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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
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Ebonics from West Africa?
I have read many sources that claim that Black English (i.e. Ebonics, AAVE) is connected to West African languages.
http://www.salon.com/feb97/games/verbivore970214.html
This article states that "many of the distinctive forms of Ebonics can be identified as residues of West African languages." It goes on to say "the word for cat in several African languages also means man. Hence, our hip expression cool cat is derived from Ebonics." Post hoc non est propter hoc. "Cool cat" may indeed by derived from Ebonics, but that has nothing to do with any African language. The man/cat connection is obviously a coincidence.
The article goes on to say that "the absence of certain -s markers, as in '50 cent', 'she work here' and 'John cousin', as well as the absence of the verb to be, as in 'he happy', is rooted in the deep structure of West African languages." Gimme a break! Exactly which West African languages, praytell? Come to think of it, I have read many sources that assert a West African connection, but they never mention which West African languages. I'm starting to think this is all just a big lie. I'm pretty sure that Black English has no connection at all to any African language, and it's just a dialect that developed out of Southern American English.
http://www.salon.com/feb97/games/verbivore970214.html
This article states that "many of the distinctive forms of Ebonics can be identified as residues of West African languages." It goes on to say "the word for cat in several African languages also means man. Hence, our hip expression cool cat is derived from Ebonics." Post hoc non est propter hoc. "Cool cat" may indeed by derived from Ebonics, but that has nothing to do with any African language. The man/cat connection is obviously a coincidence.
The article goes on to say that "the absence of certain -s markers, as in '50 cent', 'she work here' and 'John cousin', as well as the absence of the verb to be, as in 'he happy', is rooted in the deep structure of West African languages." Gimme a break! Exactly which West African languages, praytell? Come to think of it, I have read many sources that assert a West African connection, but they never mention which West African languages. I'm starting to think this is all just a big lie. I'm pretty sure that Black English has no connection at all to any African language, and it's just a dialect that developed out of Southern American English.
Top answer
e. Ebonics, AAVE) is connected to West African languages. html ...
- e.
- Ebonics, AAVE) is connected to West African languages.
- html ...
- [/nq] Ouch!
- You are straying into the world of racial politics and out of the world of scientifically-based linguistics, if there be such an animal, that is.
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78 Answers
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andrew wrote on 17 Apr 2004:
[nq:1]I have read many sources that claim that Black English (i.e. Ebonics, AAVE) is connected to West African languages. http://www.salon.com/feb97/games/verbivore970214.html ... no connection at all to any African language, and it's just a dialect t
[nq:1]I have read many sources that claim that Black English (i.e. Ebonics, AAVE) is connected to West African languages. http://www.salon.com/feb97/games/verbivore970214.html ... no connection at all to any African language, and it's just a dialect t
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[nq:1]Ouch! You are straying into the world of racial politics and out of the world of scientifically-based linguistics, if there be such an animal, that is. Your assertions are no less suspect than those in[/nq]
You may be, but I'm not. As the subject line suggests, I am only interested in the question of whether Ebonics has any connection to any African language. Now you're using my question
You may be, but I'm not. As the subject line suggests, I am only interested in the question of whether Ebonics has any connection to any African language. Now you're using my question
00
[nq:1]Ouch! You are straying into the world of racial politics and out of the world of scientifically-based linguistics, if there be such an[/nq]
You may be, but I'm not. As the subject line suggests, I am only interested in the question of whether Ebonics has any connection to any African language. Now you're using my question as an excuse to stand on a soapbox and discuss nasty issues that I
You may be, but I'm not. As the subject line suggests, I am only interested in the question of whether Ebonics has any connection to any African language. Now you're using my question as an excuse to stand on a soapbox and discuss nasty issues that I
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andrew wrote on 18 Apr 2004:
[nq:2]Ouch! You are straying into the world of racial politics ... is. Your assertions are no less suspect than those in[/nq]
[nq:1]You may be, but I'm not. As the subject line suggests, I am only interested in the question of whether Ebonics has any connection to any African language. Now you're using my question as an excuse to stand on a soapbox.[/nq]
Yo
[nq:2]Ouch! You are straying into the world of racial politics ... is. Your assertions are no less suspect than those in[/nq]
[nq:1]You may be, but I'm not. As the subject line suggests, I am only interested in the question of whether Ebonics has any connection to any African language. Now you're using my question as an excuse to stand on a soapbox.[/nq]
Yo
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andrew wrote on 18 Apr 2004:
[nq:2]Ouch! You are straying into the world of racial politics and out of the world of scientifically-based linguistics, if there be such an[/nq]
[nq:1]You may be, but I'm not. As the subject line suggests, I am only interested in the question of whether ... these issues. The West African question can be neatly seperated from the politics surrounding it, and th
[nq:2]Ouch! You are straying into the world of racial politics and out of the world of scientifically-based linguistics, if there be such an[/nq]
[nq:1]You may be, but I'm not. As the subject line suggests, I am only interested in the question of whether ... these issues. The West African question can be neatly seperated from the politics surrounding it, and th
00
[nq:2]Ouch! You are straying into the world of racial politics and out of the world of scientifically-based linguistics, if there be such an[/nq]
[nq:1]You may be, but I'm not. As the subject line suggests, I am only interested in the question of whether ... these issues. The West African question can be neatly seperated from the politics surrounding it, and that was my intent.[/nq]
I wasn
[nq:1]You may be, but I'm not. As the subject line suggests, I am only interested in the question of whether ... these issues. The West African question can be neatly seperated from the politics surrounding it, and that was my intent.[/nq]
I wasn
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Charles Riggs wrote on 18 Apr 2004:
[nq:2]You may be, but I'm not. As the subject line ... from the politics surrounding it, and that was my intent.[/nq]
[nq:1]I wasn't confused as to your intent. I think it is a very interesting question you raise. Perhaps Raymond, Evan, ... English at the time the slaves were brought over to the New World? That'd be another possible origin, if so.[/nq]
[nq:2]You may be, but I'm not. As the subject line ... from the politics surrounding it, and that was my intent.[/nq]
[nq:1]I wasn't confused as to your intent. I think it is a very interesting question you raise. Perhaps Raymond, Evan, ... English at the time the slaves were brought over to the New World? That'd be another possible origin, if so.[/nq]
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[nq:1]I have read many sources that claim that Black English (i.e. Ebonics, AAVE) is connected to West African languages. http://www.salon.com/feb97/games/verbivore970214.html ... no connection at all to any African language, and it's just a dialect that developed out of Southern Ame
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[nq:1]andrew wrote on 18 Apr 2004:[/nq]
[nq:2]The West African question can be neatly seperated from the politics surrounding it, and that was my intent.[/nq]
[nq:1]You failed to realize your intention. Rhetoric 101 for you.[/nq]
He's a Berkeley student?
[nq:2]The West African question can be neatly seperated from the politics surrounding it, and that was my intent.[/nq]
[nq:1]You failed to realize your intention. Rhetoric 101 for you.[/nq]
He's a Berkeley student?
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[nq:1]. I'm pretty sure that Black English has no connection at all to any African language, and it's just a dialect that developed out of Southern American English.[/nq]
Why "Southern"? People in the South do not speak English any differently than people in the North, West, Midwest or East. Accents differ, but not the language.
Why "Southern"? People in the South do not speak English any differently than people in the North, West, Midwest or East. Accents differ, but not the language.
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