African American Vernacular English, AKA "Ebonics"

AAVE grammatical Aspects
Aspect Example SE Meaning

Habitual/continuative aspect^[54] He be workin' Tuesdays. He works frequently or habitually.

Intensified continuative (habitual) He stay workin'. He is always working.

Intensified continuative (not habitual)^[55] He steady workin'. He keeps on working.

Perfect progressive He been workin'. He has been working.

Irrealis He finna go to work. He is about to go to work.^a

Aspect	Example	SE Meaning
Habitual/continuative aspect^[54]	He be workin' Tuesdays.	He works frequently or habitually.
Intensified continuative (habitual)	He stay workin'.	He is always working.
Intensified continuative (not habitual)^[55]	He steady workin'.	He keeps on working.
Perfect progressive	He been workin'.	He has been working.
Irrealis	He finna go to work.	He is about to go to work.^a

via en.wikipedia.org

I get asked a ton of questions from Japanese learning English like, "Why is African-American English so much harder to understand than 'normal' English?"

Well I could go into the whole slavery-creole-no-real-education-for-blacks-at-that-time thing, but I think there's a more studied answer that I can give my students... Hence me looking on Wikipedia...

After reading this, I'm convinced--There must be at least 100 linguists that got their PhDs from hanging out in a North St. Louis liquor store...

Tags » USA afro-american engrish

Tue 17 Aug 2010
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African American Vernacular English, AKA "Ebonics"

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