African-American Vernacular English /
Ebonics
Introduction to American English
24.11.2008
Saija Lehtonen
Feifei Liu
Annamaria Payer
Short History of Black English
Ebonics, AAVE, Black EnglishDefinitions: ebony + phonics =>> dialect of
SAEDialect: subgroup of a language, which differs in vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar
Roots: West- Africa, Niger-Congo=>> developed in European colonies (South)
Short History of Black English Different native language speakers =>>”safest
way to trade” (slave ship captain, 1744) Early slave trade- no language mixing The birth of Pidgin English The next stage: English Creole 1715- African Pidgin English (Negro Pidgin); clear
Black characteristics 1750- complicated variations in the English of
Afro-American population (due to social factors)
Short History of Black English Identity- built on African foundations (values and
benefits) speaking- African words food- integrated in the national cuisine music- traditional melodies and complex African
rhythms
Remember and teach their cultural ideal and
entertainment
Ebonics – More Than a Language
Ebonics -- a term referring to a dialect of English (African American Vernacular English)
Ebonics -- a complex product of historical, environmental and racial factors.
The main issue over Ebonics is not language, but perspective.
Linguistic Perspective --
As a tool for communication, all languages and dialects are equal.
Social Perspective --
Ebonics lower, informal, useless in upper and formal situations
People speak Ebonics low-educated, less-skilled
Ebonics – More Than a Language
Public Education for Ebonics-speaking People ----
Many students fail in school with unfamiliar Standard English as the primary language
1996, Oakland California School asserted Ebonics as the primary language of Black students.
Bringing the term Ebonics to public, and heated discussion
Linguistic Perspective -- Speakers of other varieties can be aided in their learning of the standard variety by pedagogical approaches, which recognize the legitimacy of other varieties of a language.Use of Ebonics is linguistically and pedagogically sound
Social Perspective – Students unable to speak standard English have a negative influence to their career, social network etc.
Ebonics – More than Language
Ebonics, lying at the vortex of public education, linguistic aspect and nation- race relation, is being treated more and more equally regardless of racial prejudice.
Increasingly being encountered in literature, television and filmed drama, etc.
It is only 45 years since Martin Luther King delivered the message ‘I have a dream’, until Barack Obama was selected as the first Black president of the U.S.A.
Ebonics – More than Language
Grammar in a Nutshell No present tense auxiliarity or linking verbs
I am going = I going Double negative and use of ain’t I
ain’t got no money I ain’t drop the book
NOTE: Modern French grammar uses double negative Je ne sais pas I don’t know (Old English used double negative)
Grammar in a Nutshell No suffix –s (plural, genetive, 3rd person
singular) My brother book Phonological inversion aks
NOTE: Middle English verb acsian no post-vocalic -r car = ca’ Reduction of consonant clusters in word
endings cold = col’
References Ebonics: African American Vernacular English.Preview
By: Coppus, Sally A.. Research Starters Education: Ebonics: African American Vernacular English, 2008, p1-1, 12p; (AN 31962587)
A Sketch of the History of Black English.Preview By: Dillard, J. L.. Southern Quarterly, Winter2008, Vol. 45 Issue 2, p53-86, 34p; (AN 31480095)
Baugh, John; Beyond Ebonics- Linguistic pride and racial prejudice
Horton, James Oliver; In hope of liberty, culture community and protest among northern free Blacks
References
Yule, George : The Study of Language American Voices: How Dialects Differ from Coast
to Coast (Edited by Walt Wolfram and Ben Ward)
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