In the final episode of Standard Deviations, we explore the rich history of African-American English.  Nicola Brayan looks at attempts to make African-Americans conform to so-called ‘proper English’ and the profound effect this has on the way they view themselves and are treated by others. By the end, we realise the frivolity of judging others by the way they speak.    Written and produced: Nicola Brayan Supervising Editor: Lea Redfern Sound design and audio editing: Josh Dowton Artwork: Veronica Lenard

Part 1 - Our language, our culture

We’ve all been told that there’s a “proper” way to speak English. What if that wasn’t true?&nbsp;There are thousands of dialects of English that are “non-standard”, but still carry cultural and historic significance.&nbsp;Join Nicola Brayan as she explores English dialects around the world and how language shapes identity, communities, and, too often, discrimination.&nbsp;This story challenges us to think before we judge the way others speak.&nbsp;