African American English (AAVE) was first brought to the attention of linguists when in the 1960s, the government realised that African American (AA) children from urban ghettoes were worse in school than white pupils. To counteract this, it financed compensation programmes in which AA children should be taught Standard English (SE) “by means of structural drills and techniques adopted from foreign language learning”. When this approach failed, linguists suggested that AA children only spoke a different dialect than white children and that consequently, it would be necessary to teach them SE as an additional dialect. However, this approach also failed because the failure of AA children in school seems to be a result of a cultural and social divide between AA and white American society, of which separate dialects of English are only a symptom.
It will therefore be the aims of this paper to prove this belief wrong and prove that AAVE is indeed a rule-governed language, to investigate its origins and its use in Zora Neale Hurston’s most famous novel, Their EyesWereWatching God.
Table of Contents
- AAVE in public consciousness
- Definition of AAVE
- Definition
- A note on terms
- Theories about the origins of AAVE
- A Comparison of AAVE and SE
- Syntax
- General Remarks
- Obvious and camouflaged differences
- Negative concord
- Negative inversion
- Question formation
- Tense
- Aspect
- Structure of the noun phrase
- Omission of the copula
- The tell-say-construction
- Double modals
- Phonology
- Lexicon
- Social implications of AAVE
- Reasons for the ongoing existence of a separate AA dialect
- Reasons for the further divergence of AAVE and SE
- Use in Their Eyes Were Watching God
- Zora Neale Hurston's take on AAVE
- The use of AAVE in Their Eyes
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to disprove the misconception that AAVE is merely Standard English with errors, demonstrating its status as a rule-governed language. It investigates the origins of AAVE and analyzes its usage within Zora Neale Hurston's renowned novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God.
- The linguistic features and structure of AAVE.
- Competing theories regarding the origins of AAVE (creolist vs. dialectologist perspectives).
- A comparison of AAVE and Standard English (SE) across various linguistic levels.
- The socio-historical context surrounding AAVE and its social implications.
- The stylistic choices and narrative impact of AAVE in Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Chapter Summaries
AAVE in public consciousness: This chapter details the initial recognition of AAVE by linguists, spurred by the underperformance of African American children in schools during the 1960s. Government-funded programs aimed at teaching Standard English failed, leading linguists to recognize AAVE as a distinct dialect. The Oakland School Board's 1978 resolution recognizing AAVE (or Ebonics) as a language ignited public debate, further fueled by the 1979 Ann Arbor case. Despite these decisions supporting AAVE recognition, the chapter highlights persistent prejudice against it. The chapter lays the groundwork for the paper, establishing the need to prove AAVE's legitimacy as a rule-governed language.
Definition of AAVE: This chapter provides a definition of African American Vernacular English (AAVE), highlighting its association with the socioeconomically lower class. It also extensively examines the evolution of terminology used to describe AAVE, tracing the shifts in labels from terms like "Negro dialect" to contemporary terms like "AAVE" and "Ebonics," discussing the socio-political implications of each label and the ongoing debate on the most accurate and appropriate terminology. The chapter concludes with the author's justification for choosing "African American Vernacular English" for the paper, explaining the context within which this specific term proves most suitable.
Theories about the origins of AAVE: This chapter delves into the ongoing debate among linguists about AAVE's origins, contrasting the dialectologist hypothesis (AAVE developed from an English base) with the creolist hypothesis (AAVE originated as a creole). The challenges of reconstructing the history of AAVE and related vernaculars due to lack of written documentation are emphasized. The chapter discusses a compromise view, suggesting that both dialectologist and creolist perspectives contribute to a comprehensive understanding of AAVE's development.
A Comparison of AAVE and SE: This chapter initiates a comparative analysis of AAVE and Standard English, focusing on syntactic differences. It emphasizes that no single feature uniquely defines AAVE, highlighting the importance of considering a range of syntactic structures to understand the dialect's complexities. The preview unfortunately cuts off before details on specific syntactic differences can be included, such as negative concord, negative inversion, and question formation.
Social implications of AAVE: This chapter delves into the broader societal implications of AAVE. It would likely discuss the reasons for AAVE's continued existence as a separate dialect and factors contributing to its divergence from Standard English. A discussion of the cultural and social factors impacting the learning and use of the dialect could be expected. Unfortunately, the supplied text lacks the needed depth for a comprehensive summary.
Keywords
African American Vernacular English (AAVE), Ebonics, Standard English (SE), Creolist Hypothesis, Dialectologist Hypothesis, Linguistic Variation, Sociolinguistics, African American Culture, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of African American Vernacular English
What is the main focus of this language preview?
This preview offers a comprehensive overview of African American Vernacular English (AAVE), including its definition, origins, comparison with Standard English (SE), social implications, and its use in Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. It aims to demonstrate AAVE's status as a rule-governed language, dispelling misconceptions about it being merely erroneous Standard English.
What topics are covered in the table of contents?
The table of contents covers AAVE's presence in public awareness, its definition and terminology, theories about its origins, a detailed comparison with SE (including syntax, phonology, and lexicon), the social implications of AAVE, and finally, a specific analysis of AAVE's use in Their Eyes Were Watching God.
What are the key objectives and themes explored?
The key objectives are to establish AAVE as a rule-governed language, investigate its origins (exploring creolist and dialectologist perspectives), compare it to SE across different linguistic levels, examine its socio-historical context and social implications, and analyze its stylistic choices and narrative impact in Hurston's novel.
What are the chapter summaries?
The summaries cover: the initial recognition of AAVE by linguists and the resulting public debate; a definition of AAVE and a discussion of its evolving terminology; the contrasting theories of AAVE's origins (creolist vs. dialectologist); a comparative analysis of AAVE and SE focusing on syntactic differences; and the broader societal implications of AAVE and its ongoing divergence from SE. Note that some chapters have more detail than others in the provided preview.
What are the main linguistic features of AAVE compared to Standard English that are mentioned?
The preview mentions syntactic differences as a key area of comparison between AAVE and SE. Specific syntactic features alluded to but not fully detailed include negative concord, negative inversion, question formation, tense, aspect, the structure of the noun phrase, omission of the copula, the tell-say construction, and double modals. Phonological and lexical differences are also mentioned but not elaborated upon in the preview.
What are the competing theories regarding the origins of AAVE?
The preview highlights the ongoing debate between the creolist hypothesis (AAVE originated as a creole language) and the dialectologist hypothesis (AAVE developed from an English base). It suggests that a compromise view, incorporating aspects of both theories, may offer the most comprehensive understanding.
How is AAVE used in Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God"?
The preview only briefly touches upon this topic. It promises an analysis of Hurston's use of AAVE in the novel and how it contributes to the narrative, but does not provide specific examples or analysis in the preview itself.
What are the keywords associated with this language preview?
The keywords include: African American Vernacular English (AAVE), Ebonics, Standard English (SE), Creolist Hypothesis, Dialectologist Hypothesis, Linguistic Variation, Sociolinguistics, African American Culture, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and Zora Neale Hurston.
- Quote paper
- Leonie Weißweiler (Author), 2014, African American Vernacular English and its Use in "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/339740
