African-American African-American Vernacular English Vernacular English

(AAVE)(AAVE)Carlos PachecoCarlos Pacheco

Mayra L. VargasMayra L. Vargas

INGL4205 L-91INGL4205 L-91

African-American Vernacular African-American Vernacular English English

Is a variety of language also called Black Is a variety of language also called Black English and Ebonics.English and Ebonics.

Not all African-Americans speak AAVE.Not all African-Americans speak AAVE. People who speak AAVE may not speak it People who speak AAVE may not speak it

all the time.all the time. People influenced by African-Americans People influenced by African-Americans

can also learn the language.can also learn the language. Is not a monolith; there are regional Is not a monolith; there are regional

varieties.varieties.

Origins of AAVEOrigins of AAVE

There are two main theories about the There are two main theories about the origin of AAVE:origin of AAVE:– Dialectologist hypothesisDialectologist hypothesis– Creole hypothesisCreole hypothesis

Research since 1980s suggest a Research since 1980s suggest a middle way between these theories.middle way between these theories.

New issues imply the fact that AAVE New issues imply the fact that AAVE may be diverging from Standard may be diverging from Standard American English (SAE).American English (SAE).

Dialectologist hypothesisDialectologist hypothesis

Intends to explain AAVE as an archaic Intends to explain AAVE as an archaic form of British dialects, because East form of British dialects, because East Anglia dialect and AAVE have no third Anglia dialect and AAVE have no third person singular s in the present tense.person singular s in the present tense.– Examples: Examples: He goHe go..

Anglo-Irish and Scottish dialects also form Anglo-Irish and Scottish dialects also form part in the construction of AAVE. part in the construction of AAVE. Examples: Examples: – He be working everyday. (Anglo-Irish)He be working everyday. (Anglo-Irish)– He done worked. (Scottish dialect)He done worked. (Scottish dialect)

Weaknesses of the theoryWeaknesses of the theory Southern Whites haven’t kept these Southern Whites haven’t kept these

features in their dialect. features in their dialect. AAVE has features from a variety of AAVE has features from a variety of

British dialects.British dialects. Expressions used by SAE and AAVE Expressions used by SAE and AAVE

speakers are not the same. This has speakers are not the same. This has been called camouflage. been called camouflage. – Example: She Example: She beenbeen married. To an AAVE married. To an AAVE

speaker the person is still married, but speaker the person is still married, but to an SAE speaker she no longer is.to an SAE speaker she no longer is.

Creole hypothesisCreole hypothesis AAVE came from a West African pidgin.AAVE came from a West African pidgin.

– Pidgins come out of contact situations.Pidgins come out of contact situations. In 1500s a pidgin arose in Africa out of In 1500s a pidgin arose in Africa out of

maritime contacts between West Africans maritime contacts between West Africans and the early explorers and merchants and and the early explorers and merchants and then slave traders.then slave traders.

This pidgin was competing with Wolof.This pidgin was competing with Wolof.– Wolof was an African language used as a Wolof was an African language used as a

lingua franca in the area.lingua franca in the area. The pidgin and Wolof were carried to the The pidgin and Wolof were carried to the

new world by Africans with the first slaves.new world by Africans with the first slaves.

Creole hypothesisCreole hypothesis During slavery, African languages, pidgin During slavery, African languages, pidgin

English, plantation creole English and English, plantation creole English and Standard English were in competition.Standard English were in competition.

Frequent contact between speakers of Frequent contact between speakers of Standard English and creole English, made Standard English and creole English, made the creole became decreolized, more like the creole became decreolized, more like the standard form.the standard form.

This decreolized language is thought to be This decreolized language is thought to be the base for AAVE.the base for AAVE.

GullahGullah

Is a variety of AAVE spoken on the coastal Is a variety of AAVE spoken on the coastal islands of South Carolina and Georgia.islands of South Carolina and Georgia.

Due to the isolation of the islands, the Due to the isolation of the islands, the language spoken has remained very language spoken has remained very conservative.conservative.

This is a general rule: The language of This is a general rule: The language of outlying areas is less prone to change than outlying areas is less prone to change than the language of central areas.the language of central areas.

Gullah and West African languages have Gullah and West African languages have many similarities. many similarities.

GullahGullah

West African influence Gullah from the West African influence Gullah from the phonology to the semantics of the phonology to the semantics of the language.language.

