ABSTRACT
This chapter describes studies on dialect variation and discusses the implications of the studies for reading performance. A sizable body of literature exists on phonology and grammar as they relate to reading interference among black dialect speakers. Generally speaking, the distinction between grammatical and phonological features of black dialect is not clear-cut. The chapter reviews some relevant questions for research that are suggested by the current state of affairs in the area. The dialect variant to be described is Vernacular Black English. Dialect can be interpreted either as a facilitator or an interferer. The chapter describes a group of studies on dialect variation. These studies represent attempts to locate the sources of difficulties for dialect speakers on three different levels: phonological, grammatical, and lexical and content. Reading instruction for both groups was equally divided between basal reader and phonics approaches.
