African Americans in the United States speak a dialect of English known as African American Vernacular English (AAVE), which is regarded as an important element of their cultural identity (Wolfram et al., 209). It can also be seen as the American English spoken by many African Americans and is also known as African American English, Black English, Black Native English, and Ebonics (Lanehart 6). The American culture has incorporated the dialect ever since the start of the slave trade. With the nation’s social and political landscape for African Americans changing, the dialect underwent several changes too. AAVE differs from other dialects of American English because it has a distinctive sound and a different set of grammatical rules than Standard English. There have long been discussions about African American vernacular English in academic and public contexts.
AAVE is frequently criticized because it is an improper or incorrect English dialect primarily used by lower-class African Americans, which is the basis for much of the controversy surrounding it. It has been widely believed that Standard English is the only acceptable language, and this perception has been used to both support and marginalize African Americans. African Americans still use AAVE frequently today despite its long history. AAVE classes are now offered in some schools due to a growing movement to recognize it as a legitimate English dialect (Champion et al., 84). Contrarily, it is regularly stigmatized in academic and professional settings and is still widely regarded as a subpar variety of English.
Research Question
What is the current discourse regarding African American Vernacular English, and how has the discourse changed over time?
Hypothesis
The discourse surrounding African American Vernacular English has shifted from stigmatization to acceptance and appreciation.
Historical Context of African American Vernacular English
African Americans’ history in the United States is closely entwined with AAVE. Since the start of the slave trade in the 1600s, African Americans have spoken their English dialect. Enslaved Africans from various parts of Africa were brought to the United States during this time and made to labor in agriculture, mainly in the South. The enslaved people spoke a hybrid language that included English and their native tongues. African Americans have spoken of this linguistic brew in the South for centuries under Gullah (Wolfram et al., 185). Thus, the dialect was a product of the African diaspora and the language enslaved Africans brought to the country.
Enslaved African-Americans were the first to use it to communicate before slavery was outlawed in the United States. They were enslaved and brought to the United States, where they were made to learn English and mix it with their native African tongues (Wolfram et al., 205). A new language was produced as a result. As the enslaved people carried on their communication with one another, African American Vernacular English, as it is now known, started to develop (AAVE). Many of the words and expressions used by African Americans were viewed as incorrect or improper at the time because AAVE was not recognized as a legitimate language.
By the middle of the 20th century, AAVE was recognized as a legitimate form of speech. The civil rights movement, which emphasized the value of African American culture and language, contributed to this acceptance. Segregation and racial discrimination against African Americans in the US were to be ended through this movement. It emphasized how important African American culture and language were and their power as social and political change agents. The civil rights movement played a significant role in African American language because African American leaders delivered many influential speeches and writings. AAVE was not universally accepted, and many believed it improper or uneducated (Holt et al., 26). The media channels shaped this idea, frequently portraying African Americans as speaking in a “ghetto” dialect, which was not accepted. Many African Americans believed changing their speech patterns was necessary to assimilate into society.
Over time, as the political and social climate of the African American community changed, this language evolved into the distinctive dialect still in use. AAVE independently developed the grammar rules, pronunciation patterns, vocabulary, and writing styles (Lanehart 13). AAVE also omits the -ed suffix from some words and uses them -in suffixes instead of the -ing suffix in others. These are further distinguishing phonological traits. Due to its rhythmic, melodic, and poetic features, AAVE also has a distinctive sound that differs from Standard English.
Current Use of African American Vernacular English
In the African American community today, AAVE is a widely used and accepted method of communication. It is a significant aspect of African American culture used in everyday interactions, educational settings, and workplaces (Wolfram 323). In addition, as more African American entertainers, athletes, and celebrities have embraced their use of AAVE, the dialect has grown in popularity in the popular and mainstream media. Numerous non-African Americans, including people from other racial or ethnic minorities and some white people, have also embraced AAVE. As a result of increased exposure to and familiarity with the dialect, it has gained greater visibility and acceptance in the United States. African Americans can powerfully express their culture and identity through AAVE (Wolfram et al., 209). African Americans in younger generations also use it to set themselves apart from their elders and create their identities.
