You ain't no never say that! - Ebonics as a linguistic variety and attitudes towards it.

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Seminar paper from the year 2003 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 2+ (B), University of Cologne (English Seminar), language: English, abstract: There are several definitions about what language variations are and numerous labelshave been given to them. A. D. Edwards, Senior Lecturer in Education at theUniversity of Manchester, for example distinguished four different kinds of dialects thatcan be found in almost every language.1 According to Edwards the Standard Dialect isthat variety, which is most commonly used in everyday life, in media, government,religion and on every other occasion when speech most closely resembles thewritten form.2 Geographical Dialects evolve out of isolation of groups of speakers ofone language. The more time passes, the less theses speakers will sound the sameand differences in pronunciation, grammar and lexis will occur, creating regionaldivergences of the source language. The same can happen in microcosmic relation,for example in urban life, where sharp differences in speech between speakers notonly reflect but also reinforce social distances. Variations here are called Social ClassDialects. Last not least, Edwards determines the Ethnic Dialect as a variation thatoften contains reminders of the native language, the intrusion of foreign sound,words and structures, and it often reflects the residential and perhaps occupationalsegregation.3And this is what the whole issue of Ebonics, of Black English, of AfricanAmerican Vernacular English (AAVE) in America deals with. It raises questions: Whatis Black English and what characterizes it? Is it a dialect, a language? How doessegregation show in the use of a language, and what is the public opinion towardsblack slang? What do the blacks think about their own way of communication? Thispaper will take a close look at these questions and will show aspects of controversiesin Americas current public discussions. It will show that the concept of Ebonics ismores than just a plain way of speaking and how a language at the same time canbe a symbol of status as well as a social curse to a whole culture.1 Edwards, J. A., Language in Culture and Class.2 Edwards, J. A., 1976, p. 46.3 Edwards, J. A., 1976, p. 48.

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