| Discusses the linguistic profiling research of John Baugh. Linguistic profiling is when are discriminated against on the basis of perceived dialect (see also: www.youtube.com www.youtube.com Also discusses one theory on the origins of African American English. The theory here is the creolist view. Other views include (1) substratist view, (2) dialectologist (or Anglicist) view, (3) settler principle view, (4) founder principle view. Also briefly mentions Gullah, a creole language spoken by the descendents of slaves off the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia. ---- Transcript In the 1960s Detroit was the home of Motown. Today there's a thriving hip hop scence. Even the white cross-over rapper Eminem comes from the area called 8-mile. Inner city Detroit is 82% African American. But language can define you just as much as the color of your skin. At the main bus station we meet John Baugh, a professor of linguistics from Stanford University in California. John joins us in Detroit to demonstrate an experiment he's been conducting for years about how American react to different accents. It's called linguistic profiling. First, he checks the rental housing section in the city paper. Then, he calls properties that are advertised for rent. He calls first using an African American accent. Realtor: May I help you? JB: Yes, my name is Michael Davis. I was calling to see if you might have any houses for rent that might be available? RM: Then, he calls again speaking with a Latino ... |
