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)

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)