Routledge True to the Language Game: African American Discourse, Cultural Politics, and Pedagogy

In True to the Language Game, Keith Gilyard, one of the major African American figures to emerge in language and cultural studies, makes his most seminal work available in one volume. This collection of new and previously published essays contains Gilyard’s most relevant scholarly contributions to deliberations about linguistic diversity, cultural identity, critical literacy, writing instruction, literary texts, and popular culture. The volume also features contemporary treatises on such timely topics as "students’ right to their own language," code-switching pedagogy, and political discourse surrounding the rise of Barack Obama. Gilyard weaves together serious analysis, theoretical work, policy discussions, and personal reflections on the interplay of language, literacy, and social justice to make True to the Language Game essential reading for students and scholars in rhetorical studies, composition studies, applied linguistics, and education. Review "Keith Gilyard’s True to the Language Game is a massively well-written and well-argued compendium of his 'greatest hits.' Deftly weaving linguistics, rhetoric, literary criticism, politics, social theory and autobiographical narrative, Gilyard creates an entertaining masterpiece.  He is at the top of his game." -James Paul Gee, Arizona State University