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
- Preface
- AAVE and AWSE develop in parallel
- African American Vernacular language as a distinct minority feature
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to examine the development of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and its relationship to American White Southern English (AWSE). It explores the historical context of AAVE's emergence, focusing on the impact of slavery and segregation on its formation and evolution.
- The parallel development of AAVE and AWSE
- The influence of segregation on the divergence of AAVE and AWSE
- AAVE as a marker of minority status
- The impact of interracial contact on language development
- The misconception of AAVE as a deviant form of English
Chapter Summaries
Preface: This preface introduces the historical context of African American Vernacular English (AAVE), tracing its origins to the forced migration of Africans to the United States in 1619. It highlights the suppression of African languages and the subsequent development of AAVE as a distinct dialect, shaped by the unique circumstances of slavery and subsequent racial segregation. The preface touches upon the similarities between AAVE and American White Southern English (AWSE), attributing some common features to their long coexistence, while noting that differences arose primarily due to segregation. The prevailing misconception of AAVE as a deficient form of English is also introduced, setting the stage for the paper's exploration of AAVE's linguistic features and its significance as a marker of African American identity and cultural resistance.
AAVE and AWSE develop in parallel: This chapter explores the parallel development of AAVE and AWSE, emphasizing their similarities during a period of close contact between Black and White communities in the Southern United States. It examines how the close proximity of these two groups, particularly before the strict enforcement of Jim Crow segregation laws in 1877, influenced their linguistic interaction. The chapter addresses the impact of interracial relationships and the social dynamics on language evolution, while acknowledging the isolated nature of plantation economies, potentially leading to dialectal variation. The chapter also touches upon the possible influence of other immigrant groups like Irish speakers on the development of AAVE, specifically mentioning the “habitual be” construction. Despite the mutual influence, the chapter underscores that limited lexical borrowing from African languages into English occurred.
African American Vernacular language as a distinct minority feature: This chapter delves into the unique characteristics of AAVE and its status as a distinct minority language within the broader context of American English. It addresses the lack of clear isoglosses separating AAVE from other regional dialects, highlighting its relatively homogeneous nature across the United States. It argues that despite its similarities to certain aspects of Southern White English, AAVE has maintained a distinct identity due to the historical context of racial segregation and the continued linguistic resilience of the African American community. The chapter will likely analyze the grammatical and phonological features that set AAVE apart, emphasizing how these characteristics reflect both its historical origins and its ongoing social significance.
Keywords
African American Vernacular English (AAVE), American White Southern English (AWSE), dialect, language contact, segregation, minority language, linguistic variation, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, code-switching.
Frequently Asked Questions: AAVE and AWSE: A Comparative Study
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper examines the development of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and its relationship to American White Southern English (AWSE). It explores how these dialects developed in parallel, the influence of historical events like slavery and segregation, and the misconceptions surrounding AAVE as a deviant form of English.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the parallel development of AAVE and AWSE, the impact of segregation on their divergence, AAVE as a marker of minority status, the role of interracial contact, and the misconception of AAVE as a deficient language. The paper also considers the limited lexical borrowing from African languages into AAVE and the influence of other immigrant groups.
What is the significance of the parallel development of AAVE and AWSE?
The parallel development highlights the close contact between Black and White communities in the Southern US, particularly before strict segregation. This period of interaction influenced linguistic features shared by both dialects. However, the paper also emphasizes how segregation later led to their divergence.
How does the paper address the misconception of AAVE as a deficient form of English?
The paper challenges this misconception by exploring the historical context of AAVE's development and its unique linguistic features. It emphasizes AAVE's rich history and its significance as a marker of African American identity and cultural resistance.
What are the key features of AAVE discussed in the paper?
While specific grammatical and phonological features aren't detailed in the preview, the paper promises to analyze those aspects that set AAVE apart from other dialects, emphasizing its historical origins and ongoing social significance. The "habitual be" construction is mentioned as a potential area of influence from other groups like Irish speakers.
What is the role of segregation in the development of AAVE?
Segregation played a crucial role in shaping AAVE as a distinct dialect. While initial contact led to shared features with AWSE, segregation reinforced the distinctiveness of AAVE, preserving its unique characteristics and contributing to its identity as a marker of African American culture.
What is the historical context considered in the paper?
The paper explores the historical context from the forced migration of Africans to the US in 1619, through slavery, and the impact of Jim Crow segregation laws (post-1877). It connects these historical events directly to the development and evolution of AAVE.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the preview?
The preview includes summaries for a Preface, a chapter on the parallel development of AAVE and AWSE, and a chapter focusing on AAVE as a distinct minority feature. The preface sets the historical context, highlighting the suppression of African languages and the development of AAVE. The other chapters delve deeper into the linguistic features and historical influences shaping both dialects.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include African American Vernacular English (AAVE), American White Southern English (AWSE), dialect, language contact, segregation, minority language, linguistic variation, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, and code-switching.
- 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
