Monday, February 1, 2010
What Is AAE?
AAE is African American English. It refers to the language that African Americans use such as ebonics. It is also known among most Americans as "broken" English. Most Americans believe that spekaing AAE means being "lazy" or "cussed" but in SAE also known as Standard American English there is no set defintion on how the language should be spoken. Some of the same mistakes made in AAE is also made in SAE, so there is no such thing as one being better than the other. It has more to do with heritage and tradition. AAE was developed by slaves who weren't allowed to attend school, as their form of communication. More than just African Americans use this form of language when speaking and writing, people from all different races and nationalities around the world use this form of language when expressing themselves. The reason it's consider to be a "lazy" language is because when speaking it, most people leave out the last consonant, as in "tes(t) or "han(d)." According to the article " if one were jsut being lazy or cussed, or both, why not also leave out the final consonant in a word like "pant"? These are just rules that were created that most people feel they have to follow in order to speak "correct" English, but language should be considered a form of expression not a rule.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Language is a form of expressing one's self. You should be able to say how you feel, when you feel it. I don't agree with AAE being lazy or cussed but a form of expression. Seeing that I am an African American woman, I don't agree with most, if not all of these statements. This is just another way of keeping sterotypes alive.
ReplyDeleteEbonics, yes it is a different form of the Standardized English language, but it is all within the same. It's a version of our own language. Like every other language, the people create their own chopped version of it. Its like southern folk, their "twang" is their own version of, sad to say, but english. AAE is not a proper form of the language, but it is a form that is used day in and day out.
ReplyDeleteI really liked what the SAE had to say about the issue. Truthfully, there is not set standard for how language should be spoken. Ebonics is an evolutionary form of the English language, and if that should be considered lazy then let the critic beware lest he make himself a hypocrite. American English is not regular Englsih...it is, in fact, an evolutionary form of the English language as it was spoken in England. Our version is much less proper, and the syntax is much less complicated. The same argument that would construe ebonics as lazy would, if applied consistently, also render American Englsih as equally lazy.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with AAE being lazy or cussed i believe it is simply how people speak. It is fine to speak AAE when you are talking to your friends or having an informal conversation however one should be able to speak SAE as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is not a set definition on how to speak the English language but one should be able to speak SAE in writing and in a formal conversation or setting. I think it is interesting how AAE evolved and how it is still alive today. I do not agree with the author stating that most Americans believe AAE to be lazy or broken. There are many other cultures that use this form of English in every day life. There is no language that is better than another.
ReplyDeleteIf someone were to take a survey and ask the people if they thought there was a set way to speak English, the majority would say no. There are so many accents and dialects that speak English. There are people down South who have country accents, people from Chicago who have northern accents, and there are people from foreign countries that know how to speak English, but they lack in the area of correctly pronouncing it. When someone says "tes" instead of "test," I believe that person knows how to pronounce the word, but he/she would rather speak the way he/she feels more comfortable. You can tell a lot about a person by just the way they talk. There are those who like to pronounce and enunciate every word in each sentence, and then there are the people that are classified in the AAE group who speak "broken" English.
ReplyDeleteSpoken word to be expressed in any form or structure. i think the english language would be boring if it all had to sound one specific way. there would be no expression and possibly no new words ever being created. i agree that there shouldnt be rules applied to speaking english, but maybe only rules for how to best express oneself in different situations. like a job interview or meetings
ReplyDeleteI think it is how people talk, peole always have had their owns way of saying things. Its what sets peoole apart, it makes them different. Its not always fun when everyone is the same. There are time when to speak proper and then times not to.
ReplyDeleteI am also one that does not believe that AAE is a form of being lazy in speaking. It is simply a different dialect of speaking that is popular in non formal settings within America. I do not believe that this form of language is dominated by a certain, race simply because there are always exceptions.
ReplyDeleteAs in any form of expression, audience needs to be considered when determining what is correct or appropriate. AAE is not an incorrect way to speak, but it can be difficult to understand. This is true with most regional dialects, and most people speak differently around different groups of people.
ReplyDeleteMore often than not national news anchors have no discernible dialect or accent. This is contrasted to local news networks whose anchors may have a southern or northern accent, or speak in a certain dialect, depending on their region. A reason for this could be that dialects can be isolating. Folks who would normally speak AAE, have a southern accent or speak any other variation of SAE, might suggest appeal to a specific audience. So the apparent solution of most national news anchors, or anyone else seeking broad professional appeal, is to adopt a new method of speaking that does not reveal an individual's cultural identity that may not be in accordance with the audience.
They are many forms of expression and "Ebonics" is just another way to communicate. Many view this form of expression as lazy but there is actual a cultural history that relates to ebonics that many people do not know about. While english may be viewed as the proper form of expression others such as ebonics should not be ruled out.
ReplyDeleteThe title of this article was kind of interesting to me.I found it interesting that they call it african american english, also known as ebonics. I didnt know that african americans were the only ones that talked slag, to be given such a title. But i thought that the article did have some good points as far as people not really being lazy.
ReplyDeleteLanguage has many forms and AAE in my opinion is another way of one's expression. I have to disagree when it comes to the terms of the AAE being "lazy." Just because the language doesn't follow the rules of SAE doesn't make it any less lazy. Just because someone of a different nationality doesn't fully understand the language doesn't give them any right to stab at something different.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that AAE is "lazy." I agree with everyone else that has posted. It's just an informal communication. People talk in thier own way and almost everyone uses "slang."
ReplyDeleteI also disagree that AAE is lazy. Everyone has there own way of talking to people. I say a bunch of different words in different ways. It's how I like to say them. People shouldnt be accused of saying or talking in a different way. I think people are making a huge deal, and it's really nothing.
ReplyDeleteI feel that this article puts an interesting spin on the use of ebonics, I find it so interesting because all of my life many have looked at it in such a negative view while in this article for the first time its looked at as a contributor to everyday language. Being an African AMerican i have had alot of exposure to the use of ebonics and every since i was a child i've been discouraged from using and made to feel that the use of it showed ignorance. However if that is the case then most people who apeak are displaying ignorance because African AMericans aren't the only culture who uses some form ebonics. Every culture has their way of communicating and specific words they use and understand around each other, and just because those words don't fit into the SAE dosen't mean there wrong it just shows diversity and as the article said, a form of expression not a rule. I don't believe the way you speak should be such an issue however i do believe there is a time and a place for certain kinds of language you speak.
ReplyDeleteI agree that one language is not better than the other and that they are both forms of communication based on tradition and heritage. I do feel that when it comes to writing, English should be more formal and since the article states that AAE was developed by slaves who weren't allowed to attend school, it would make it less formal than SAE. I do not believe that AAE should ever be considered "broken" or "lazy" english. I believe that one should be able to talk and communicate as one likes, which makes language a form of expression.
ReplyDeleteEvery culture has their own way of speaking. Whether it is slang or ebonics, they are excepted by society. This however is more of a conversation and social way of speaking. I do not see this dialect used in the way of a formal setting. I believe there are certain places and times that AAE is acceptable and when it is not.
ReplyDelete