Research Paper on:
Traditions and Language

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
individual. Her book, Ways With Words follows the development of language in two very disparate townships. Through a longitudinal study, she was able to determine and prove that cultural values  and behaviors as well as organizational structures have a great bearing on a persons grasp of language. In a review of Chapter Five of Heaths book, it becomes apparent that  even though the women of Trackton understand the differences in language and learning between their children and those of the townspeople, they are unwilling to admit that their own children  would benefit from the same type of learning. Why would this be so? Part of it boils down to cultural pride. To admit that the Trackton parents have a  better way of teaching their children language is in some way an indication of short coming on their part, and admission of weakness, if you will. They seem to have  the mentality of If it was good enough for my daddy and mamma, then it is good enough for me and mine. This stubbornness, unfortunately has to be dealt with  before change can occur. The other solution is for the teachers to learn how to speak to these children using their own vernacular in an effort to work changes from  that angle. Heaths study followed the students into the schools during the first few years of desegregation and this is where she saw the broad differences in the way  language had been utilized in the different communities and what a task was ahead for the teachers in these desegregated classrooms. Roadville and Trackton each differed from expectations the mainstream  families and schools held about uses of language. The childrens ability to use certain ritualized uses of language, like labeling something or categorizing something, as well as other language based