Contemporary Discourse Regarding African American Vernacular English
The discussion of AAVE today is complex and frequently contentious. On the one hand, some contend that AAVE is a respectable and acceptable form of English and should be treated as such. They contend that it is a means of communication that aids in bonding and expressing shared experiences among African American communities. It ought to be considered an asset rather than a liability. AAVE should not be stigmatized or judged, and its users should not face prejudice. On the other hand, some contend that using AAVE is inappropriate and should be discouraged (Wolfram 316). This indicates that it does not use Standard English’s pronunciation, syntax, or vocabulary or adhere to traditional grammar rules. The main point of contention is frequently whether AAVE should be considered a correct or an incorrect form of English. Given the ongoing discussion surrounding the appropriate role of AAVE in the classroom, this debate is especially pertinent to the field of education (Champion et al., 84).
Due to the dialect’s rising popularity in popular culture, the conversation surrounding AAVE has recently shifted significantly. The dialect is now widely recognized as a valid form of communication, despite historically being considered “bad English” or “improper English.” AAVE’s increased visibility in popular culture and African Americans’ growing advocacy for their right to speak their dialect of English are the primary causes of this shift in discourse (Holt et al., 14). AAVE is increasingly recognized as a valid and useful form of communication.
Similar to African Americans, immigrants from China also encounter linguistic prejudice. Some Chinese people who experienced this kind of discrimination claim that people told them their accents and speech patterns were incorrect or uneducated. They are now more aware of the linguistic discrimination faced by African Americans. African Americans have been marginalized, and the idea that Standard English is the only acceptable language has been reinforced by the use of AAVE throughout history and in the present.
The relationship between Chinese immigrants and African Americans is significantly impacted by the experience of discrimination and marginalization based on language use. Due to the discrimination both groups have faced regarding their speech, they feel more united than ever. Understanding one another’s shared experiences has sparked respect for and appreciation of one another’s cultures, boosting interaction and cooperation between Chinese immigrants and African Americans (Holt et al., 7). As a result, there is now a better relationship between the two communities.
Every dialect is valuable because it helps to define a person’s identity. African American Vernacular English, Caribbean English, Pennsylvania Dutch, and even the dialect used by Chinese immigrants are crucial because they help people connect with their ancestry. Thus, using American dialects is just as important as using formal English (Wolfram 316). African‐American English dialect should be recorded, investigated, and learned to make history more fascinating. Efforts are being made to study and research the dialect so that it can be passed down to future generations since there are few written examples of African American Vernacular English (Lanehart 12).
Conclusion
African American Vernacular English is a dialect of English that has been present in the United States since the slave trade. The dialect has undergone numerous changes and is now widely accepted in the African American community. AAVE has unique grammar rules, phonological features, and poetic and melodic qualities. Furthermore, the contemporary discourse surrounding AAVE has shifted significantly in recent years, as the dialect has become increasingly accepted in mainstream culture. African American Vernacular English is an important part of the African American cultural identity (Wolfram et al., 209). The experience of discrimination and marginalization based on language use significantly impacts the relationship between African Americans and Chinese immigrants. The mutual respect and appreciation for each other’s cultures have resulted in a more positive relationship between the two communities.
References
Lanehart, Sonja L. “Sociocultural and historical contexts of African American English.” Sociocultural and Historical Contexts of African American English (2001): 1–391.
Wolfram, Walt, and Erik Thomas. The Development of African American English. John Wiley & Sons, 2008.”
Champion, Tempii B., Deirdre Cobb-Roberts, and Linda Bland-Stewart. “Future educators’ perceptions of African American Vernacular English (AAVE).” Online Journal of Education Research 1.5 (2012): 80–89.
Holt, Yolanda, et al. “Southern Regional Dialect Variation and Race Identification in American English.” Available at SSRN 4375418.
Wolfram, Walt. “African‐American English.” The Handbook of World Englishes (2019): 314–330.
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