African American Slang Essay -- Communication Language Essays

African American Slang African American Slang has had many other names Ebonics, Jive, morose side, and more. The Oxford English Dictionary defines slang (in reference to language) in three different slipway 1) the special vocabulary used by any set of persons of a low or disreputable character language of a low and harsh type 2) the special vocabulary or phraseology of a feature calling or profession the cant or jargon of a certain class or period 3) language of a exceedingly colloquial type, considered as below the level of standard educated speech, and consisting any of new words or of current words employed in any(prenominal) special sense. Whatever ones perspective on slang, it is a natural and inevitable part of language. In this paper I will discuss examples of current slang being used that some community may not understand.The African influence of American English can be found as far back as the Seventeenth century. Although its influence may have began that far back, the influence of African American slang has arguably reached its peak (so far) in the last fractional on the 20th century. Evidence of this can be seen in magazines, music, television, and films. perhaps more importantly, evidence can be seen in the way that people of ethnic groups, other than African American, have changed their speech due to this influence. The comprise Rights Movement lead to a paradigm shift in African American linguistic consciousness due to grisly intellectuals, scholars, activists, artists, and writers deliberately lovely in a search for a way to express Black identity and the particular circumstances of African American life. Although there had been strides in Black pride in the past, this was the first one to call for linguistic Black p... ...at this is a desired result. Ebonics is a fun variation on the standard, and as stated in the beginning of this paper, Ebonics has an influence many would range a positive one, on the mainstream dialect. Works CitedGreen, Jonathon. The Cassell Dictionary of Slang. London Cassell, 1998.Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language.Volume 1 A-K.Amsterdam Elsevier print Company, 1966.Major, Clarence. Dictionary of Afro-American Slang.New York International Publishers, 1970. New York- - -. Juba to Jive A Dictionary of African American Slang. London Penguin Books, 2000.Oxford English Dictionary Online. second ed. May 2001. http//www.oed.comScotti, Anna and Paul Young. Buzz Words New York St. Martins Press, 1997.Smitherman, Geneva. Black Talk. 2nd ed.Boston Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.