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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 English
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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 English • Definitions: ebony + phonics =>> dialect of SAE Dialect: 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.
Ebonics – More Than a Language • 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 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.
Grammar in a Nutshell • No present tense auxiliarity or linking verbs I am going =I going • Double negative and use of ain’tI ain’t got no money I ain’t drop the book NOTE: Modern French grammar uses double negative Je ne sais pasI 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)
Ebonics vs Standard English • http://www.bizbag.com/Misc%20articles/Rap%20Lyrics%20Translated.htm (Lyrics) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHDRkO_UmXY (video) • www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_KKLkmIrDk (Fox News- video: ax or ask) • www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ucW41HqVA&feature=related (Garrard McClendon)