It is no secret that many people in the United States do not speak Standard English. In fact, according to a recent study, only about one third of Americans speak Standard English fluently (Wang, 2016). This means that two thirds of Americans are not able to fully participate in society because they cannot communicate in the dominant language. This is a huge problem, because it creates a barrier to social mobility and inclusion.

There are a number of reasons why speech standards can be exclusionary. First, there is a great deal of variation in the way people speak. This is due to regional differences, social class, and ethnicity. Second, the rules of Standard English are often arbitrary and can be difficult to learn. Third, Standard English is often associated with white, middle-class people, which can make it seem inaccessible to those from other backgrounds.

The good news is that there is a growing movement to make Standard English more inclusive. A number of organizations, such as the National Council of Teachers of English, are working to make Standard English more accessible to everyone. In addition, there are a number of resources available to help people learn Standard English. However, there is still a long way to go in terms of making Standard English truly inclusive.