Black English emergence was a result of the importation of black people to the Caribbean islands and the American coasts to work in sugar plantations. From the early 17th century, ships from Europe travelled to the West African coast, where they exchanged cheap goods for black slaves. Then they brought them to America where they were exchanged for such commodities as sugar, rum and molasses.
By the time slavery was abolished in 1865, during the U.S civil war, the number of slaves in America was about 4 million. In order to hinder groups to plot rebellion slave-traders were told to bring slaves with different language background. The result was the growth of different pidgin forms of communication. Later on, it became the native language of the new generation. This creole English was rapidly spread through the southern plantations and many of the coastal islands. Moreover, some of them like the Indian speech moved all out side of the Caribbean and eventually was found in Canada, the USA and Britain. Meanwhile, as a consequence of Britain's political influence, British English was becoming a prestige variety throughout the area
By the time slavery was abolished in 1865, during the U.S civil war, the number of slaves in America was about 4 million. In order to hinder groups to plot rebellion slave-traders were told to bring slaves with different language background. The result was the growth of different pidgin forms of communication. Later on, it became the native language of the new generation. This creole English was rapidly spread through the southern plantations and many of the coastal islands. Moreover, some of them like the Indian speech moved all out side of the Caribbean and eventually was found in Canada, the USA and Britain. Meanwhile, as a consequence of Britain's political influence, British English was becoming a prestige variety throughout the area
The vernacular varieties of Black English have been in the centre of attention recently. Linguistics say that land-owners have picked a lot of habits and words from their slave, moreover black English began to appear in literary works such as those by Harrier Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain.
In my previous post I discussed Noah Webster, who himself included many of these new african-american words in his dictionaries. I have found some of those words in Webster's dictionary (I haves discussed his dictionaries in my previous post), like the definition of word black, african-american, negro etc.
In my previous post I discussed Noah Webster, who himself included many of these new african-american words in his dictionaries. I have found some of those words in Webster's dictionary (I haves discussed his dictionaries in my previous post), like the definition of word black, african-american, negro etc.
In the late 19th century black culture become known throughout the country, especially for its music. The linguist result was that many new words appeared, as whites picked up lively words from those who was singing, dancing and playing. We know that the founders of blues and jazz were black people. Recently I was watching the movie Cadillac Records which explores the musical era from early 1940s to the late 1960. It illustrates how black singers like Muddy Waters, Chuk Berry and Etta James became popular. It helped me to visualise how difficult was for them to break through and become famous. Their music was so distinguished that the members of my generation, like me knows them and still listens to their music.
I liked your post. First there was a connection with the previous one,then it was well-organized with necessary visual aids.
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