Letter to the Editor: Context is essential to understanding scope of student research on code meshing in schools

To The Daily Cardinal:

I am writing in response to an article published about my student, Erika Gallagher, on April 6, 2017. I want to provide some additional context that could help readers better understand the genesis of Gallagher’s research paper, its methodology, and its aims.

Most broadly, it should be noted that Gallagher’s paper was written for an undergraduate course on teaching writing and her research, due to time constraints, was necessarily small in scope and preliminary.

Her findings should be viewed in this light—the initial and exploratory work of an undergraduate researcher.

Gallagher’s paper was inspired by the scholarship of Vershawn A. Young and others who have studied the effects that “code switching” (using standard academic English in work or school, for example, and using African-American English with friends and family) can have on speakers.

These scholars have proposed that in appropriate contexts “code meshing” (blending dialects with standard academic English) may benefit student writers and speakers in a variety of ways.

Having read Young’s work, Gallagher wondered if students of color at UW-Madison, particularly student leaders, practice code switching and/or code meshing in their campus speeches and in their writing and how they might feel about these practices.

Working with a very small sample, she discovered that some student leaders do engage in code-switching and find opportunities to code-mesh in subjects like poetry or art. Gallagher also found that students would welcome more opportunities to code-mesh.

After completing the paper, Gallagher applied and was accepted to present the results of her work at a poster session showcasing specifically undergraduate research at the Conference on College Composition and Communication. The Conference selects undergraduate work that holds potential for the development of future scholarly research.

Given how easily discussions of race and language can be subject to mischaracterization, it is essential that any description of research like Gallagher’s be accurate.

I hope this letter serves to clarify the context for and the content of Gallagher’s paper.

This letter was written by Emily Hall, Director of the Undergraduate Writing Fellows Program. It was also written with the support of Brad Hughes, Director of the Writing Center; Karen Redfield, Department of English Undergraduate Advisor; David Zimmerman, Associate Chair of the Department of English and Russ Castronovo, Chair of the Department of English.

What are your thoughts on code switching? Do you notice yourself switching and meshing codes throughout daily life? How does language promote inclusivity? Please send any and all comments, questions and concerns to opinion@dailycardinal.com.