Before working at Stanford University, Rickford held lectures in linguistics at the University of Guyana and was named Assistant Dean, Faculty of Arts, between 1979 and 1980. He later started teaching at Stanford University in 1980 as a Visiting Assistant Linguistics Professor before being named associate professor, with tenure, in linguistics (1986). While working in the United States, Rickford has kept contact with the University of Guyana as external examiner for linguistics courses, MA, and PhD theses (1982–present).[7]
Field of expertise
Rickford's sociolinguistic research focuses on the relation between language variation and ethnicity, social class, variation and change. He is especially interested in the varieties of English spoken by marginalized communities in relation to ethical and economical characteristics. His research focuses on African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) or Ebonics, spoken by many African Americans and the role linguistics plays in the educational context.[6] Through his work, Rickford aims to close linguistic gaps across cultures.
Rickford's expertise is African-American Vernacular English, which garnered national attention in the U.S. when the Oakland, California school board recognized the variety as an official dialect of English and educated teachers in its use.[4][8] Rickford argues that AAVE is systematic and rule-governed like all natural speech.[6] Rickford has researched and written extensively on the topic and was an outspoken supporter of the decision.[4]
Rickford also engages in research regarding pidgin and creole languages.[9][10] Most of his data comes from English-based creoles of the Caribbean, especially, Guyanese Creole, Jamaican and Barbadian and American English.[citation needed]
African American Vernacular English: Features and Use, Evolution, and Educational Implications, Oxford (1999): Blackwell.
Spoken Soul: The Story of Black English (with Russell J. Rickford). New York: John Wiley, 2000. [Winner of a 2000 American Book Award]
Language in the USA: Themes for the Twenty-First Century, ed. (with Edward Finegan). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
Raciolinguistics: How Language Shapes Our Ideas About Race, eds. H. Samy Alim, John R. Rickford and Arnetha F. Ball. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.
Personal life
Rickford is married to professor Angela Rickford, and they have four children.[13][10]
^"News from the National Academy of Sciences". April 26, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021. Newly elected members and their affiliations at the time of election are: ... Rickford, John R.; J.E. Wallace Sterling Professor of Linguistics and the Humanities, emeritus, department of linguistics, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., entry in member directory:"Member Directory". National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
