Monday, September 1, 2008
What Is AAE?
AAE, or African American English, is different than Standard American English. But is it really that much different? This particular article looked at how linguists tried to make sense of this phenomenon known as AAE. To give you an understanding of just how popular AAE speech is amongst African Americans today, it is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of all African Americans speak AAE. There is a wide variety of terminology associated with AAE. It can be classified as "broken" English, slang, dialect, as well as a language. Linguistics may play a large roll in trying to understand just exactly what AAE is, but politics is also a huge factor. Many people argue that AAE breaks the rules of Standard English. However, is there actually a universal standard for speaking proper English in America? The American public places a lot of emphasis on formal writing skills, or Standard Written English. Proper grammar is important to many Americans, therefore the grammatical problems observed in AAE speaking students is a major concern. Verb use is one of the most common grammatical problems AAE speaking students have both in their writing and speech. For instance, an AAE sentence would look like this: He be busy. Where as the Standard English equivalent is: He is always busy. These two sentences essentially mean the same thing, with the only difference being the use of the verb be. Is it fair then, that we label AAE speakers as uneducated and illiterate because they do not know how to follow the rules of language? Can we say that AAE has no established guidelines or discernible rules and simply classify it under "broken English," or "bad English," that has little meaning and value? That would be discriminatory in the sense that each individual has their own"speech community." This speech community is a comfort zone where people feel safe to express or say what they want, when they want, without being ridiculed. Therefore, what makes AAE speech any different? Many people view AAE speech as simply "slang" or street lingo spoken amongst African Americans. This isn't entirely true as more and more people are using AAE speech because of its popularity in mainstream America. Whether it is heard or seen on the television, radio, or billboards, the media is starting to use more and more AAE "slang" to promote and attract the attention of its viewers. Even though at times it may be difficult to understand AAE speech, many American English speakers can actually relate to and understand this form of communication. Also, it not uncommon for American English speakers to incorporate and borrow words from AAE speakers. With that being said, should AAE speech be considered a language? There are three components that identify a system of speech as a language: pronunciation rules (phonology), rules that convey meaning (semantics), and grammatical rules (syntax). "Since language is a distinguishing feature of humans, the denial of language is the same as the denial of humanity." People are free to decide individually whether or not AAE speech is a language, but it all depends on a person's view of AAE's origins. Where they think AAE came from and can it be an actual language? In conclusion, "Linguistic research shows that AAE is neither broken English nor slang, for it possesses not only an enduring vocabulary but also its own rules for grammar and pronunciation." If that is true AAE is a language, but it comes down to personal preference and whether or not you want to believe it.
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17 comments:
My response to this summary is that all of this information that was given is true. As a young African American woman, I have heard and observed alot of the languages that are spoken among African Americans. I can truly say that "we" break the laws of American Standard English. But I will say that amongst the people that I have grew up with, we are not trying to break the laws or change the American language intentionally. It is all about how we were brought up. In some of our households, only one particular language was spoken. It was either because our parents were from a particular place and we just picked up their dialect or the language was spoken throughout our neighborhood. I am guilty of using AAE, but I do know how to use the correct terms of English when need be.
All of the things that are identified in this summary is true. Many young men and women grow up in a household that use AAE in some way or another.
Although it is good to know the proper synax or grammar for The English language, AAE is a way to adapt to culture. In some cases it identifies who we are as African Americans. One example presented in the reading is that you can identify a person's nationality by the way a person talk and in the tone of their voice.
I think that it makes sense to consider AAE seperate from grammar. Its not that AAE speakers are breaking rules, but that they have their own rules. I think its important for AAE speakers to learn American Standard English rules for the purpose of formal writing/speaking, but generally I don't see a problem with the use of AAE. Just because its different doesn't mean its wrong. Its silly to try and stop language from evolving.
I agree with everything that was said in this article, but I believe that AAE is a part of their culture and that is the language they heard growing up. I don't see a problem here as long as the people using this "language" are aware and know the correct American Standard English. I see AAE as a way that they express themselves and their culture. Everyone has the right to be different.
My opinion on AAE doesn't really stray off from my opinion on any language. It takes time to develop linguistic skills and AAE is no different. One of the big things that I find interesting on the subject is that it has been taught at many schools throughout urbanized cities. I don't fully agree with it being taught, but I will say it is a language with its own types of grammar and fluency. So therefore to me it is a language, but through those who know it only, it shouldn't be taught because it isn't recognizable enough. It is almost as if it is a lost language and people try to bring it back.
I agree that the information provided in the article is true. I don't believe that it will ever become in anyway a threat to our "Standard American English language." I have had experiences with people speaking AAE in non-professional situations but I have never seen it in a paper for a class from someone. I think of it as slang or other words that people use in their casual life and I don't expect it to leak into the professional world, nor ever be tolerated by anyone. It seems like it has been around for years and I think that if it hasn't changed anything as of yet, that it won't in the future.
