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6.14: Language and Communicative Practices

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    324882
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    African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is a systematic and rule-governed linguistic dialect, not “broken” English. It possesses its own distinct grammar, phonology, and vocabulary, with roots in Southern English and West African language patterns (Smitherman 1977). Beyond its linguistic structure, Black communication styles are rich with cultural significance, featuring signifying (a form of indirect insult or wordplay), call-and-response, and narrative toasting. These practices emphasize verbal agility, community participation, and the preservation of oral history (Gates 1988). The constant appropriation of AAVE slang by mainstream culture, often without acknowledgment, underscores its enduring cultural influence.


    6.14: Language and Communicative Practices is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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