Gullah and Mende (African language) Gullah and Mende (African language) has words that begin with gb-.has words that begin with gb-.– Examples: Examples: gbangban meaning tightly (Gullah) meaning tightly (Gullah)– gbaagbaa meaning to sigh (Mende) meaning to sigh (Mende)

Many gullah words come from West Many gullah words come from West African languages.African languages.

Some grammatical features of AAVE found in Some grammatical features of AAVE found in other creoles and in West African languages:other creoles and in West African languages: Repetition of subject Repetition of subject

– John, he live in New York.John, he live in New York. Do questions Do questions

– What it come to?=What does it come to?What it come to?=What does it come to? Same form for singular and plural Same form for singular and plural

– one girl, two girlone girl, two girl No tense on verbNo tense on verb

– I know it good when he ask me.I know it good when he ask me. Verb not inflected for personVerb not inflected for person

– I know, he knowI know, he know Done to indicate completionDone to indicate completion

– I done go.I done go.

Recent Debate about the origins of Recent Debate about the origins of AAVEAAVE

New Evidence since 1980s has led New Evidence since 1980s has led linguistics to reevaluate the dialectologist linguistics to reevaluate the dialectologist and the creole hypothesis. These new data and the creole hypothesis. These new data include:include:– Studies on the historical and social Studies on the historical and social

conditions of the slaves in the conditions of the slaves in the plantations.plantations.

– The emergence of written and audio The emergence of written and audio recording of AAVE speakers.recording of AAVE speakers.

– ““Diaspora” recordings.Diaspora” recordings.– Other creoles, especially the English-Other creoles, especially the English-

based Atlantic ones.based Atlantic ones.

New EvidenceNew Evidence

These new data lead to several facts:These new data lead to several facts: AAVE may not have developed from a AAVE may not have developed from a

creole in the United States.creole in the United States. It may have been imported by slaves from It may have been imported by slaves from

areas where Atlantic creoles were spoken.areas where Atlantic creoles were spoken. The difference between AAVE and SAE are The difference between AAVE and SAE are

not primarily categorical but more a not primarily categorical but more a matter of degree.matter of degree.

The creole and the dialectologist The creole and the dialectologist hypothesis do not exclude each other: hypothesis do not exclude each other: there may had been a (British) dialect there may had been a (British) dialect influence on a prior creolized variety.influence on a prior creolized variety.

Divergence HypothesisDivergence Hypothesis

Labov and others formulated a Labov and others formulated a hypothesis that reverses the hypothesis that reverses the emphasis on the difference between emphasis on the difference between SAE and AAVE.SAE and AAVE.

They assume that AAVE and SE are They assume that AAVE and SE are converging, that AAVE has undergone converging, that AAVE has undergone a process of decreolization.a process of decreolization.

Some features of AAVE appeared recently Some features of AAVE appeared recently and are distinct from SAE, including:and are distinct from SAE, including:

• Be done (resultative)Be done (resultative)-My ice cream’s gonna -My ice cream’s gonna be donebe done melted by the time we get there.melted by the time we get there.

-Don’t do that ‘cause you -Don’t do that ‘cause you be donebe done messed up your clothes! messed up your clothes!

• -s (narrative present)-s (narrative present)-The lil’ boy, he -The lil’ boy, he comescomes and hit me and hit me right? I right? I hitshits him back now. him back now.

• Be V-ing (habitual)Be V-ing (habitual)

SAE and AAVE divergence is found in SAE and AAVE divergence is found in segregation and socioeconomic segregation and socioeconomic disparity between AAVE and SAE disparity between AAVE and SAE speakers, which leads to the speakers, which leads to the formation of a specific African-formation of a specific African-American identity reflected in a American identity reflected in a separate linguistic variety.separate linguistic variety.

AAVE is best considered a dialect of AAVE is best considered a dialect of English Because it is mutually English Because it is mutually intelligible with SAE.intelligible with SAE.

The principal differences between The principal differences between SAE and AAVESAE and AAVE

PhonologyPhonologyPhonological rules for AAVE:Phonological rules for AAVE: No consonant pairs: jus (for just) men (for No consonant pairs: jus (for just) men (for

mend).mend). Few diphthongs: (aka Few diphthongs: (aka

monophthongization) rat (for right).monophthongization) rat (for right). No /r/ in middle or final position: mow (for No /r/ in middle or final position: mow (for

more).more). ThTh goes to goes to dd in initial position and to f in in initial position and to f in

final position: dem (for them) souf (for final position: dem (for them) souf (for south).south).

AAVE is not the same as southern AAVE is not the same as southern English.English.

