From the very start I was very interested in African American Vernacular English (AAVE). In this work I also wanted to include a bit of history. I consider that history is an important influence on the present, not only regarding language but everything. History shows us the roots of things and a person who knows history avoids doing the same mistake again. In case of AAVE the language is indeed connected to the history of the African Americans, to the history of slavery and so to the history of the United States of America. For me it is also important to give a wide range on the knowledge about AAVE, a frame of history starting with the broad picture about the settlement and the rest of the history of the US. Then I will look on the history of the African Americans and the origin of their language. Finally a description of AAVE and its features follows.
The question this essay deals with was mostly inspired by the controversal views about the origin of AAVE, namely the Creole-based and the dialect theory. Those might be “only” theories about the origin of AAVE but assuming one of those theories is correct defines a certain point of view on AAVE. Is AAVE “only” a dialect derived from a pidgin which developed somewhere in the Caribbean or on in West Africa or is AAVE a dialect which developed in the same manner and at the same time like all the other American dialects? Is it correct to compare AAVE to Standard English listing the mistakes this variety makes or should it rather be compared to other varieties?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. History of America
2.1 Colonial period
2.2 National period
2.3 International Period
3. American English
4. African American Vernacular English
4.1 History and origin
4.2 Features of African American Vernacular English
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper explores the historical development of American English and focuses specifically on the origins and linguistic features of African American Vernacular English (AAVE). The primary research objective is to examine whether AAVE is a distinct language variety with its own sophisticated grammatical system or merely an inferior dialect characterized by "mistakes" compared to Standard English.
- Historical settlement patterns of the United States
- The development of American English and its regional dialects
- The Creole-based versus the dialect theory regarding AAVE origins
- Phonological characteristics of AAVE
- Grammatical structure, specifically aspectual markers like habitual "be"
- Lexical influences and social perceptions of AAVE
Excerpt from the Book
4.2 Features of African American Vernacular English
Phonological Features: The dental fricatives [θ] and [ð] are replaced by the alveolar stops [t] and [d] or the labiodental fricatives [f] and [v] depending of the position of the dental fricatives in the word. If the dental fricative is in the beginning of the word like in then [ðɛn] it is pronounced like den [dɛn]. Another example is thick which is pronounced like tick. If the dental fricative is in the middle or in the end of the word like in smooth [smu:ð] it is pronounced smoov [smu:v]. Another example in which the sound is replaced in the middle is rather which sounds like ravver.
The next difference is about final consonant clusters like –fts in lifts. There are rules in Standard English about the simplification in the pronouncing those clusters. The rules in AAVE are similar but “whereas these variable rules are optional for Standard English, they come far closer to being obligatory for Black English” (Harrison, Trabasso 1976: 159). A consonant cluster consisting of two voiceless consonants like in wasp it is reduced to was’. Apt is reduced to ap’. The same rule applies if the cluster consists of two voiced consonants: lived is reduced to liv’ and cold is reduced to col’. Clusters made up from a voiced and a voiceless consonant like in jump are not simplified in Standard English and this is also true for AAVE though there is an exception: The final [t] in words like bent or meant can be dropped resulting in ben’ and mean’ (sounding like men).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the motivation for the study, emphasizing the connection between the history of the United States, slavery, and the development of AAVE.
2. History of America: This section provides a chronological overview of American history, from early colonial settlements to the post-Civil War era and the International Period.
3. American English: This chapter discusses the emergence of diverse American dialects due to geographic isolation and contact with other languages, while noting the role of modern technology in standardizing the language.
4. African American Vernacular English: This central chapter explores competing theories regarding the origins of AAVE and details its specific phonological, grammatical, and lexical features.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion argues that AAVE is a sophisticated linguistic variety with a complex grammatical system rather than an inferior or deteriorated form of English.
6. Bibliography: This section lists the scholarly sources and references utilized throughout the research paper.
Keywords
African American Vernacular English, AAVE, American English, Colonial period, National period, Creole theory, Dialect theory, Linguistic features, Habitual be, Phonology, Grammar, Slavery, History of America, Language contact, Sociolinguistics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the historical and linguistic development of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) within the broader context of the history of the United States.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The work covers the colonial and national history of the US, the diversification of American English, and the specific origins and grammatical structures of AAVE.
What is the central research question?
The author investigates whether AAVE is an inferior, mistake-ridden version of Standard English or a distinct, logically sophisticated variety of language.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a qualitative literature review and historical analysis to compare theoretical perspectives (Creole-based vs. dialect theory) and linguistic data.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The body analyzes historical timelines (colonial, national, and international), the evolution of American regional dialects, and detailed descriptions of AAVE's phonology, grammar, and vocabulary.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key concepts include AAVE, American English, linguistic evolution, Creole theory, slavery, and historical sociolinguistics.
How does the author define the "remote phase" in AAVE?
The "remote phase" refers to a specific grammatical construction (e.g., "been gone") that indicates an action started long ago but is still ongoing in a habitual manner.
Why is the "dropping of the copula" considered significant in this paper?
The author argues that while this feature is often perceived as a "mistake," it is actually a common linguistic phenomenon found in many other complex languages, suggesting it is a rule-based system rather than a deterioration.
- Citar trabajo
- Alissia Wiener (Autor), 2008, History of English in the US and of African American Vernacular English in particular, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/175068
