Linguistic Justice

Banner at the top of the page includes three boxes with different ways to define linguistic justice: Linguistic justice is knowing language is not merely a neutral means of communication; it is a site of power and identity. Linguistic justice is about actively breaking down gatekeeping barriers to ensure student success. Linguistic justice is a necessary component of social justice that can be achieved by creating spaces that welcome linguistic diversity, recognizing the legitimacy of multiple language practices and providing students with the tools to navigate different linguistic contexts.

Welcome!

Linguistic justice is an inclusive, antiracist approach to teaching writing in which multiple expressions of diversity are recognized as assets in learning.  April Baker-Bell (2020) describes this pedagogy as, “The belief that a homogenous, standard, one-size- fits-all language is a myth that normalizes white ways of speaking English and is used to justify linguistic discrimination on the basis of race” (99). Building on Baker-Bell’s ideas, this website includes examples of what linguistic justice strategies and resources look like in various writing classrooms.

Working together in a writing across the curriculum workshop during summer 2024, 10 faculty members from a university in North Carolina engaged linguistic justice scholarship, identified strategies for classroom practices, and created justice-oriented teaching resources for their own classrooms that can also serve as models for other instructors.

6 Ways to Approach Linguistic Justice in Your Classroom