AAVE has consonant cluster reduction.AAVE has consonant cluster reduction.– TestTest reduces reduces to to testes in southern English in southern English

and AAVE.and AAVE. When there is a suffix, southern When there is a suffix, southern

English (SE) cannot reduce.English (SE) cannot reduce.– TesterTester is still is still testertester in SE but in SE but tessertesser in in

AAVE.AAVE.

Unique features to AVEUnique features to AVE

final nasals reduce to final nasals reduce to nasalizationnasalization

[man] [man] [m [mã]ã]

final consonant deletion final consonant deletion (specially nasals)(specially nasals)

[faiv] [faiv] [fa:] [fa:]

devoicing of final stopsdevoicing of final stops [b[bææd] d] [b [bæt]æt]

devoiced final stop + devoiced final stop + glottal stopglottal stop

[b[bææd] d] [b [bætæt??]]

loss of loss of yy after consonants after consonants Computer Computer [k[kƏƏmpurmpurƏƏ]]

tt becomes becomes k k in /str/ clusterin /str/ cluster Street Street [skrit] [skrit]

Tense and aspectTense and aspect

Aspect is a optional way of Aspect is a optional way of describing whether the action is describing whether the action is continuingcontinuing or or completed.completed.

I was I was watchingwatching TV when the phone TV when the phone rang. (Continuing)rang. (Continuing)

I have been to Disneyland twice. I have been to Disneyland twice. (Competed) (Competed)

Aspect: Actual Aspect: Actual BeBe

In AAVE aspect is obligatory and In AAVE aspect is obligatory and tense is optional. tense is optional.

You making sense, but you don’t be You making sense, but you don’t be making sense.making sense.

What you say makes sense in the What you say makes sense in the context, but usually you are not so context, but usually you are not so intelligent.intelligent.

The absence of The absence of bebe in the first clause in the first clause is known as zero copula.is known as zero copula.

ExamplesExamples

The coffee be cold.The coffee be cold.

Is a every day complain whileIs a every day complain while

The coffee cold.The coffee cold.

Means its only today that it is a Means its only today that it is a problem.problem.

BeBe can also be used in the future. can also be used in the future.

She be there later. She be there later. I be going home tomorrow.I be going home tomorrow.

Be does not work in past tense or tag Be does not work in past tense or tag questions.questions.

He was my teacher last year.He was my teacher last year.

You ain’t sick, is you?You ain’t sick, is you?

Aspect: Completed Aspect: Completed BeenBeen

Indicates recently completed action Indicates recently completed action (perfective). Also indicated an (perfective). Also indicated an ungrammatical sentence in a ungrammatical sentence in a language.language.

She been tardy twice this semester.She been tardy twice this semester. She She beenbeen tardy twice tardy twice lastlast semester. semester.

BeenBeen works something like standard works something like standard English English have/has/had/been.have/has/had/been.

He He beenbeen there before. there before. They They beenbeen there and left before I got there and left before I got

there.there.

It can be used when time doesn’t It can be used when time doesn’t matter’.matter’.

He He beenbeen there. there.

Aspect: Completive Aspect: Completive DoneDoneIndicates recently completed actionIndicates recently completed action I done my homework yesterday/ today.I done my homework yesterday/ today.

When used with other verbs, When used with other verbs, donedone focuses on the recentness of the focuses on the recentness of the action. action.

I I donedone finished my homework (today). finished my homework (today). I I donedone finished my homework finished my homework

yesterday.yesterday.

Relative ClausesRelative Clauses

He got a gun sounded like a bee.He got a gun sounded like a bee. I had uncle was one of the world’s I had uncle was one of the world’s

heavyweight contenders.heavyweight contenders. My youngest sister, what live in My youngest sister, what live in

Georgia…Georgia…

In SAE a relative clause is introduced In SAE a relative clause is introduced by by which, that, who, whose which, that, who, whose andand whom whom as in the following phrase: The women as in the following phrase: The women whowho won the prize. won the prize.

Summary and difference betweenSummary and difference betweenAAVE and SAEAAVE and SAE

AAVE is a dialect of English with its own AAVE is a dialect of English with its own set of phonological and syntactic rules set of phonological and syntactic rules that are similar to the rules of other that are similar to the rules of other dialects.dialects.

AAVE in turns has affected the dialects of AAVE in turns has affected the dialects of the south where there has been contact. the south where there has been contact.

It has a distinctive aspect system, which It has a distinctive aspect system, which makes it different from other dialects of makes it different from other dialects of English. English.