ERIC Number: EJ1126573
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1931-3152
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Exposing Gaps in/between Discourses of Linguistic Deficits
Johnson, Eric J.; Avineri, Netta; Johnson, David Cassels
International Multilingual Research Journal, v11 n1 p5-22 2017
Hart and Risley's (1995) concept of a "word gap" (aka "language gap") is widely used to describe inferior cognitive development and lower academic achievement as by-products of the language patterns of families from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. In recent decades, this line of deficit research has proliferated and caused a surge in public exposure in the media and political realms. In this discussion, we employ critical discourse analysis to illuminate intertextual links across three essential domains of "language gap" discourse: (a) academic research literature, (b) public news media, and (c) institutional narratives. The data are analyzed in terms of interdiscursive connections within and between research articles; news and magazine stories; and institutional documents from academic, political, and philanthropic organizations. Here, we demonstrate how discourses that are generated within a socially insulated "language gap" research paradigm propagate a deficit orientation of linguistic minority communities, problematically validate behavior intervention programs among particular socioeconomic groups, and reify linguistic and cultural misperceptions of traditionally marginalized groups.
Descriptors: Cognitive Development, Academic Achievement, Language Patterns, Economically Disadvantaged, Language Usage, Family Environment, Discourse Analysis, News Reporting, Research Reports, Language Minorities, Intervention, Misconceptions, Poverty, Language Processing, Health, Sociolinguistics, Language Attitudes, Socialization, Literacy, Figurative Language, Socioeconomic Status
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
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Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A