"That’s why we have a standardized language in the first place. People grow up in different parts of the country, in different families and communities, speaking different versions or dialects of English — or not speaking English at all. The only purpose of language is to communicate, and if the language or dialect you use in a particular situation allows you to do so, then it is effective.
As I tell my students, English teachers are fond of using words like "wrong" and "error," but those words have meaning only in a classroom context. In students’ personal lives — as they converse, text, or email with friends and family — there is no "wrong" language.
The problem is that, in their work lives, they will be sharing documents or exchanging emails with people from other families, other parts of the country, and other walks of life. Assuming that everyone will understand your dialect only leads to confusion, misunderstanding, and false impressions — all of which are bad for business. Standard American English is no better or worse than any other language or dialect, but it is the one by which educated Americans (and, increasingly, people in other parts of the world) communicate in the workplace.
Like any other language, English can be used to express bigotry or hatred, and certain words may have offensive roots or connotations (like "uppity" and "hysteria"). But no language is inherently discriminatory. Language itself is merely a tool — one that students must learn to use well if they are to be successful in their chosen professions. (To the extent that there are discriminatory words and phrases in English, the solution is to teach students more about the language, not less.)
Students, then, have a vested interest in mastering SAE: It literally pays off for them, as those who are more proficient tend to be more easily hired and more successful on the job. Think of the retired professional athletes who go into television: Many of them were indifferent students and perhaps left college early. Now they sound as if they’d earned master’s degrees. Clearly, they have figured this out."
Explanation:
