This essay shall introduce the reader to African-American English (AAE). This term is used in this text for a wide range of language varieties used by Black people in the United States of America. That means that AAE is to be regarded as a dialect of this ethnic group and not as an independent language. While most speakers of this variety (80 to 90 percent) use some form of African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), there are some areas where parts of the Black population speak a semi-creole, like Gullah, which is spoken in rural areas of South Carolina and Georgia. This text, however, will only deal with AAE in general, starting with the development of this variety. After that, the main and most wide-spread linguistic features will discussed. The essay will end with the description of recent issues concerning AAE and Afro-American culture in U.S. society as a conclusion.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction: What is African-American English?
- Development
- Features of African-American English
- Phonological features
- Grammatical features
- Semantic features
- Current cultural and linguistic issues
- Black pride
- Divergence
- The Ebonics controversy
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to provide an introduction to African-American English (AAE) for the reader, examining its development, main features, and contemporary cultural and linguistic significance.
- Development and origins of AAE, including various theories like the Anglicist, Creole, and neo-Anglicist hypotheses
- Distinctive features of AAE in phonology, grammar, and semantics
- The relationship between AAE and Southern White English
- Cultural and linguistic issues surrounding AAE, such as Black pride, divergence, and the Ebonics controversy
- The complex and dynamic nature of AAE as a dialect in American society
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introductory chapter provides a definition of AAE, clarifying its usage as a dialect spoken by Black Americans. It briefly mentions the existence of semi-creoles like Gullah but focuses on AAE in general. The essay will explore its development, key features, and contemporary issues.
The chapter on development discusses the origins of AAE, noting the challenges in determining its exact development due to the diverse origins and experiences of African slaves in America. It presents three main theories that have been proposed throughout the 20th century: the Anglicist hypothesis, the Creole hypothesis, and the neo-Anglicist hypothesis.
The chapter on features of AAE outlines various phonological, grammatical, and semantic characteristics that distinguish it from standard American English. It highlights the similarities between AAE and Southern White English, attributing them to the initial contact and influence of the English language on African slaves.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics include African-American English, AAE, African-American Vernacular English, AAVE, Southern White English, Anglicist hypothesis, Creole hypothesis, neo-Anglicist hypothesis, phonology, grammar, semantics, Black pride, divergence, and the Ebonics controversy.
- Quote paper
- Ole Wagner (Author), 2004, African-American English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/75059
