Language Productivity of Black and White Children in Black Versus White Situations

Abstract

This study hypothesized that subjects would have increased language productivity when talking to members of their own ethnic group than when talking to members of a different ethnic group. Males (N=148) between the ages of 7-9 years participated in this study. Subjects consisted of 22 black children who were required to give a speech to all black children (BS-BA); 22 black children who were required to give a speech to all white children (BS-WA) ; 22 white children who were required to give a speech to all white children (WS-WA); and 22 white children required to give a speech to all black children (WS-BA). The speeches were recorded and analysed. The results support the hypothesis of this study. Since language productivity depended on the interaction of race and context, the results were seen as not in accord with the deficiency theory of black-white differences in language productivity.