Date of Award
12-16-1999
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Willard C. Pitts
Second Advisor
Jo Ann Clark
Abstract
The overall scope of this research is to define and explain the different styles of African American English. What are they and how do they affect the American society? The means by which many African Americans communicate is different from what American deems as standard American English (SAE). To this date, the voice of Black America has been categorizes as Black Dialect, African American Vernacular English, and Black English. Only until recently has the Black voice been regarded as Ebonics. Where did these language styles originate and why do we continue to speak it? Of course, there is nothing wrong with the language, but true enough there is a time and place for its use. For centuries, African Americans have had their own "language," and, since its inception, has been passed down form generation to generation. Many authors have research and determined that his type of language is a form of slave talk. During slavery, Blacks had to have a way of communicating with each other so that the "Massah" could not understand what they were discussing. Thus, a type of dialect was created. Is this dialect of English something about which all should be concerned or is it just a generational product?
Recommended Citation
England, Danielle R., "The Selected Language Styles of African Americans in an Urban Environment" (1999). McCabe Thesis Collection. 43.
https://dclu.langston.edu/mccabe_theses/43
Included in
African American Studies Commons, English Language and Literature Commons, Modern Languages Commons, Other American Studies Commons