Wat It Do!
When I asked myself what African American English was, I didn't think of it as an official dialect or variation of the English language. What first comes to mind is some type of "uneducated vernacular", even though I use AAE myself and hear it daily.
This article provokes enlightening thought about the ignorance of culture and the social status of language. It is a shame that power has to be behind a dialect to actually make it respectable. The author brings up three conditions for the development of a pidgin :
- Restricted access to the target language (in this case, English)
- A shortage of bilingual speakers
- The need to communicate
These are precise reasons for the development of AAE during slavery up until now. This is essential information for teachers due to the fact that the majority of African American students understand or speak AAE on a daily basis. In school, is where many Black students are taught that the way they speak is "WRONG"!!! This gives the students an inferiority complex that can hinder their desire to try in school and discourage them from using Standard American English while writing. When students feel that they are unappreciated for who they are and merely encouraged to change their language habits because they are "wrong", they tune out to the lesson and fail the course.
After reading about AAE eventually being respected as an official dialect of a language instead of being frowned upon by teachers and professionals, I thought it was impossible; but after reading that students thought they were stupid because of their dialect, the information only confirmed that learning this info could instill in AAE speakers the morale it takes to succeed in school. As an AAE speaker, I am now also proud to be bilingual!
Example: (AAE) I'm bout to go to da store an get some grease fo' my waves. Ya feel me?
(SAE) I'm about to go to the store and get some Castor Oil for my hair. Do you understand me?
For Discussion: Do you know how to speak AAE? If you "sincerely" can, then feel free to write a sentence or two using "yo AAE skillz". If you can't, then at least try, who knows?...It might be tight son.
One,
Dre
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25 comments:
Yo, man. I'm bout ta go to da hood. Ya, dig?
Mon, I bout ta go git da meat from da market. Mon, git dat out o' here.
I'm bout ta see...how weak yo game is.
Yo I got this
Ain't nobody can touch this
That teacher, she ain't doin nobody no good. I be gettin work done. She always tryin start somethin. She bogus.
I'm finna go check out ol' girl's whip. Yall wanna go? I'm bouncin' now.
I be provin how lil I know 'bout Ebonics. Y'all seein how bad dis be?
Aye yo check dis out kid...I'm finna to go to da store and grab dese fresh kicks, so people can be jockin my swag at da party dis weekend. U down?
I myself am Not very good at speaking in AAE. I have tried, and it's been met with mixed results.
I do favor certain slang terms, however, like saying "ya dig" whenever appropriate.
Yo, man, what her name be? She fine.
Wat Down, i wish i had the whip cuz im sick of heal toe.in it in the rain. I kno when winter comes i refuse to walk on sheets of ice like last year. If they don't put some salt down this winter SIU can kick rocks down a long dusty road cuz im not going to class. Know dat.
I can relate to Raquel...I'm not good at AAE whatsoever. If you've ever seen "She's the Man", recall how Amanda Byne's character sounds like, and that's pretty close to how I would sound speaking AAE. hahaha
Im really bad with AAE, lol. I mean sometimes I will use certain words or phrases when Im talking with my friends joking around. But besides that I pretty much stink at it.
Dammn Gurl your hur is supa tight tonight.The boyz are gunna be all ova you! After the party, i'm finna get me some chicken!
Oh my...I suck at AAE. Every now and again you may here me say Fo' shizzle or something like that, but I'm so white I'm practically neon clear...G.
Aye shorty, wud it do? Dis party be wack. Im finna bounce out dis mug and hit up a real party yo wit some fine lookin brotha's.
Holla at cha grl! what what!!
Aye shorty, wud it do? Dis party be wack. Im finna bounce out dis mug and hit up a real party yo wit some fine lookin brotha's.
Holla at cha grl! what what!!
I ain't tellin' you no mo', I'm out.
Man, i ont even know, g. we prolly just gon chill at my crib. My o.g. went outta town so ima be in charge, know wat im sayin.
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