I agree with everything that is written in this blog. I believe that it is a learned pattern. When I talk to my grandmother she uses this a lot. And I have questioned her about it and her response is that's how she was taught in school. Her birthplace is Clarksdale, Mississippi, and that's another language of it's own, if you ask me. Some people can distinguish between the two and are able to "speak two the languages." I don't think that it is a problem if you can determine and know when to use the proper english form. I often use slang when talking to my friends, but I would never go to an interview saying it.
Language is constantly changing. If you've looked at an original copy of Chaucer's Canterbury tales, you know that old English is quite different from the English we speak today; so different, in fact, that it is nearly unreadable.
This is just to say that the evolution of language in this way is not surprising and it certainly isn't anything new. With time, I am positive that new branches of the English language will develop.
The use of AAE doesn't bother me in most situations. While I do think it is very important for people to learn Standard American English for writing and formal speaking purposes, I also understand that AAE is how many people speak in their homes and communities. I had never realized that AAE has its own set of rules. I find it very interesting that many people think that just because it's different it must be wrong. As far as whether AAE is its own language or a dialect, I guess that doesn't really matter to me either. Based on the reading, I would be more inclined to say it sounds like a dialect of English, just as Standard American English is a dialect.
I have noticed the use of AAE, but I can honestly say that it doesn't bother/affect me. I see that it is a challenge in the school setting, but I don't see it being much different from the way Southern people talk. Things are mis-pronounced, and often misspelled, according to Standard English. I also don't believe that AAE speakers are illiterate, it is their own language, and they feel comfortable speaking it.
This blog makes the statement that many standard English speakers borrow parts of AAE when they speak. This is completely true. Therefore, we cannot say that AAE is incorrect, and those who use it are uneducated. Standard English is only correct because scholars established that it was the acceptable way. If it is up to the discretion of others to decide that Standard English is the correct way to speak then it should be up to the discretion of different people to decide that AAE is an acceptable way to speak. Dialects, like the New Jersey dialect or the Alabama dialect, that are used in different parts of the country are not considered incorrect. AAE is just a variation of the standard.
I agree that AAE is being used, i hear it all the time on campus. I don't think it is a real threat though. I feel that AAE is just a variation of the "Standard English" that we are taught. I can see where its use can be a problem in the classroom, but it's just like any other dialect in the US. Southerners speak a little differently than people from up north. Language is ever changing and evolving. AAE is just another branch on the language tree.
I think everything in this article is true. It also raises some interesting questions. For instance, whether or no AAE is a language of its own. I believe that AAE is not a problem. It is used, in my experience,mostly as slang and not as a way of writing a paper or in the professional world. I believe it is important for everyone who speaks any sort of English to know the Standard English rule of writing and speaking. However, if AAE or some other way of speaking English is your way of expressing your culture, who is to say that you shouldn't speak it because it is not Standard American English?
I am a major supporter of language evolving, and to be honest, AAE does not differ much from the grammatical structure of the early colonies. Grammar rules in language are a fluctuating set of guidelines rather than an iron-clad set of rules. The current grammar rules are already changing from where they were twenty years ago, and it's only a matter of time before AAE will cease to be labeled, and simply become another grammatical rule in the English language.
Like any language, English has dialects. We do not speak the same way as Australians or those from Great Britain. Our vocabularies differ, our word choices differ, and even our grammar, on occasion, will differ. The United States seems to take great pride in its diversity and with diversity comes variation--specifically in language. To Say that AAE is wrong is grossly ignorant. As discussed, it is simply language that conforms to a different set of rule. This is not uncommon. I think to say that AAE is a threat to SAE is somewhat unfair. Many things threaten SAE on a daily basis much more than AAE ever will. The only problem I see AAE posing is in formal writing. Most academic organizations have very stringent rules regarding formality of language. If an AAE speaker/writer refuses to obey these rules, there can be a generation of tension and possibly hostility. This isn't to say, however, that AAE rules can't be included under these guidelines. AAE will never be as much a threat to SAE as SAE-speakers'/writers' own laziness, so long as those who do use it can distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate settings for it (at least while SAE is the standard of formality).
I appreciate the way this article takes on the misconception that AAE is slang, “broken”, or bad English. The definitions that are given help to form a more educated point of view on the classification of AAE. As is clearly pointed out, AAE follows distinguishable guidelines and so it cannot be considered poor English. Whether it is a language or a dialect is subject to further research and, as indicated in the article, may rely on information that is lost is history. This classification may also be a matter of opinion given the slippery definitions of both language and dialect. It is also important to remember that there is no universal standard for “proper” English.
I think that there are people who speak in this language but if we consider it a language and there are “rules” then why is not “ok” for people to speak using this language. I do think that there is a time and a place for it and that not every situation is expectable to speak in this language. However as long as people realize this and know standard English and how to use it then I don’t see any issues. I do think that society as a whole has a negative viewpoint of this language but I think it is because it is sometimes spoken in professional setting where standard English should be spoken, in my opinion.
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