In 1619 the first Black People were violently taken to Virginia, United States. Many more Blacks were to follow and hence had to work as slaves on the plantations in the south, fueling the trade of an emerging economic power. Families and friends were separated and people from different regions who spoke different African dialects were grouped together. This was to make sure that no communication in their respective native languages would take place in order to prevent mutinies. Thus the Africans had to learn the language of their new surroundings, namely English. Today the English of the Blacks in America is distinguishable as African American Vernacular English (AAVE). AAVE and American White Southern English (AWSE) were very similar in colonial times, and according to Feagin1 AWSE still has features of AAVE, such as the non-rhoticism and falsetto pitch2, which is supposed to add to the apparent musicality of both AAVE and AWSE today. Many commonalities can be attributed to the coexistence of the two cultures for almost 200 years, while many differences are claimed to be due to segregation. Crystal claims that first forms of Pidgin English spoken by Africans already emerged during the journey on the slave ships, where communication was also made difficult due to the grouping of different dialects in order to prevent mutiny. The slave traders who often spoken English had already shaped the new pidgin languages on the ships and helped shape a creole that was to be established in the Carribean colonies as well southern US colonies in the 17th century.
Table of Contents
I Preface
II AAVE and AWSE develop in parallel
III African American Vernacular language as a distinct minority feature
IV Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the parallel development and subsequent divergence of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and White Southern American English (AWSE). It investigates how historical segregation, socioeconomic factors, and limited cross-cultural contact have shaped AAVE into a distinct, homogeneous dialect that functions both as a linguistic minority marker and as a foundation for African American identity.
- Historical evolution of AAVE and AWSE in the American South
- The impact of segregation on language divergence
- Sociological and economic barriers to linguistic assimilation
- AAVE as a tool for community building and minority identity
Excerpt from the Book
III African American Vernacular language as a distinct minority feature
As I have mentioned above the English of the South and the English spoken by the black population have developed in parallel since the first black slaves arrived. Both languages must have been indistinguishable at times. As documents of that time show in the middle and late 19th century white southerners and Blacks would sound the same. The indistinguishability of the two dialects posed a threat on the Whites who felt that their superiority was questioned. Upper class people soon tried to keep the “africanisms” out of their children’s speech and average people as well as some linguists tried to point out some differences between the two dialects in order to make sure that the Whites` superiority was saved.
Today the two dialects are distinguishable as Southern White and Black English, which is quite amazing, as both language groups are not (necessarily) separated by geographical boundaries. Under normal conditions the dialect could not have been preserved longer than three generation, similar to the development of language competence in 2 languages by bilingual speakers, who will have lost knowledge of their grandparents L1 in the third generation, when they have totally assimilated the language that surrounds them. But Black English has been preserved over longer periods of time, even though Blacks are pressed to use the standard (prestige) dialect of their surroundings.
Summary of Chapters
I Preface: This section introduces the historical context of slavery in the United States and the initial linguistic parallels between African American Vernacular English and White Southern American English.
II AAVE and AWSE develop in parallel: This chapter analyzes the coexistence of black and white populations in the South and how shared social environments influenced the development of their respective English dialects.
III African American Vernacular language as a distinct minority feature: This part examines the sociological factors and persistent segregation that caused the two dialects to drift apart, establishing AAVE as a distinct minority language.
IV Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes how historical segregation and socioeconomic disparities continue to sustain the unique linguistic character of AAVE as an identity marker for the black community.
Keywords
African American Vernacular English, AAVE, White Southern American English, AWSE, Dialectology, Segregation, Linguistic assimilation, Social class, Minority identity, Language contact, Africanisms, Socioeconomics, Cultural history, Ghettoization
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the historical development and current status of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in relation to White Southern American English (AWSE), focusing on how social and historical factors caused their divergence.
What are the central thematic areas?
The main themes include linguistic evolution, the impact of slavery and segregation on language, the role of socioeconomic status in dialect usage, and the function of language in maintaining minority identity.
What is the primary objective of this research?
The goal is to demonstrate that AAVE is a rule-based dialect rather than a deficient form of English, and to explain how historical isolation and segregation have maintained its distinct status.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The work utilizes a qualitative analysis of historical linguistic developments, sociolinguistic theories, and an interpretation of existing sociological studies and statistical data regarding demographic and class structures.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the parallel emergence of both dialects during colonization, the influence of social settings on plantation life, and modern sociolinguistic evidence showing why AAVE persists despite pressures to assimilate.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include AAVE, AWSE, segregation, linguistic assimilation, dialect, and social identity.
How does the author address the historical "Krapp's law"?
The author rejects "Krapp's law" as an outdated myth, arguing that the divergence between AAVE and Standard English is based on clear linguistic rules rather than failed attempts at imitation or inferior intelligence.
What role does the "mulatto phenomenon" play in this study?
The author mentions the mulatto phenomenon as a potential factor in the inter-racial relationships that influenced the early shaping of AAVE due to the specific demographic concentration in the South.
What conclusion is drawn regarding social class and AAVE?
The paper concludes that while AAVE features can appear across various social classes, the most distinct usage correlates with lower socioeconomic status and lack of social contact with white communities, reinforcing cultural boundaries.
- Quote paper
- Timm Gehrmann (Author), 2005, African American English and White Southern English - segregational factors in the development of a dialect , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/68989
