This book deals with the isolation and alienation of native-language speaking minority groups resulting from the teaching strategies and procedures used in the public school system. Chapters include: "The Problem Defined," which states the problem of handicapped English and argues that it is a cultural rather than a psychological phenomenon; "The Child and His Language," which traces the language and growth of the child, both as a receiver-transmitter and as a conceptualizer; "Does 'Different' = 'Inferior'?" which analyzes in detail the three levels of social-class lects (acrolect, mesilect, basilect) in Modern American English; "Inadequate Segmentation of Reality," which studies the inadequate segmentation among speakers of the basilect and finds their language deficient in the semantic, designative, implicative, and pragmatic variables of Modern American English; "Inappropriate Image of Self and Linguistic Roles," which probes into deficiencies in message receiving which complicate appropriate linguistic role response; "Causes of Handicapped English," which pays particular attention to environmental rather than biological deprivations; and "Pretensions at Pedagogy," which offers conclusions aimed at public school educators. (RB)