Dialect and Literacy Development : A Review of Existing Literature Across Disciplines

Abstract

The literature pertaining to the relationships between dialect, learning, and literacy is vast. Different disciplines bring different knowledge and theories to these topics. While all examine the interplay between dialect and literacy development, their different lens led to differences in how they operationalize literacy development. Our aim is to review the existing literature across the disciplines of education, psychology, and speech language pathology to extract common themes and identify potential gaps. We question whether interactional and power dynamics are adequately addressed. Children speak diverse dialects in our early education classroom; however mainstream American English (MAE) remains a gatekeeper to educational success. Mapping the literature will provide an integrated picture of the role dialect plays in literacy development.