There are several theories on how African American Vernacular English (AAVE) may have come into existence, however the creolist hypothesis has been the most prominent one. It states that AAVE is based on a creole and was brought to the United States by slaves from West Africa or the West Indies.
However, the oppositional theory, called the Anglicist or dialectologist hypothesis, considers AAVE to be influenced by traditional English dialects. Most important seems to be the influence of the Scots-Irish from northern Ireland. As they make up the largest group of settlers in the American colonies in the 18th century their language must have had an enormous impact on the emergence of several American English dialects, and probably also on AAVE. This would claim AAVE to be an English dialect as well, influenced by the features of Southern American English. But this is a subject of controversial debate.
Some linguists are of the opinion that the Southern American accent was actually influenced by the language of African Americans. Still, there are several linguistic features of the Scots-Irish' language that can also be found in the United States, especially in the Appalachian and Southern dialect; and it is a “[...] fact that in the New World, i.e. in the United States as well as in the Caribbean, black slaves had extensive contact with people from Ireland” (Ewers, 1995). Thus it is also possible that the American English varieties, primarily the southern one, could have had an impact on AAVE.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Origin and language of the Scots-Irish
3. Scots-Irish’ Migration to America
4. Planters and Slaves in Charleston, South Carolina
5. Gullah
6. African American Vernacular English
6.1 Earlier AAVE
6.2 Unique Features of AAVE
6.3 Corresponding Features
7. Conclusion
Research Objective and Core Topics
This paper examines the "Anglicist Hypothesis," which posits that African American Vernacular English (AAVE) was significantly influenced by traditional British-derived dialects—specifically those of Scots-Irish settlers—rather than being exclusively based on a creole origin. The study investigates migration patterns, language contact situations in the American colonies, and specific linguistic correspondences between Ulster Scots and early AAVE.
- The linguistic legacy and migration history of the Scots-Irish in North America.
- Social and demographic contact situations on Southern plantations, with a focus on Charleston, South Carolina.
- A comparative analysis of linguistic features shared between Scots-Irish English and AAVE.
- The status of Gullah as a distinct creole variety versus its role in the debate surrounding AAVE's development.
- An evaluation of the Anglicist Hypothesis against the Creolist Hypothesis.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
There are several theories on how African American Vernacular English (AAVE) may have come into existence, however the creolist hypothesis has been the most prominent one. It states that AAVE is based on a creole and was brought to the United States by slaves from West Africa or the West Indies (cf. Wolfram & Schilling-Estes, 1998: 175). However, the oppositional theory, called the Anglicist or dialectologist hypothesis, considers AAVE to be influenced by traditional English dialects (cf. ibid: 176). Most important seems to be the influence of the Scots-Irish from northern Ireland. As they make up the largest group of settlers in the American colonies in the 18th century (cf. Mauk & Oakland, 2014: 60) their language must have had an enormous impact on the emergence of several American English dialects, and probably also on AAVE. This would claim AAVE to be an English dialect as well, influenced by the features of Southern American English. But this is a subject of controversial debate. Some linguists are of the opinion that the Southern American accent was actually influenced by the language of African Americans.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the competing linguistic hypotheses regarding the origins of AAVE and establishes the paper's focus on the Anglicist perspective.
2. Origin and language of the Scots-Irish: Details the migration of Ulster Scots to America and identifies archaic Scots linguistic features that mirror patterns in Southern American English.
3. Scots-Irish’ Migration to America: Analyzes the migratory patterns of Ulster Scots as they moved from Pennsylvania into the Southern Appalachian regions.
4. Planters and Slaves in Charleston, South Carolina: Examines the socioeconomic environment of Charleston and the potential for direct language contact between white overseers and enslaved populations.
5. Gullah: Scrutinizes the role of Gullah in the creolist-anglicist debate and explains its unique development in the South Carolina coastal lowlands.
6. African American Vernacular English: Provides a technical analysis of earlier AAVE features and compares them with Scots-Irish and other regional English dialects.
7. Conclusion: Synthesizes the evidence, concluding that while AAVE is complex, the influence of Scots-Irish speech patterns on Southern American varieties is a highly plausible factor in its development.
Keywords
AAVE, Anglicist Hypothesis, Creolist Hypothesis, Scots-Irish, Ulster Scots, Migration, Plantation, Charleston, Gullah, Dialectology, Language Contact, Appalachian, Southern American English, Sociolinguistics, Colonial English.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper evaluates the "Anglicist Hypothesis," arguing that the linguistic structure of AAVE was significantly shaped by contact with Scots-Irish settlers in the American colonies rather than deriving solely from a creole.
What are the central thematic areas?
The study centers on the migration of the Scots-Irish, the linguistic characteristics of Ulster English, the demographic nature of colonial plantations, and the comparison of AAVE features with British-derived regional dialects.
What is the main research question?
The research seeks to determine whether linguistic similarities between Scots-Irish English and AAVE provide sufficient evidence to support the Anglicist claim that AAVE evolved primarily as a result of contact with white regional English dialects.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author employs a comparative dialectological and historical method, analyzing linguistic data from historical texts and secondary academic literature to draw parallels between 18th-century Ulster English and Early AAVE.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the history of Scots-Irish immigration, the social structures of 18th-century South Carolina, the development of Gullah, and a detailed phonological and grammatical comparison of AAVE with other varieties.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include AAVE, Anglicist Hypothesis, Scots-Irish, Plantation, Gullah, Dialectology, and Language Contact.
How does the author explain the difference between Gullah and AAVE?
The author suggests that Gullah developed in the distinct, isolated environment of the coastal lowlands due to a dense African majority, whereas AAVE reflects a broader contact with colonial English in the interior.
What role did the overseers play in the proposed language contact?
The paper suggests that because plantation overseers were often of Scots-Irish descent and had frequent interaction with the enslaved population, they served as primary conduits for transmitting Scots-Irish speech patterns.
Does the author reach a final verdict?
The author concludes that while some features are debated, the influence of the Scots-Irish on Southern American English and subsequently on AAVE is highly probable and supported by historical migration patterns.
- Quote paper
- Marie Nemitz (Author), 2014, The Language and Migrations of the Ulster Scots. An Examination of the Anglicist Hypothesis, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/356875
