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Bernstein, Basil

Basil Bernstein (1924–2000) was a world-recognized sociologist who examined language styles within the context of family and social class. He is most known for his theory of codes, which showed how mother-child and school language influenced the achievement of students and sustained a social class. His work gained attention in the early 1970s during a period dominated by a “deficit model” of low-income populations. Bernstein's theoretical perspectives continue to be addressed in educational research, but also inform a range of social science research.

Background and Achievements

Bernstein attended the London School of Economics and earned a degree in sociology. He later completed a Ph.D. in Linguistics at University College, London. He received a number of honorary doctorates from Athens, Lund, and in Sweden. He was the Karl ...

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