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Re: Does Ebonics exemplify American laziness or efficiency?
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
I was thinking today that African American Vernacular English, though often looked down upon as being a "lazy" or "ignorant" way to verbally communicate, is actually a prime example of language efficiency. |
That's how all vernacular languages work.
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
Phonology
- Conversion of "th" to "d" word-initially; [example: "This" becomes "Dis"... 25% word reduction] |
Both "this" and "dis" have the same number of phonemes (namely, three).
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
- Words ending in "ing" drop the "g". [example: "You know nothing" to "You know nothin"] |
Nothing new in the history of the English language.
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
- Homorganic final consonant clusters that share the same laryngeal settings are reduced. [example: "test" is pronounced "tes", but "sing" is still pronounced "sing" (or "sang"). |
Once again, that's nothing new in the history of the English language. As for laryngeal settings, it's nonsense.
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
- Deletion of final consonants, resulting in a glottal stop. [example: find may be pronounced fãː]. "S" and "z" sounds are also often deleted. |
I take it you've never met someone from Britain.
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
Deletion
- Phrase abbreviation / intermediate word removal. [example: "You know no other nigga" becomes "You know nann nigga". Source: Trick Daddy 1998. Some phrases have a more complex breakdown. For example, "You didn't have any idea?" can be reduced to "You didn't know?", to "You ain't know?", to "yee-know?". Another example is "You did not show up", which becomes "yeen-show". Source: La Chat 2001.]
- The copula "be" is often dropped. [examples: "You crazy! (You are crazy)", Where you at? (Where are you at?)] |
Yet another common feature of vernacular languages. No one bothers to say every single phoneme unless they're bloody narcissists and/or are speaking a foreign language.
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
Aspect Marking
- The most distinguishing feature of Ebonics is the use of forms of "be" to mark aspect in verb phrases. In standard English, you would do this using adverbs such as "usually".
Examples:
He talkin' ==> He is currently talking.
He be talkin' ==> He talkin' frequently or habitually. (He be talkin' daily).
He stay workin' ==> He is always working.
He been had dat job ==> He has had that job for a long time and still has it.
He finna dance ==> He is preparing to begin dancing. ("Finna" is a contraction of "fixing to"). |
"Stay" is a form of the verb "to be"? Now that's efficiency!
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
Negation
- Use of "ain't" as a general negative indicator. In Ebonics, it can be used where am not, isn't, aren't, haven't, and hasn't would be used in SE, as well as in lieu of don't, doesn't, or didn't. [example: I ain't know that.] |
And that makes language more efficient how?
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
General Slang
- The general slang terminology in AAVE is quite efficient in itself.
Examples:
Bling: "Jewelry which is very shiny"
Sling or "slang": General use term which refers to performing some kind of work. "Slinging rocks" means to sell crack-cocaine on the streets.
Additionally, new contractions are often made and used. "Imma" for "I'm going to".
Thoughts? |
Funny post. Makes no sense whatsoever, though 
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