This paper will address the multiple sources of language input and various sociocultural factors that help to shape the communicative patterns of African-American children. Implications for the educational instruction of AAVE child speakers in the regular classroom setting and the clinical management of AAVE child speakers who are enrolled in speech therapy programs due to communication difficulties in AAVE as well as Standard American English will be discussed. In fact, it seems to function in counter distinction to that notion of accumulated, stored-up wealth. First, in general considerations, a treasure is an entity or an accumulation of entities which have value or worth because they are precious, rare, desirable, and sought after. But in seeming contradiction to that notion, a language is treasurable perhaps because it may be desirable or sought after, but certainly not because it is rare, nor because it is removed from general use.
Language dies when it is put away.
Language thrives with everyday use. It grows and accumulates precious entities as it is being handled by more and more prying hands. A linguistic treasure is a language which has accumulated a storehouse of valuables for the speakers as it is used in the growth and nurturing of its community. The everyday users of this treasure, the vernacular speakers of that community, keep it phat and growing, mounting in value as it serves their needs. A similar sort of treasure serves the African American community, for AAVE has always been one of its most valuable resources.