Some observations on the sources of AAVE structure
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Donald Winford
Abstract
There now seems to be agreement that the grammar of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) has its primary sources in settler varieties of British English. However, there is still no consensus on the role played by creole varieties in shaping certain aspects of AAVE grammar, or on the time frame for such influence. Drawing on both linguistic and sociohistorical evidence, this paper argues for the role of both British input and creole influence in the evolution of AAVE. In particular, I argue that certain distinctive features of AAVE morphosyntax might best be accounted for in terms of influence from Gullah, as well as possibly Caribbean input that also shaped Gullah itself.
Abstract
There now seems to be agreement that the grammar of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) has its primary sources in settler varieties of British English. However, there is still no consensus on the role played by creole varieties in shaping certain aspects of AAVE grammar, or on the time frame for such influence. Drawing on both linguistic and sociohistorical evidence, this paper argues for the role of both British input and creole influence in the evolution of AAVE. In particular, I argue that certain distinctive features of AAVE morphosyntax might best be accounted for in terms of influence from Gullah, as well as possibly Caribbean input that also shaped Gullah itself.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part 1. The sociohistorical matrix of language contact
- Population factors, multilingualism and the emergence of grammar 23
- The African diaspora in Latin America 49
- The sociohistorical matrix of creolization and the role children played in this process 79
- Creole as necessity? Creole as choice? 101
- Bahamian Creole English 123
- Linguistic commonality in English of the African diaspora 145
- Historical separations 177
-
Part 2. Sources of grammar and processes of language contact
- Some observations on the sources of AAVE structure 203
- Unity in diversity 225
- Krio as the Western Maroon Creole language of Jamaica, and the /na/ isogloss 251
- Number marking in Jamaican Patwa 275
- Variationist creolistics, with a phonological focus 305
- Pidginization versus second language acquisition 323
- Crosslinguistic effects in adjectivization strategies in Suriname, Ghana and Togo 343
- Author index 363
- Language index 365
- Subject index 367
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgments vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part 1. The sociohistorical matrix of language contact
- Population factors, multilingualism and the emergence of grammar 23
- The African diaspora in Latin America 49
- The sociohistorical matrix of creolization and the role children played in this process 79
- Creole as necessity? Creole as choice? 101
- Bahamian Creole English 123
- Linguistic commonality in English of the African diaspora 145
- Historical separations 177
-
Part 2. Sources of grammar and processes of language contact
- Some observations on the sources of AAVE structure 203
- Unity in diversity 225
- Krio as the Western Maroon Creole language of Jamaica, and the /na/ isogloss 251
- Number marking in Jamaican Patwa 275
- Variationist creolistics, with a phonological focus 305
- Pidginization versus second language acquisition 323
- Crosslinguistic effects in adjectivization strategies in Suriname, Ghana and Togo 343
- Author index 363
- Language index 365
- Subject index 367
