Creative language

Da otha day, I was walkin down da street and thinkin bout ma ol frien Jackson. We'd been such good friens, then one day, he's like he aint want be ma frien no mo. It be sad. I fel really bad bout it for long time. Then, as I turned the corner I saw him. He aksed me, " How ya doin?" I say, "I'm Ok. How ya doin?" He say, "OK." I tell him that I be the new manager of ma sto. He say, "Congrats." He say he been working real hard at his job and he sorry he aint not talked to me in a while. He say I look good, and hoped we could get together some time. We shook hand and say goodbye.

This was interesting to attempt. I tried to shorten the words and the sentences themselves within the confinements of what our reading presented to us. I also just let the words flow out as I would imagine they would within that language barrier. For instance taking the "g" out of "ing" words and endings. Talking out the "d" on friend; replacing verbs of present tense with be or eliminating them all together.

I personally never knew or even considered the native language of African American's prior to the slave trade and even during that time. The developement of a pidjin must have then been handed down generation to generation and eventually developed into what is now known as AAE. With that basis it should be recognized and considered as a distinct dialect of the English language and I believe that focus on schooling and developing AAE should be funded and encouraged. Although I can see why it might be looked down upon. When considering AAE in a school of which teaches in Standand American English to students of whom are English speakers of which grew up in the environment of an AAE household its evident that they have the ability to learn the language of both and I think that while we shouldnt discourage the use of AAE that both parties can find that medium of understanding. They should enact classes that help to integrate both dialects into a manner in which a teacher might be able to understand an AAE speaker and vice versa. AAE students should have the same rights as any other student and if they show a difficult time learning or adapting to Standard English then considerations should be made to better enhance the communication between both the teacher and student or of whomever is involved. I dont feel that AAE should be suppressed in any way only that both groups work together to better understand one another.

AAE

Da otha day, I was walkin' down the strea', thinkin' abou' my ol' friend Jackson. We use 'a' be goo friends, an den one day, ou' of nowhere, he said he di'n't wanna be my friend anymore. It was sad. I fel' bad abou' it for a long time. Then, as I turn the cornna, I saw him. He aksed me, "How are you doin'?" I said, "I'm aigh'. How you doin'?" He say, "Okay." I tol' him dat I am da new managa of my store. He said, "Congratulations." He said he been working really hard at his job and he was sorry dat he di'n't talk to me for a minute. He said I look good, and hope dat we coou' get togetha soona ratha den layta. We shoo hands and said goo'bye.

I think that those students who speak pidjin should not be treated as ESL students because the already know english. On the other hand they do need help to learn proper english before the whole country goes under because of it. It is not just black people but other peoples speak in that way of pidjin. I think learning proper english and doing away with pidjin will benefit all the people who speak it. Whether it is for jobs or school.

I feel bad for missing class last Tuesday... especially since it leaves me unprepared for this blog assignment. And though I completed the reading, I have to respectfully opt out of the translation portion of this post. I've never really been a participant in an AAVE speaking group and with a topic as racially charged as this, I guess I just don't feel right trying translate a paragraph of Standard American English to AAE/AAVE.

Funny though, as I think about it, I'd have no problem trying to translating the paragraph if it were the other way around.


This class has certainly helped me change my perspective on Education vs Intelligence. For too long I have accepted the idea that language use provides a direct correlation to intelligence which in turn somehow relates to formal education. Considering the historical factors that have affected the African American communities, to call any form of AAE deficient or ignorant is just that - ignorant.

But the historical factors certainly play a huge role in defining an approach to formal education. I do believe that AAE speaking children would benefit from an ESL approach in learning Standard American English. But how do we bridge a "nonstandard", minority language while balancing the hot button issues of race, culture, politics and social status?

So - here are some thoughts on the matter. While racism is far from over, I do believe that there is a higher level of tolerance and more acceptance of diversity within the US. With that, we have seen a greater emergence, acceptance and integration of "Black culture" - thanks to the various media outlets- Television, Music, Movies as well as through prominent Black athletes, elected officials, and community activists. Hopefully, as "our" cultural awareness and understanding increases, the linguistic issues presented in Oakland can be revisited without the hostility previously witnessed.


I'm sorry this post was late - My cable/internet went down Sunday Evening and wasn't back up and running until Monday afternoon.

AAE

Da othe day, I was walking down da street thinking about my old friend Jackson. We used to be such good friends, and then one day, out of nowhe, he said he didn't want to be my friend anymo. It was sad. I felt really bad about it for a long time. Then, as I tuned the coner, I aaw him. He asked me, "What's up?" I said, "Chillin. What's up with you?" He said, "chillin." I told him I am the new manage of my sto. He said, "Dope." He said he had been working really hard at his job and he was sorry that he hadn't talked to me in a while. He said I looked good, and hoped that we could get togethe sonne rathe than late. We shook hands and said goodbye.
I did this the best I could by cutting off the r's and using slang words where necessary.

