Access Quote by Kate Burridge
“Because of the way our society is structures, using sentences such as "I don't it" can put people at a disadvantage. And this is, of course, why teachers have to give students access to Standard English, in order to protect them against this sort of prejudice.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Language and Social Equality, 2020
Standard English is promoted to protect speakers from bias caused by non‑standard grammar, reinforcing social inequities.
In simple terms: Standard English is taught to avoid prejudice, but it can marginalize non‑standard speakers.
Key Takeaway
Critically assess language standards and their social impact.
Themes
education
linguistics
social justice
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
educational
sociolinguistic
When to use this quote
- classroom instruction
- policy development
- public speaking
Key Concepts
prescriptivism
bias
accessibility
Questions to Reflect On
- Should schools teach multiple dialects?
- How can we reduce language‑based prejudice?
A Different Perspective
Emphasizing one standard may suppress linguistic diversity.
