The United States is characterized by a notedly broad linguistic diversity. One part of this diversity in American English has always been at the center of scholarly research and publications: African-American Vernacular English (AAVE). It is one of the most influential varieties of English that is spoken across the US. This paper will shortly present the most distinctive featuring AAVE. Further, the main differences between AAVE and Standard American English, which can be largely found in grammar, phonology and semantics will be explained. History, discussions and hypotheses about AAVE, as well as the scorching criticism it received in recent attempts to implement it into the curriculum will also be included. Having elaborated on that, the question arises whether AAVE should be integrated into the educational system these days.
Although African-American Vernacular English has been chosen as the standard term in linguistics it is important to note that there are many labels referring to AAVE. It is also known as African American English, Black English Vernacular, Black Vernacular English, Black Vernacular, Black English or Ebonics. These terms are most common amongst linguists today and all refer to the same variety.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- What is African American Vernacular English and should it be integrated into the Educational System?
- Features of AAVE
- Grammatical Features
- Phonological Features
- Semantic Features
- AAVE and Standard American English - A Discussion
- AAVE and the Educational System
- Possible Consequences of AAVE Integration
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze African American Vernacular English (AAVE), exploring its characteristics, historical context, and potential integration into the educational system. It examines the linguistic features of AAVE, comparing it to Standard American English. The paper also explores the debate surrounding AAVE's legitimacy and its role in education, considering both the arguments for and against integration.
- The linguistic characteristics of AAVE
- The historical context and development of AAVE
- The debate surrounding the integration of AAVE into the educational system
- The potential consequences of AAVE integration, both positive and negative
- The social and cultural implications of language variation and language attitudes
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The paper begins by defining African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and providing its historical context. It explores the origins of AAVE and its relationship to other varieties of English. The paper emphasizes the importance of recognizing AAVE as a distinct language variety and not as a deficient form of English.
- This chapter delves into the linguistic characteristics of AAVE, focusing on its grammatical, phonological, and semantic features. The paper provides examples of these features and discusses their significance within the context of AAVE.
- This chapter examines the debate surrounding AAVE and its integration into the educational system. It discusses the arguments for and against integration, considering the potential benefits and challenges. The paper highlights the historical context of the debate, including the "deficit hypothesis" and the "difference hypothesis".
- This chapter explores the possible consequences of AAVE integration into schools. It discusses the potential benefits, such as promoting respect for cultural diversity and improving communication between teachers and students. The paper also considers potential challenges, such as maintaining the teaching of Standard American English and ensuring students develop appropriate language skills for diverse contexts.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on African American Vernacular English (AAVE), Standard American English (SAE), language variation, language attitudes, educational integration, linguistic features, historical context, social implications, and cultural diversity. It examines the debate surrounding AAVE's legitimacy and its role in education, exploring the potential consequences of integrating AAVE into the classroom.
- Quote paper
- Niklas Tänzer (Author), 2017, Whether or not African American Vernacular English should be used in Schools, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/415838