I believe it does have effect on how speakers are perceived. They are perceived less intelligent because they don't speak proper english to "the man" the white person who is perceived to be ahead of them. But now in the schools of AAE children they are trying to integrate right english into the schools so that when they leave they have that basic knowledge to help them in the real world.

AAE Post

The other day, I was walking down the street thinking bout old Jackson. We use to be such good friend, and then one day, out of nowheres, he says he don't want nothing to do with me. I was sad. I felt really bad bout it for a long while. Then, as I turned the corner, I saws him. He asked me, "how ya doing?" I says, "I'm okay. How bout you?" He says, "Okay." I told him that I was the new manager of my store. He says, "Congratulations." He said he had been working real hard at his job and was sorry that he didn't talk to me in a while. He said I looked good, and hoped that we could get together soon. We shook hands said goodbye.


Yes, because I think they were looked down upon because they took their language and English and formed their own language to communicate with one another, and the English speakers couldn't understand. I think this has carried on and our negative view still carries from that.


Well I think they should be treated the same. However, if you think about our nation, and the school environment and profits (in my opinion) ESL and AAE speaking children should be treated differently. ESL are coming from other countries most likely and I believe that will up the profits to the school environment and add "diversity" that schools now-a-days seem to be so desperate to grab and add to their schools. I think they will not help AAE speakers special programs to bridge their program because of the fear of the past, and how that is still kind of ingrained in us.

Da other day, I was walk'n down the street.  Thinking of my ol' frien Jackson.  We be such good friends, one day, he said he ain't want to be frien no more.  I BEEN sad .  Den, I turn the corner, I see him.  He aks me, "How you doing?" I said ," Okay.  How you doing?"  He said "okay."  I told him I am the new manager of my store.  He said "Congrats."  He been working real har at his job. He been sorry we ain't talk.  He said I look good, and we should get togethe soon.  We shook hands and said bye.

I think that funding does have to be provided for children who speak AAE.  Because standard english is a second language to them.  If you provide a learning environment that is comfortable to them, they can make the connection between the two languages.  They also get a better foundation in both.  Trying to pretend that they are starting on the same level as children who speak standard english at home, is unfair to the children who don't.  In there community they have their own language and that should be recognized and embraced.  

When you embrace children in there education and show that you want to provide them with every opportunity possible.  You create an environment where they want to learn and they realize they can be successful.  But if you provide an environment where they feel like they are never going to succeed most of them stop trying to.  

AAE

da othe day I walkin dow the sdreet and thinkin bout my ol' frien Jackson. we been goo frien's fo a long time, then he say he didn' wan be frien's no mor'. It made me sad, it made me sad fo a lon' time, den walkin one day I turne da corne and ther he wad, he aske me "how you doin?" I say "ok, how you doin?" and he say "ok" I told hem dat I wad da new manager of my stor, he say "congradulations" he say he been workin really har at his job and he wad sorry dat we hadn' talke to me fo such a lon time, he wishe me well and hope dat we coul' get toghe sometime, soone rader den lada. we shoo hand dan say goo bye.

I think that everyone should have the oppertunity for a higher education, that no one should be singled out because of race. we need to have equal oppertunity, keep the culture but educate the people.

AAE

Da other day i walkin down da sdreet an tinkin about ol' frien' Jackson. We be goo' frien's, den he say he don't tan' be frien's no mo'. I be sad. Feel really ba' for a long time. Den, I turn da corner an see him. He aks, "How are you?" I say, "Okay. How are you doin'?" He say, "Okay." I tol' him dat I da new skore manage.. He say "Congradulations." He say he be workin' real har' ad his job an he be sorry dat he ha' not dalk do me in a while. He say I loo' goo' an hope dat we could get together soon rada den lada. We shoo' hans an say goobye.
I definitely think that programs through education should be available for children that speak AAE. They should have the same rights as we all do and deserve an education. I think there should be classes taught just as ESL courses. We should not overlook this issue, but rather do something about it.

African American English

The othe day, I was walkin down the street and thinkin bout my ol friend Jackson. We used to be go friend, and then one day, out of nowhere, he said he didn't want to be friend anymo. It was sad. I felt real bad bout it fo a long time. Then, as I turned the corne, I saw. He asked me, "How you doing?" I said, "I'm k. How you doing?" He said, "k." I told him that I the ne manager of my store. He said, "Congratulations." He said he been workin really har at his job and he was sorry that he hadn't talke to me in a while. He said I looke good, and hoped that we coul get togethe soone rathe than late. We shook hand and said goodbye.


well what i did was talk the the last letter with words that had double consents like the prefixes with s and g. and i also toke some words out of the sentences.

well i think that AAE speakers should not be classified as ASL students because the speak the language but i do think that they should get the help they need to succeeded in schools were the standard English is beaning taught. and i it is very important they are taught this so called "standard English" because it will help them in the long run.

