Ebonics
Systematic American dialect
Ebonics is a name for African American Vernacular English—the distinctive speech patterns, grammar, and vocabulary used by many Black Americans.
The term gained prominence in the 1990s during debates over whether schools should recognize it as a legitimate language variety.
Linguists generally prefer "African American Vernacular English" or "African American English" as more neutral terms.
He code-switches between Ebonics at home and standard English at work.
Regional language variety
- vernacularEveryday regional speech
- slangInformal in-group vocabulary
- phonologyScience of language sounds
- syntaxRules for arranging words
creole · pidgin · sociolect · double negative · Black English · grammatical rules · code-switching
Rhythmic spoken-word music
- rapQuick sharp blow
- spoken wordPoetry delivered aloud
- poetryMetrical literary composition
- signifyingExpressing or conveying meaning
dozens · call-and-response · oral tradition · storytelling · expression · identity · community · soul
Prolonged public disagreement
- language politicsDisputes over official tongues
- stigmatizationMarking as disgraceful
- stereotypingOversimplified group-based judgments
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
erasure · recognition · validation · empowerment · resistance · civil rights · representation · social justice
Study of language variation
- prescriptivismEnforcing linguistic correctness
- descriptivismDocumenting actual language use
- language rightsLegal protections for native tongues
- bilingual educationSchooling using two languages
dialect
Regional language variety
- vernacularEveryday regional speech
- slangInformal in-group vocabulary
- phonologyScience of language sounds
syntax · creole · pidgin · sociolect · double negative · Black English · grammatical rules · code-switching
hip-hop
Rhythmic spoken-word music
- rapQuick sharp blow
- spoken wordPoetry delivered aloud
- poetryMetrical literary composition
signifying · dozens · call-and-response · oral tradition · storytelling · expression · identity · community · soul · rhythm
controversy
Prolonged public disagreement
- language politicsDisputes over official tongues
- stigmatizationMarking as disgraceful
- stereotypingOversimplified group-based judgments
discrimination · erasure · recognition · validation · empowerment · resistance · civil rights · representation · social justice
sociolinguistics
Study of language variation
- prescriptivismEnforcing linguistic correctness
- descriptivismDocumenting actual language use
- language rightsLegal protections for native tongues
- American dialectsregional accents, Boston accent, New York accent, Midwest accent, Texas twang
- Black DiasporaAfrican American, African Americans, African diaspora, African heritage, African roots
- dialectsregional dialect, local dialect, patois, vernaculars, vernacular
- language varietiesdialect, idiolect, sociolect, vernacular, accent
- Speech Varietiesvernacular, regional dialect, colloquial, register, jargon
- Black EnglishBlack English, vernacular, Gullah, finna, steady