The Ebonics Enigma: An analysis of attitudes on an urban college campus

Abstract

The debate regarding the use of Ebonics is a controversial one. Much of what is known about the topic is limited to theoretical discussions within academic circles. Limited research has been performed to assess public views. In this study current theories on black language forms are used to examine the opinions of a diverse sample of college students from an urban university in the South regarding Ebonics; the focus is on the meaning attached to Ebonics as a valid communicative form and teaching tool. Data are from surveys of 389 college students. Three dimensions of Ebonics opinions, identified through factor analysis, are used to suggest a typology of student orientations toward Ebonics, and multiple regression analysis identifies variables that predict these orientations. Findings show that respondents vary in their opinions about Ebonics and a considerable number of them associate Ebonics with socioeconomic constraints. However, political orientation, age, and the media influence their views most.

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