There are many famous authors who have written many award winning books for their writings using "Negro dialect" or what we commonly call ebonics in today's world. Alice Walker used Negro dialect in The Color Purple; Zora Neal Hurston used Negro dialect in all of her works. It gave those books an authenticity of the speech patterns used, and it fit the time period. Currently, there are still variations of speech/dialect used by some black folks - sometimes ONLY in informal settings, other times - that is just the way folks talk. Linguists have termed this speech "ebonics". In fact, they have traced some distinct patterns of English dialect (linguistic features) spoken by some Black people to West African languages.
In US classrooms today, many Black children speak using some variation of "standard English". I believe that teachers should validate the childs language patterns, while simultaneously teaching them standard English. I don't feel teachers should "put down" or discredit the way children may speak, but instead should model the standard form. These children are bi-cultural and there are places and times where these informal speech patterns/slang speech/ebonics...can be used without judgment; in fact, they are more adaptable and have greater ease to move between the two worlds Black folks often see themselves in. Yet, often middle class Black folks detest the use of slang speech or ebonics - and feel it is limiting and demeaning to us as a people. I personally disagree. As am educated woman, with excellent command of standard english; I still am comfortable code switching - and speaking informally with peers using slang/ebonics. I know the difference between the two.
So, even though many "learned" folks detest the use of it - the establishment still recognizes negro dialect/ebonics as a valuable literary contribution and bestowed the Pulitzer Prize to Alice Walker for such a contribution.
What do you think?
Word Up! Give thanks for making it plain!
ReplyDeleteBravo for speaking to this subject! We are a multi-lingual people! Always have been and always will be! Most of the world speaks more than one language except for, you guessed it! America! No one says anything about the way creoles speak in Louisiana and no one should have anything to say about the communities across the U.S. that have different dialects and speech patterns. I love our 'ebonics' and switch up all the time. i know when to speak 'proper' English (whatever that is...) and when to speak amongst my people! So many down what we do but copy us!
ReplyDeleteLifeOfAMom - Yes we truly are a multilingual and multicultural people! It is important that we not only acknowledge, but also celebrate the richness of our language - both verbal and non-verbal. We can communicate well and get our point across completely without the use of our voice too! ...(them their eyes"... we can roll 'em, cut 'em, wink 'em , stare with 'em, etc). We also come from traditions of expressive and lively people! You are so right about the limitations of America - the only country that prides itself on being monolingual. There are accepted dialectic differences all over the world; yet the powers that be always try to denigrate and diminish the creativity,variation and flexibility of the speech patterns of Black people. I recognize the need to know and be able to speak "standard English" but not at the expense of losing the connection to, and flow with my people throughout this country and the diaspora.
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