Black English
What is Black English? Is it English spoken with an African accent or is it just sloppy speech spoken by people who are unable to learn the correct way to use English? Does Black English have a grammar? In this essay, I will not only go into this controversial discussion, but also look into the history of Black English, the special features it has and the place it possesses in American society today. 2. The History and background of Black EnglishThe history behind Black English is unlike that of any other dialect. Blacks were brought to the New World as slaves. They spoke many different African languages. Slave owners intentionally mixed people from different language backgrounds with each other so as to avoid any opposition. The blacks had to learn a pidgin language in order to communicate with each other and their masters. These pidgin languages had a very limited vocabulary and simple syntax; thus, they were easy to learn and use. In the course of time, these pidgin languages developed into creoles when the children of the slaves spoke them as their mother-tongue. Finally, after the Civil War, slavery was abolished and blacks could get an education. Many of the features of creole languages gradually disappe
At the same time, it has a number of pronunciation and grammar features that are not found in any other dialects of English. The number of people who speak Black English is not so easily determined because not all blacks speak Black English. The strong nasalization of words such as bayd or behd for bed and mayk or mehd for make is a legacy from the clear nasalization found in almost all of the African languages. Because of the background of these African languages, speakers of Black English often drop the l in sef (self) and substitute b for v and d for th in hab (have) and dis (this). According to some sources as many as 6000 African words still exist in some creole-based languages (e. Unfortunately, white children still think of Black English as inferior and incorrect. There is still genteel racism and English dominance in the American society. They can use Black English at home and in informal situations, and switch to Standard English when speaking in mainly white company. When they ent er school, they are taught in Standard English. Some of these words might even become accepted by the majority and become part of Standard English. This tendency to look down on Black English is a product of the environment they live in. After the equality movement in the 1960's, they feel pride in their culture and background. Some of the older words adopted to English include words such as banjo, banana, okra, jazz, voodoo, mumbo jumbo, zombie, cooter, jukebox and boogie-woogie.
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