10 Things To Know About African American Language (AAL)

10 Things To Know About African American Language (AAL)

Introduction

  • African descendants in the U.S. have been speaking varieties of English for many centuries, which are today known as African American Language (AAL).
  • While not all Black people speak AAL, many do.
  • Purpose of the document is to clarify common misconceptions about AAL.

1. V in AAVE Stands for Vernacular

  • African American Vernacular English (AAVE) reflects the language used in more casual settings but is recognized as being spoken in both informal and formal contexts.
  • Over time, scholars have noted that AAVE has undergone name changes influenced by cultural and political climates.
    • Various Names: African American Vernacular English, Afro-American English, Black Vernacular English, Black English Vernacular, Black English, Black Language, Spoken Soul, Black Street Speech, Black Folk Speech, Black Dialect, Black Communications, American Negro English, Nonstandard Negro English, Negro Dialect.
  • Currently, it is largely referred to as African American English (AAE) or African American Language (AAL).
  • Ebonics, a term coined in the 1970s by psychologist Robert Williams, combines 'Ebony' and 'phonics' but is criticized for oversimplifying AAL as merely a sound system rather than acknowledging its complexity as a full language system.

2. African American English is a Dialect of English

  • AAE is a systematic and complete language, operating under a set of grammatical rules, similar to all dialects of English.
  • It is not a disorganized form of language, as it possesses its own grammar and syntax, which if mocked, reveals ignorance about its structure.

3. Habitual Be and Tense in AAE

  • Habitual Be: Indicates a regular occurrence; for example, "That dog be sleeping".
  • Tense: Describes time of action, shown in sentences like "He is dreaming" (present tense) vs. "He was dreaming" (past tense).
  • Copula: Refers to the verb 'to be' in its forms: is, was, are, were.
  • Aspect: Describes how an action occurs. For example, "He be dreaming" implies he dreams regularly, not at this moment.
  • Critics often fail to differentiate between tense and aspect, misunderstanding AAL’s grammatical structure.

4. AAE is Not a Monolith or Stereotype

  • AAE varies across different demographics, including age, ethnicity, class, and gender, reflecting the rich diversity of Black experiences.
  • AAL's regional variations exemplify its non-monolithic nature; differences exist in usage between states like North Carolina, New York, or California.
    • Example of a regional difference: Southern AAL speakers might say "fixin’ to," while Northern speakers might say "gonna".

5. Black American Sign Language (ASL) is Real

  • Black ASL has developed uniquely within Black Deaf communities, exhibiting distinct characteristics compared to mainstream ASL, although both shared communal norms and gestures.

6. AAL Includes More Than Just Words

  • Communication in AAL incorporates gestures, body language, intonation, and cultural cues.
  • Cultural expressions have gained widespread visibility in popular media, such as viral GIFs and videos. For instance, the “Black handshake” and the viral “squat and squint” example by Kalin Elisa.

7. African American Language is Loved, Appreciated, and Appropriated

  • AAL influences mainstream culture significantly through music, dance, and expressions; it has become one of the most recognizable aspects of U.S. culture globally.
  • The phenomenon of “digital blackface” occurs when non-Black individuals utilize Black expressions and gestures without acknowledgment of their origins.
  • AAL terms and phrases like "bae," "on fleek," and "it’s the ___ for me" have been incorporated into other English dialects without crediting their roots.

8. AAL as a Proxy for Racism Against Black People

  • AAL speakers face discrimination across multiple social spheres, including education, employment, and housing.
  • The misconception persists, whereby AAL speakers are deemed "articulate" if they adopt White Mainstream American English, which diminishes recognition of their capabilities within AAL.

9. Communicative Competency in AAL Matters

  • Communicative competence involves both linguistic ability and social awareness in language use.
  • The N-word's pronunciation varies based on cultural context; historical pronunciations are associated with antagonism, while variants are often reclaimed within the community.

10. Other Languages Spoken by Black People

  • Languages like Gullah and Louisiana Creole originated from historical contexts, similar to AAL, and are increasingly under threat.
    • Gullah is English-Lexified, spoken primarily in South Carolina and Georgia.
    • Louisiana Creole is French-Lexified, primarily spoken in Louisiana.
    • These languages, along with AAL, developed during the period of enslavement in the 17th and 18th centuries and are part of a larger linguistic heritage.

Further Learning Opportunities

  • Extensive research has been conducted on AAL over the past 50 years.
  • Recommended resources for deeper understanding include:
    • Talking Black in America and Signing Black in America available at TalkingBlackinAmerica.org.
    • Books: Spoken Soul: The Story of Black English, Linguistics in the Pursuit of Justice, Articulate While Black, Hip-hop Literacies, Linguistics Justice.

About the Authors

  • Kimberley Baxter: Ph.D. student at NYU’s linguistics department with interests in AAE syntax and regional variation.
  • Renée Blake: Associate professor at NYU with a focus on equity and inclusion in African diasporic studies and linguistic expression.