Those in support of Ebonics often raise the point that it is no different than any other dialect used by different people across the United States. This is true in many respects. While many people view Ebonics as simply a bastardized form of the English language, it has very clear syntactical roots in African languages of the Niger-Congo family. The essay by Williams offers dozens of examples that clearly show the similarities between Niger-Congo language syntax and that of Ebonics. Even though Ebonics is often view as corrupted English, it has its very own set of rules that are followed by speakers (often subconsciously) like any other dialect. It can be shown through linguistic evidence that Ebonics exists somewhat as a result of African language influence upon American English. African American English can be clearly shown to be a dialect and not simply broken English as a result of pidgin, and this raises another important point in support of the use of Ebonics.
Persons communicate with one another most effectively when they do so in a common dialect that is natural to them. The use of Ebonics among some black persons, as was pointed out in some of the film clips, is a point of unity and familiarity. One of the black men in the video noted that he will start using a mode of speech more common to African American English once he becomes more comfortable around someone. This allows him to communicate on a more effective and personal level with the person with whom he is speaking. In the same vein, Ebonics also communicates more than proper English does to those who use it. As was pointed out by one of the members of the panel on "The Ink Spot" program, a mother saying "son, why did you go there?" in proper English does not communicate the same point as "son, why did you go there for?" Because the language exists as a cultural dialect it affords its speakers more familiarity and communicative ability with one another than would speaking "proper" English. This, however,leads into a powerful counterpoint against the use of Ebonics.
The use of Ebonics is a somewhat divisive point both between whites and blacks and also within the African American community itself. There is a communication barrier that can begin to show between those who use Ebonics and those who don't understand it. Many white people will say that Ebonics is broken English because they cannot understand the dialect, while many black people will say that white person is racist for disliking Ebonics but ignoring idiosyncracies in other English dialects. While this isn't necessarily either party's fault, nor is it a flaw in Ebonics as means of communication, but it is a reality of dichotomous thinking that occurs because of the apparent communication difficulties and misunderstandings that occur between those that care for Ebonics, and those that don't. Also brought up in the panel discussion shows is the internal divisiveness that sometimes occurs as a result of the prolific use of Ebonics. A black youth may be ridiculed by his peers for speaking "white"when he uses standard American English as opposed to Ebonics. This situation, however, is often a result of an low income, urban/city upbringing as opposed to being a component of black culture as a whole. Another strong counterpoint against Ebonics occurs as the result of perception of the dialect as broken or improper English.
Those who use Ebonics are not necessarily less smart than those who do not; however, the problem lies in the fact that this perception exists. It may not be the case that a person who says "ax" as opposed to "ask" in a job interview is less intelligent than other potential candidates for the position, but it will certain appear that way to the interviewer in most cases. Many intelligent black people may miss out on important education or employment opportunities because their use of Ebonics is seen as a result of low intelligence. As was pointed out in several videos, those who use Ebonics, particularly younger people, were simply never informed that the way they were speaking is not considered standard English because that's the way their parents spoke and their teachers never took the time to correct them. This is again, not necessarily a fault in Ebonics itself, but a reality of the perception of the dialect.
The debate over Ebonics has gone on over many years and both sides feel strongly about their opinions and likewise offer powerful points in support of such. The reality of the matter is that Ebonics exists as a dialect of American English and is not simply broken English. Spoken Ebonics can be show to have roots in Niger-Congo family languages in its use of double verbs and ambiguous conjugations and its speakers follow apparent rules that dictate the way in which the dialect is spoken. On the opposite point, those who use Ebonics are often perceived as less intelligent because of this idea of Ebonics as broken English. As a result, through the use of Ebonics an individual may be unintentionally projecting the image to others that they lack an education. There is nothing wrong with the use of Ebonics then, on a base level, however problems arrive in the perceptions of the dialect. This raises important questions. Should a black person speak "white" in the professional world and then speak "black" around friends and family? Why is standard American English perceived as being a "white" thing? The debate will continue for decades surely, but it is important to note now the validity of Ebonics as a dialect, and proceed thus. The fact remains that Ebonics is simply appropriate in some situations and not in others, this is certainly not a desirable outcome, but it is a fact of modern society.
You had a great question which was, Should a black person speak "white" in the professional world and then speak "black" around friends and family? Why is standard American English perceived as being a "white" thing? I feel that the first question is easily answered because Black people who do speak Ebonics are used to speaking it around family because that is how they learned it. Standard American English was created by the White people and that is what gives it the name White. You should not have to speak like majority to get somewhere, you should be able to be you. Just because you do not speak "White" does not mean you are not intelligent and people do not understand that. To get somewhere it is important to speak White but that is sad but true.
ReplyDelete