowing its users to communicate. This is because every variety of a language is systematic and rule governed. These rules do not contain a hierarchy, thus, certain varieties - linguistically - are not placed above another.

The relative status of language varies according to audience, situation and other contextual elements such as geographic location.

Role of Education System
Criticism of AAVE in schools by teachers not only insults the students that speak AAVE, but those insults also puts the people who taught these students how to speak in a subordinate position. In turn, this further reinforces stratification of social groups in a linguistic and social context.

By nature, this is a prescriptivist way of teaching a language, and "suggest[s] that children who do not speak Standard American English (SAE) will find acceptance and validation in the schools."

Prestige in Media
One of the primary examples of the debate of prestige within the media is the Oakland ebonics controversy of 1996. Illustrating the pervasiveness of public views on socio-educational issues in relation to language diversity, the Oakland, California school board came to a resolution recognizing Ebonics within public education. This proposition recognized Ebonics as a language system in attempts for the city to receive public funding for bilingual situations. Heavy debate arose amongst congressman, newscasters, and other commentators with relatively no linguistics knowledge.

The debate was extremely controversial, with beliefs stemming from the same beliefs that govern morality, religion, and ethics. Similar to the beliefs that govern these areas, the debate on Ebonics was believed to be inflexible. The discussion "surfaced foundational beliefs about language and language diversity and exposed an alternative, non-mainstream set of beliefs about language and language variation.”

Social Class (Added paragraph)
A prime example of covert prestige globally is within popular culture. The pervasiveness of hip hop music and its usage of AAVE has coined many terms that are used in a social context by many. Usage of AAVE has created a certain social capital, or clout, in certain social contexts. Contrastingly, in educational or hierarchal settings, usage of this variety can result in negative connotations. Due to this, practitioners are often perceived as having minimal academic prowess or being lowly educated. They can also be associated with poverty or low economic means. These inherent stigmas and biases impede the AAVE speaker from academic, social, and economic success.