Chapter 3: By the Way, What You Mean by “African-American English”?

This Chapter:

• Defines African-American English, giving geographic and historical information as to its origins and the populations that speak this linguistic variety
• Describes core sociolinguistic concepts of language, communication, variety, dialect, and register, centered on and informed by Africana studies and critical race theory
• Gives a detailed linguistic overview that contextualizes and explains key phonological, phonetic, morphosyntactic, lexical, and discourse features of African-American English (AAE)
• Includes real examples of language: The use of key AAE features will be discussed in highlighted boxes and linked to online media content
• Key themes: 
  • Why the politics of representation, including names and labels such as AAE, matter
  • The structure and social context of AAE are interwoven and interrelated: A focus on culture and meaning
  • The critical utility of linguistic and cultural knowledge: Helping us move from understanding to empowerment

Chapter Links

• Langston Hughes (2002) poem, “Theme for English B”
• Michael DeGraff (2020) gives a lecture called “Black Lives Will Not Matter Until our Languages also Matter: The Politics of Linguistics and Education In Post-Colonies“
• Jonnie Robinson (2019) writes an article on Minority Ethnic English
• Linguistic Society of America (2018) “This Month in Linguistics History: Tribute to Mark Hanna Watkins”
• California Newsreel’s (2018) trailer for the documentary, Language You Cry In
• All about the Gullah/Geechee language:
  • WikiTounges (2013) video demonstration of Caroline speaking Gullah and English
  • m’Cheaux (2018) “Bringing a dying language back to life”
• Geechee Experience’s (2019) on Geechee 101
• Trailer for the documentary Signing Black in America
• Spectacular Vernacular (2021) podcast on Exploring Black American Sign Language and regional grammar

• Ben Zimmer’s (2021) tweet about Allyson Waller’s LRA award
• Geographical variation in AAE
  • The Chicagoland Language Project, directed by Dr. Annette D’Onofrio at Northwestern University and Dr. Sharese King at the University of Chicago
• Inte’a DeShields (2011) podcast called “Baldamor, Curry, and Dug’: Language Variation, Culture, and Identity among African American Baltimoreans”
• @failedviner’s ticktock on the Habitual Be
• Netflix special (2021) on the history of swearing
• Short film from the Voices of UMBC