What I Think and Feel about Ebonics

What I Think and Feel about Ebonics

                  by Jean J. Lee

Have you heard of the word “Ebonics”? Ebonics can be interchangeably used with another term African American Vernacular English (AAVE), especially among Creolists (e.g., Rickford & Dillard) who believed that AAVE were strongly connected to African origins. In other words, Ebonics were viewed as a normal and uniquely separate language which has its own linguistic system. (e.g., phonological features such as /r/ deletion or monophthongizing the diphthongs, morphological features such as zero-copula). This belief can be called “autonomy”, which refers to the language user’s subjective feeling that their language (i.e., Ebonics, here) is different from other languages. In this sense, they argue that Ebonics/ AAVE is not a substandard variety or dialect of English. With this assertion in mind, there was an effort to teach Ebonics in the classroom as a “linguistically and pedagogically sound” (Wardhaugh, 2002) language.

 

However, I would like to present several reasons why Ebonics can hardly be classified as a separate normal language. According to Wardhaugh (2002), “language refers to either a single linguistic norm or to a group of norms, and dialect refers to one of the norms”. In other words, a language is a unitary linguistic system which can be subdivided into various mutually intelligible varieties. As well-aware, Ebonics and Standard English (SE) are mutually intelligible, which means that although many linguistic features seemed to be regarded as unique to Ebonics, they are closely related to SE and lots of basic core rules are almost the same as SE. To put it in a different way, Ebonics has limited functions compared with the full-fledged functions and forms of SE (i.e., considerable restrictions in use or reduction in grammar). Furthermore, language is considered to have higher status than dialects do in terms of power relationship. The second reason for Ebonics’ being a dialect (not a language) is that it is not a standardized version of language variety. That is, according to many scholars’ assertions, Ebonics is not a language spoken by people who have social power in terms of education or publication of codified grammar handbooks or dictionaries. (**Personally, I beg to differ on this point. I believe this is a VERY DANGEROUSLY GENERALIZED OR BIASED OPINION!!!)

Since SE is still an empowered language variety, which has become the winner in a struggle for sociopolitical and socioeconomical struggle for dominance, Ebonics cannot be regarded as a full standardized language with higher or equivalent social power.

Regardless of whether Ebonics is considered a standard or nonstandard form of language, my appreciation for AAVE has never wavered. This is precisely why I hold Alice Walker and Toni Morrison in such high regard. For reasons I can scarcely articulate, there is something deeply comforting and inviting in the way they use English, both in writing and in speech.

Peace out. Imma holler at you later.