An important aspect of the current situation is the strong social reaction against suggestions that the home language of African American children be used in the first steps of learning to read and write.
William LabovBut unlike European countries, America has never finished a map of the United States, only the eastern United States is covered and a few spots here and there.
William LabovI have resisted the term sociolinguistics for many years, since it implies that there can be a successful linguistic theory or practice which is not social.
William LabovI am now completing research supported by NSF and NEH that is mapping changes in the English language through all of North America, for both mainstream and minority communities.
William Labov