1. African American English (AAE)

2. Language vs. Dialect dialect as subset/variety of language (with its own distinct structures) dialect as subset/variety of language (with its own distinct structures) “mutual intelligibility” “mutual intelligibility” Danish, Swedish, Norwegian Danish, Swedish, Norwegian Mandarin vs. Cantonese Mandarin vs. Cantonese political definition of dialect political definition of dialect

3. Dialect vs. Slang Dialects are rule-governed, structured Dialects are rule-governed, structured –distinct patterns of phonology, morphology, syntax (ex. Southern “I”; double modals such as might could) Slang is only lexical; not rule-governed Slang is only lexical; not rule-governed –new words “in fashion”; often ephemeral

4. How do we label AAE? African American English African American English Black English Black English Black English Vernacular Black English Vernacular African American Vernacular English African American Vernacular English Ebonics Ebonics

5. Why Ebonics? Blend: ebony + phonics (1970s) Blend: ebony + phonics (1970s) Early proponents: Ebonics is its own language. Early proponents: Ebonics is its own language. Later detractors and popular misconception: Ebonics isn’t even a systematic dialect. Ebonics is just slang. Later detractors and popular misconception: Ebonics isn’t even a systematic dialect. Ebonics is just slang.

6. AAE as Dialect: Phonological Rules Final consonant cluster simplification: Rule: Drop the second consonant whenever the two final consonants of a word share the same voicing. Exs.: lis ‘list’ han ‘hand’ *jum for jump What about act ? walks ? colt ? fold ?

7. AAE as a dialect: Syntactic Rules Deletion of the copula (“to be”) AAE: He late. SE: He is late. AAE: The copula is deleted only in contexts in which SE can contract “to be.” SE: “Here I am” but never *“Here I’m” AAE: “Here I am” but never *”Here I” SE: You are crazy. AAE: ___________.

8. AAE Morpho-Syntactic Rules: The habitual “be,” a verbal aspect Compare the following utterances: (1) SE: He is late. (2) AAE: He late. (3) AAE: He be late.

9. AAE Lexicon: Is AAE really just about “slang”? Words from AAE that have spread into other dialects, including SE: Words from AAE that have spread into other dialects, including SE: –okra, gumbo (borrowings from African languages) –jukebox, dis, the Man Words that aren’t ephemeral that persist in AAE: Words that aren’t ephemeral that persist in AAE: –bourgy/bourgie

10. AAE crossing racial lines Common misconception #1: Only African- Americans speak AAE. Common misconception #1: Only African- Americans speak AAE. Common misconception #2: African- Americans only speak AAE. Common misconception #2: African- Americans only speak AAE. AAE may be becoming a non-racially- specific dialect for urban Americans. AAE may be becoming a non-racially- specific dialect for urban Americans. White, Latino, Koreans, and others picking up increasing numbers of AAE features, esp. youth. White, Latino, Koreans, and others picking up increasing numbers of AAE features, esp. youth.