ABSTRACT
The study of a multiethnic, multilectal black speaker presented in this chapter reflects John R. Rickford’s influence and mentorship. Two publications led me to pursue graduate study in linguistics: Peter A. Roberts’ (1988) West Indians and their Language, and Rickford’s (1983b) ‘Standard and Non-standard Language Attitudes in a Creole Continuum,’ both of which I first encountered in Jamaica in the bookstore of the University of the West Indies. When I presented my first paper at an academic conference (Wassink 1995), Rickford welcomed my language attitude research, expressing excitement that there were three ‘-fords’ (Rickford, Donald Winford, and myself, Beckford) presenting on creoles at that year’s NWAV. Hearing openly positive regard for creole research was life-changing for me. I had heretofore believed that studying one of my language varieties was a narcissistic project with no place in academics. But Rickford said to me, ‘Sociolinguists bin walkin’ round de place actin’ like certain languages more valuable than others [to the study of the human capacity for language].’ In recent years, Rickford has animated my belief that to study the sociolinguistic competence of (multilectal) black speakers will allow for study of the complexities of language form and use in a way that can move variationist sociolinguistics forward.
