Is Ebonics a language?

[Cool.As.Ice]

So what is Ebonics to you? More sophisticated terms are Black English, African-American Vernacular English (AAVE).

 

To some it is culture, to others it is slang, there seems to be a huge debate on their use. Leaving out profanity, do you believe that it is a language?

 

Gullah, spoken in the Sea Islands of South Carolina & Georgia is considered a language, and they have an awful lot in common with Ebonics, imho.

 

Gullah: “Wha goin on”

Ebonics: "Ah 'on know what homey be doin.”

 

IMO Ebonics is like a creole, just like that spoken in Louisiana, Belize, Hawaii, and other parts of the world.

 

It's a lot of fun, mon, yeah!

 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Vernacular_English

[1MKnight]

As the Wiki you posted says, it's a "variety" of American English. About a decade ago when I first learned about it, it kind of blew my mind. I always just labled it as "slang" in my head. But learning that it had it's own grammar, vocabulary, and other unique linguistic features completely changed my perspective, not only on AAVE, but also my understanding of language and culture in general. That little shift has made me far more tolerant of differing cultural aspects than I ever had been. (so much so that it deeply irritates me any time I see people not being tolerant of other cultures) It's also severely lowered my sensitivity towards "vulgar" language. What is "vulgar" to some cultures is "just how we talk" to another. 

 

I think it'd be great if every English speaking person learned more about the complexities of AAVE, because I think it'd help people be less judgmental, which is always a good thing. 

[Cool.As.Ice]

9 hours ago, 1MKnight said:

What is "vulgar" to some cultures is "just how we talk" to another. 

Great point. This dialect developed from slaves from West Africa brought to America by Europeans and heavily influenced by the English spoken in the 17th-19th centuries, especially down South.

 

Slaves used to sit together around the fire during their infrequent downtime and just chat with each other like this, since they weren’t allowed an education.

 

Over the centuries, it has developed into the language it is today, though you’re right, it is often put down by others who consider it just slang.

 

Me personally, having grown up in the ghetto, it is a part of my identity and who I am. I have never forgotten where I came from.

 

Soul food, R&B, blues, basketball, whatever, it is all part of what makes us who we are as a people. Every culture has something to contribute, as Jehovah made us all.

Edited September 4 by IcemanEli
It ain’t important, ya’ll

[Dages]

Looks like a creole or pidgin

[Cool.As.Ice]

Looks like a creole or pidgin

French has:
Martinique Creole
Haitian Creole
Louisiana Creole
Cajun
Guadeloupe Creole
St. Lucian Creole
French Guianese Creole
Karipuna French
Canadian French
Tayo
Mauritian Creole
Reunion Creole
Agalega
Chagossian
Seychellois
Rodriguan Creole

English has:
Ebonics (AAVE)
Bislama
Hawaiian Pidgin
Jamaican Creole
Miskito Coast Creole
Gullah
Limonese
San Andres’ Creole
Virgin Islands Creole
Krio
Kreyol
Ngatikese
Tok Pisin
Australian Kriol
Singlish
Bay Islands Creole

I could go on, it’s amazing how many of them are out there.

[Alikay]

On 9/3/2024 at 2:15 PM, Cool.As.Ice said:

So what is Ebonics to you? More sophisticated terms are Black English, African-American Vernacular English (AAVE).

 

To some it is culture, to others it is slang, there seems to be a huge debate on their use. Leaving out profanity, do you believe that it is a language?

 

Gullah, spoken in the Sea Islands of South Carolina & Georgia is considered a language, and they have an awful lot in common with Ebonics, imho.

 

Gullah: “Wha goin on”

Ebonics: "Ah 'on know what homey be doin.”

 

IMO Ebonics is like a creole, just like that spoken in Louisiana, Belize, Hawaii, and other parts of the world.

 

It's a lot of fun, mon, yeah!

 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Vernacular_English

Leaves us to ask other question.  Is English a language or something that was accepted as a language because it was/is widely used?

[Hava Saber]

English is a language because it has its own set of rules and vocabulary. It became widely used due to historical events like British colonization and the global influence of the U.S. Its wide usage has made it prominent, but it was a language before it became so widespread.

[Ostria]

Ebonics to me is a very.... Difficult topic. So first i wanna say is that Im black, that is kinda important to mention. I was raised on the "Only uneducated black people (however my family used a more 'colorful' word) use "ghetto speak"", so i didnt want to look like an uneducated 'negro', so I never got into it. However, luckily I was raised around whites and hispanics, so I wasnt exposed to it directly as a child, and because my mom and other family members grew up with that way of thinkong, no one in my family adapted ebonics until half way through gen Y.

