Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

385

Date

2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

English

Concentration

Composition Studies

Committee Member

Joseph G. Jones

Committee Member

Reginald Martin

Committee Member

Susan Popham

Abstract

Juanita Williamson (1917-1993) was an important linguist and English scholar. Her work was undertaken during a time of great controversy in academic circles as educators and intellectuals argues about the definition of and place for what was then termed Black English in American classrooms. Her scholarly stance that language was tied to cultural perceptions and constructs led to Williamson's insistence that there was no such thing as Black English because "features used to identify Black English are neither black nor white, but American."Through personal interviews and a comprehensive bibliographic review of Williamson's publications and research in her eponymous archive, this study examines Williamson in the context of the era in which she lived and worked to explore how her pedagogical innovations contribute to a fuller understanding of contemporary composition studies and English instruction.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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