Lecture #11-12 English around the world. American English. Black English

In the course of the last few centuries the English language spread over various parts of the globe. In the 18th century the English penetrated into India and it came under English power. In this huge territory, which since 1947 is divided between two states, India and Pakistan, English has not, however ousted the local language. Its sphere is limited to large cities and to a certain social layer. In India to-day the English language is a state language alongside the native languages Hindi and Urdu.

In the course of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) the English ' conquered Canada, which had been a French colony. A few decades later English settlers appeared in Australia. During the 19th century the hole of Australia, and also New Zeeland and many islands in Oceania were colonized. In the early years of the 20th century the English penetrated into South Africa and made themselves masters I of the Cape Colony and of the Transvaal. In all of these territories the English language had to complete with other colonizers' languages and with those of the local populations. In some cases a compromise was the result. Thus, in Canada English did not entirely supersede French. The French Canadian dialect, which shows a strong influence of English, is still ' used in several regions of Canada. In the republic of South Africa the Ditch dialect, called Afrikaans, has survived and enjoys equal rights with English.

'Black English' is commonly featured in popular music, often stereotyped in television serials and popular film, and abundantly present on game shows, 'reality' media, and the internet. Yet what is 'Black English'? Who speaks it? When do they speak it? What stereotypical or caricatured associations does it often have? What is the reality?

Black English (or, the African-American Variety of English [AA VE], Black English Variant [BEV], or 'Ebonics' [derived from 'Black English phonetics']) is recognized as a distinct sub­language with its own syntactical structure. BE is based on West African grammatical patterns with superimposed English vocabulary (thus forming a "pidgin"). Black English is derived from (,and-thus in part reflects) the 'central African-American cultural experience'; it is a social dialect of the African-American community.

Related to the study of Black English is the continually-changing linguistic relationship between Black Americans and other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. What terms can be used by whom, and when, and how are these continuing to change?

Black English is not spoken by all Blacks, or at least not by all Blacks all the time (cf. "code-switching" between BE and standard, "educated" English).

Black English is not a 'corrupted form' of SAE; while like any language it is continually evolving, it has standard syntactic rules.

Certain features of BE may be employed, at least in part, also by non-Blacks, as words, phrases and forms of speech cross over into SAE, or white rappers such as Eminem expand traditionally 'black' art forms into a more general audience.

BE is basically Southern regional in stereotype (cf. map), but not regionally confined (cf. northern urban variants), nor confined to Blacks-only within the South (cf. Southern white use).

BE differs between rural and urban locations, according to the need for vocabulary, environmental references, and pressure of social contacts.

BE often functions as an "in-group lingo" to denote group solidarity (cf. American Tongues and suburban black father), or "fool Whitey." Even where it is not the intention, BE often cannot be easily understood by SAE speakers (see Lexical Differences Between BE and SAE and Judge Calls Rap a Foreign Language, as well as the excerpt from the TV series Weeds).

BE tends to be highly figurative, metaphorical, rhythmic, and often melodic, reflecting various aspects of the Black American oral cultural tradition (see excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King's 28 August 1963 'I Have a Dream' speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and Barack Obama's 04 November 2008 Victory Speech .

BE differs substantially from the speech patterns of SAE (see How Black and White Styles of Communication Differ, and misunderstanding or even conflict can emerge as a consequence of this difference.

BE is increasingly being encountered in literature, televised and filmed drama, etc., as 'authentic' speech of Black American history (see examples of Black English in American literature by Alice Walker, Janles Baldwin and Gloria Naylor).

Urban variants of BE, which have their own distinctive jargons (higWy male-oriented, dismissive of females, concerned about violence, crime and poverty, etc.) are also prominent in contemporary rap music (cf. Ice Cube's How to Survive in South-Central L.A.). social function by permitting communication about life experiences, including certain experiences unique to African Americans -- escape from slavery, contemplation of an extracorporeal realm as a psychological antidote to pain, compensatory feelings to offset a sense of worthlessness, and a host of metaphorical and analogical expressions about emotions, morals, marginality, survival, and ultimately, hope and regeneration.

Black English represents a unique dialect with social, historical, and cultural roots. To equate this vernacular with slang, as though it were merely an unsystematic and casual form of communication, is not only scientifically inaccurate, but also psychologically denigrating to its speakers. In the long run, this dialect is perhaps best recognized as a system of communication which has legitimate roots but whose social utility is now defunct. To not recognize it as such will ironically only continue to put up barriers between middle class teachers and minority students. This in turn will further hamper academic learning and hinder the processes that enable a larger number of Blacks to become fully acculturated into American society.