African-American Vernacular English / Ebonics Introduction to American English 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  African Pidgin English (Negro Pidgin); clear Black characteristics  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 wordsAfrican words  food- integrated in the national cuisine  music- traditional melodies and complex African rhythms Remember and teach their cultural ideal and music 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 ) Ebonics: African American Vernacular English.  A Sketch of the History of Black English.Preview By: Dillard, J. L.. Southern Quarterly, Winter2008, Vol. 45 Issue 2, p53- 86, 34p; (AN ) A Sketch of the History of Black English.  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  %20Lyrics%20Translated.htm (Lyrics) %20Lyrics%20Translated.htm  UmXY (video) UmXY  (Fox News- video: ax or ask)  &feature=related (Garrard McClendon) &feature=related