aave-is-not-se-with-mistakes

African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and its Recognition

Introduction

  • AAVE is often criticized and misunderstood as non-standard English filled with mistakes.

  • In December 1996, a California school board meeting regarding AAVE sparked a worldwide media frenzy.

  • The Oakland Unified School District recognized AAVE as a valid linguistic system to aid educational policies for African American students.

Media Response and Misinterpretation

  • The media, including the New York Times, inaccurately reported the school board's acknowledgment of AAVE as endorsing "black slang" as a distinct language.

  • The distinction between slang and a language is critical; slang cannot be a language as it relies on a broader language's structure.

  • The Oakland school board aimed to elevate AAVE's status, not to endorse slang.

Distinction Between Language and Dialect

Linguistic Classification

  • AAVE is classified as a dialect of English, not a separate language; it shares most of its structure with Standard English.

  • The concept of dialect does not imply inferiority; it simply indicates a variation.

    • Example: Tosk and Gheg are dialects of Albanian.

  • Political factors may influence classification; linguistics should not be conflated with value judgments.

Educational Implications

  • The Oakland school board’s intention was to leverage AAVE in teaching, not to teach it as a subject.

  • The use of AAVE in teaching strategies has demonstrated positive educational outcomes.

Myths Surrounding AAVE Grammar

The Copula

  • The auxiliary verb forms of be are central to AAVE; claiming they're just omitted reflects misunderstanding.

  • AAVE has strict rules regarding copula omission based on stress and tense.

    • Example conditions for copula omission:

      • It cannot be omitted when stressed (e.g., "There already is one!")

      • Present-tense copulas are not omitted in negatives or when forming imperatives.

Negative Concord

  • Critics assert AAVE uses illogical double negatives.

  • The rule of negative concord in AAVE ensures consistency; where a negative auxiliary is used, it requires negative subjects or objects.

    • Example: "I ain't never seen nothin'" retains negation across all elements.

  • AAVE employs a grammatical structure similar to that found in Italian, rejecting the idea of illogicality.

Unique AAVE Structures

Negative Inversion

  • AAVE can reposition negatives for emphasis, allowing structures like "Ain't nobody gonna find out."

  • This syntactic feature is distinct from Standard English, exemplifying the regular grammatical principles of AAVE.

Pronunciation Patterns

  • AAVE includes automatic dropping of final consonants in certain conditions.

  • The rules governing these drops involve voicing and phonetic properties.

    • Example: "left" becomes "lef'" based on preceding consonant voicing.

Dialect Switching

  • Speakers of AAVE often switch fluidly between AAVE and Standard English depending on context, demonstrating their linguistic flexibility.

  • This phenomenon reflects a sophisticated comprehension of sociolinguistic norms.

Conclusion: The Value of AAVE

  • AAVE is not a disordered version of Standard English; it is shaped by complex grammar.

  • Recognition and respect for AAVE could play significant roles in educational success for many African Americans.

  • Misunderstanding and prejudice towards AAVE reflect broader societal attitudes towards African Americans and their identities.