Post 7-- AAE

The otha day, I was walkin’ down the street and thinkin’ ‘bout my ol’ friend Jackson. We been such good friend, and then one day, outta nowhere, he said he ain’t want to be my friend no mo’. It was sad. I BEEN feelin’ bad about it. Then, as I turned the corner, I saw him. He aksed me, "How you doin’?" I said, "I'm okay. How you doin’?" He said, "Okay." I tol’ him I be the new manager of my sto’. He said, "Congratulation." He said he been workin’ really hard at his job and he be sorry that he ain’t talked to me in a while. He said I look goo’, and be hopin’ that we could get together sooner rather than later. We shook hand and said goodbye.

To translate, I replaced was, is, and had been with be or BEEN, and I switched isn't or didn't to ain't. I took the last consenants off some of the words and took the s off the end of some words as well. I also switched ask to aks.

I think that there should be some focus placed on teaching speakers of African American English to speak Standard English, if only so they can understand their teachers and take tests. I think that people look at speakers of African American English differently than speakers of other languages because they were most likely born here and speak a dialect of English, while other ESL students have to learn English for the first time. So people think that AAE speakers don't need to be taught English, and that they should be able to pick it up on their own, not realizing that the dialect they speak is a basically a completely seperate language from the Standard English that most classes are taught in.

African American English Post 7

Da other day I was walking down da street tinking about Jackson one of ma old frend. Den one dey he sayd he didnt wana be frends wit me anymore. Ay was sad for and felt bad for a long tyme. Den ah turned da corner and seen him. Ah tald him dat ah was da new manager at da store, and den he sayd good job. He told me he was workin hard at his job, and dat he was sorry dat he havent talked to me in ah while. We sad dat we need to get togather sooner den later. We shook hands den left.

I think that AAE children should have the same chances and every other person in the U.S. They should get all the same perks as the esl kids do. Just because the speak a different form of english doesn't mean that they are dumb. I actually think it is pretty smart that they came up with their own form of english. Many people think that if its a different dialect or sounds different then they must be dumb or something. We need to invest in more tools in the children and dont look down on people that are different from you and I.

Lost in translation

Translation:
The other day, I walking down the skreet thinking about my ol' friend Jackson. We be such good friend, and then one day, out of nowhere, he said he ain't want to be friend no mo'. It been sad. I BEEN really sad about it. Then, I turn the corner an' see him. He aks me, "How you?" I said, "I okay. How you doing?" He said, "Okay." I tol' him I the store new manager. He said, "Congratulation." He said he been workin' really hard at he job and he be sorry he ain't been not talking to me. He said I look good, and hope we could get together sooner rather than later. We shook hand and said goodbye.

I realize this is a feeble attempt at a translation into AAE. The rules I focused on were:
• The reduction of final consonant clusters (e.g. tol')
• Suffix -s absence (e.g. friend)
• Absence of present-tense auxiliary and linking verbs (e.g. I the store new manager)
• Phonological inversion (e.g. aks)
• Non-standard negation (e.g. he ain't . . . no more)
• Post- vocalic r absence (e.g. mo')
• The use of be, been and BEEN
Basically, I went through the rules laid out in the reading and my notes from class to try to grasp the rules of this language. Again, I know the translation is not correct, but I hope I have used at least some of the rules correctly.

I think it would be beneficial for schools to be allowed funds for "bridging" efforts to help AAE speaking students. Helping children learn better helps society. I think our reading did a good job explaining funding for the implementation of these programs is not pushed anymore because it became such a hot-button issue in the Oakland school controversy. Now politicians and educators do not want to touch the issue because they do not want to be viewed as instigating another controversy. I can't imagine trying to go through school without an understanding of Standard American English. I think having to translate the passage we were given shows how difficult it must be for AAE speaking children to go through school and how important funding for bridging efforts is.

African American English

AAE interpretation
Duh oder daey, ah wuz walkin’ down duh stree(uh) an tinking about mah owd fwiend Jackson. We used to be such good fwiends, and den one day, outta nowhere, he said he didn’t wanna be mah friend anymore. I(h) was sad. Ah felt really bad about it for a long tahme. Den, as Ah turned duh corner, Ah saw him. He asked me, “How are you doin’?” Ah said, “Ah’m okay. How are you doin’?” He said, “Oakay.” Ah told ‘im dat Ah am duh new manager of mah store. He said, “congratulations.” ‘e said ‘e had been workin’ real hard at ‘is job an ‘e was sorry dat ‘e hadn’t talked ta me in a whaile. ‘E said ah looked good, and ‘oped dat we could get tagether sooner rader den lader. We shook ‘ands an said goodbye.

The history of people coming to America and Africans learning English in a different way than most of the other people, I think has an effect on the way that African Americans are viewed just because a lot of people view them as uneducated because of their use of slang. It is a little bit different than the average English that a white person speaks. It’s not really their fault; it’s just the way they were brought up.
In schools African American children should be treated the same as whites, although, if they need a little more attention to help them get their grammar and vocabulary correct, they should receive as much as they need, just like every one else.