African American Vernacular English

Definition

African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is a distinct variety of English spoken primarily by African Americans, characterized by unique grammatical, phonological, and lexical features. This dialect reflects the cultural history and social experiences of its speakers, often arising from the intersection of African linguistic heritage and the influences of Southern American English.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. AAVE has its own set of grammatical rules, including the use of double negatives and the absence of the copula in certain contexts.
2. The phonological features of AAVE include vowel shifts and consonant cluster reductions that differentiate it from Standard American English.
3. AAVE has deep historical roots tracing back to African languages, slavery, and the African American experience in the United States.
4. This dialect is often stigmatized or misunderstood, leading to misconceptions about its legitimacy and the intelligence of its speakers.
5. Research shows that AAVE is not simply 'bad' English but a complex linguistic system with its own rules and norms.

Review Questions

• How does African American Vernacular English reflect the cultural history and social identity of its speakers?
  • African American Vernacular English is deeply intertwined with the cultural history and social identity of African Americans. It embodies linguistic features that have evolved from the historical experiences of African Americans, including influences from African languages and Southern American English. The use of AAVE among speakers can signify community belonging and cultural pride while also acting as a means to express identity in various social contexts.
• Discuss the grammatical and phonological characteristics that distinguish African American Vernacular English from Standard American English.
  • African American Vernacular English possesses unique grammatical characteristics such as the use of double negatives (e.g., 'I don't know nothing') and variations in verb conjugation. Phonologically, AAVE features distinct pronunciations, like vowel shifts and consonant cluster reductions (e.g., 'test' pronounced as 'tes'). These differences highlight AAVE's rich linguistic structure and contribute to its identification as a legitimate dialect rather than a mere deviation from Standard American English.
• Evaluate the societal attitudes towards African American Vernacular English and their impact on perceptions of language legitimacy and speaker intelligence.
  • Societal attitudes toward African American Vernacular English often reflect deep-rooted biases and misconceptions that can affect perceptions of its legitimacy. Many view AAVE as 'bad' English due to stereotypes about its speakers, leading to unjust assumptions about their intelligence and competence. This stigma can hinder effective communication and reinforce systemic inequalities. Recognizing AAVE as a legitimate linguistic system challenges these biases and emphasizes the importance of understanding linguistic diversity in all its forms.

Related terms

Code-Switching: The practice of alternating between two or more languages or dialects within a conversation or discourse, often used by speakers of AAVE to navigate different social contexts.

Creole Language: A stable, fully developed language that originates from the mixing of two or more languages, often seen in communities with a history of colonization and migration, influencing AAVE's development.

Dialect: A particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group, showcasing variations in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.