African American Vernacular English Just as those who study linguistics have dissected Standard...

Green, Lisa "Study of Verb Classes in African American English." Linguistics and Education 7, 1994.

African American Vernacular English

Just as those who study linguistics have dissected Standard Written English and broken the language down into “scientific” rules (Chapter 2), modern linguists often study other dialects and variations of the language, exposing true methods and logic behind seemingly illogical or poor grammar.



Interpret the following sentences into Standard English:



1. AAVE: She BIN had dat han'-made dress.



1. AAVE: She BIN had dat han'-made dress.

SE: She's had that hand-made dress for a long time, and still does.



2. AAVE: Befo' you know it, he BE done aced de tesses.



2. AAVE: Befo' you know it, he BE done aced de tesses.

SE: Before you know it, he will have already aced the tests.



3. AAVE: Ah 'on know what homey BE doin.



3. AAVE: Ah 'on know what homey BE doin.

SE: I don't know what my friend is usually doing.



4. AAVE: Can't nobody tink de way he do.



4. AAVE: Can't nobody tink de way he do.

SE: Nobody can think the way he does.



5. AAVE: I ast Ruf could she bring it ovah to Tom crib.



5. AAVE: I ast Ruf could she bring it ovah to Tom crib.

SE: I asked Ruth if/whether she could bring it over to Tom's place.



Verb Strings:



Verb Strings:1. He eat. (present) “He is eating.”



Verb Strings:1. He eat. (present) “He is eating.”2. He be eating. (habitual) “He is usually eating.”



Verb Strings:1. He eat. (present) “He is eating.”2. He be eating. (habitual) “He is usually eating.”3. He been eating. (remote past) “He has been eating for a long time.”



Verb Strings:4. He been ate. (remote past) “He ate a long time ago.”



Verb Strings:4. He been ate. (remote past) “He ate a long time ago.”5. He done ate. (completive) “He has already eaten.”



Verb Strings:4. He been ate. (remote past) “He ate a long time ago.”5. He done ate. (completive) “He has already eaten.”6. He been done ate. (remote past completive) “He finished eating a long time ago.”



Verb Strings:7. He had done ate. (completive) “He had already eaten.”


1. He eat. (present) “He is eating.”2. He be eating. (habitual) “He is usually eating.”3. He been eating. (remote past) “He has been eating for a long time.”4. He been ate. (remote past) “He ate a long time ago.”5. He done ate. (completive) “He has already eaten.”6. He been done ate. (remote past completive) “He finished eating a long time ago.”7. He had done ate. (completive) “He had already eaten.”

African American Vernacular English Just as those who study linguistics have dissected Standard...

Documents

Transcript of African American Vernacular English Just as those who study linguistics have dissected Standard...