 

Due to ebonics having such a negative connotation in the world, it is believed and in some cases proven, that the use of it has kept black people from getting good jobs in the past (similarly to giving your child a black name would get their application thrown out quickly). The more 'white' you acted the better of a job you got.

 

Now fast forward to 2024, the thing i dislike about ebonics/aave with the younger kids are the social justice warriors that claims any slang as being aave. I've seen white people in facebook groups being banned for using the term 'yall'. Little SJWs will try to ruin your life if youre white and they catch you use any term they believe is not yours, ive seen them freak out over people using the word jank/janky, ive seen them freak out over unc, lit, 'its the x for me'. But this is just another reason why i feel that people shouldnt be allowed on social media until the age of 25-30.

 

Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

 

Speaking of freaking out on if non black people do black things. If youre not black and you wanna comment/quote my comment you may, i know some people feel its not their place but the floor is open.

[exactor]

The following is my opinion; it is not a judgment.  🙃

 

African American Vernacular English (AAVE), or Ebonics, is a group of English dialects developed among African American communities in the United States. Despite its influence on general American and international English, mainly through slang expressions and idioms, there's a persistent belief that AAVE speakers use "bad" or "broken" English. However, linguists argue that AAVE is not a broken standard English but a different variety of American English.

 

The history of AAVE is a testament to its resilience and adaptability. It traces back to 1619, when enslaved African people were first brought to what is now the United States. Over the next two centuries, AAVE developed from contact between speakers of West African languages, English-speaking slave masters, and indentured servants from Great Britain and Ireland. While AAVE has some creole-like features, it's much closer to standard English than Caribbean Creoles.

 

Two theories exist about AAVE's development. One suggests it arose from slaves learning dialectal English from indentured servants who were often not proficient in standard English. Another proposes it developed as a Creole language but converged with Standard English through decreolization. The former is more widely accepted, though Creole influence from Caribbean slaves likely played a role.

 

First, let me be clear that AAVE is not a monolithic entity. It's a diverse and dynamic dialect, with variations that add to its rich complexity. Not all African Americans speak it, and some people who aren't African Americans do speak it. AAVE exists on a continuum with standard American English, varying usage based on situation, socioeconomic status, and dialect perception. Regional and generational variations also exist within AAVE, further adding to its rich complexity.

 

AAVE is a rich and fascinating dialect with distinctive features that set it apart. These include unique vocabulary, grammar, and phonology. While slang is often associated with AAVE, it's not representative of the dialect. The core of AAVE lies in its grammar and phonology, which are truly unique and engaging.

 

Grammatical features of AAVE include the omission of "is" and "are" in specific contexts, the use of "be" to indicate habitual action, and unique ways of expressing the future tense. For example, "I'm finna go home" is a contraction of "fixing to," meaning "about to."

Phonologically, AAVE has several distinctive features. It tends to be r-less at the end of words, similar to some British and Northeastern American accents. Some diphthongs become monophthongs, and the pronunciation of "th" sounds changes.

 

In many dialects and casual speech, the "-ing" ending is often pronounced as "-in." This is known as "g-dropping" or "g-clipping". For instance:

- "Running" might be pronounced as "runnin'"

- "Walking" might become "walkin'"

The pronunciation of "-ing" and "-in" at the end of words differs in standard American English, but it's important to note that this can vary depending on regional accents and dialects. This pronunciation is common in various English dialects and is particularly associated with casual or informal speech.

 

From a linguistic standpoint, the "-ing" vs. "-in" pronunciation is an example of allophonic variation. Both pronunciations are considered valid in their respective contexts, and the choice often depends on factors such as regional dialect, social setting, and personal speaking style.

It's worth noting that while "g-dropping" may be stigmatized in some formal contexts, linguists recognize it as a natural and widespread feature of many American-English varieties.

 

AAVE speakers should be encouraged to learn standard American English as an additional tool for expanding opportunities and enhancing communication. Still, it's crucial to recognize that AAVE is not inferior to standard American English. AAVE is a different dialect, just as valid as those spoken in Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, and other English-speaking regions. Embracing linguistic diversity while developing proficiency in standard American English can empower AAVE speakers to navigate various social and professional contexts effectively.

 

Exodus 4:11 notes that language is a divine gift: “Jehovah said to him: Who made a mouth for man…..? Is it not I, Jehovah?”

 

  -end