AAVE
What to know
AAVE, or African American Vernacular English, is a dialect of American English rooted in the language practices of Black Americans. Its distinct grammatical structures, vocabulary, vowel enunciation, tense structure, and pronunciation patterns distinguish it from standard American English. Some scholars consider AAVE to be different from Ebonics, though the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
AAVE is a rich, fluid language — heavily influenced by rural dialects in the American South, West African languages, and the regional dialects of where Black folks ended up after the Great Migration. AAVE is responsible for many common phrases, including recent ones such as “shook,” “bae,” “on fleek,” “finna,” “sus,” and “yeet” — some of which have been or will be added to dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster. The additions indicate the typical pattern of how Black English is legitimized after it crosses over into the mainstream, often due to white people incorporating the phrases into their lexicon (often without acknowledging the true origins of the terms). AAVE is often unfairly and inaccurately considered unprofessional, grammatically incorrect, or inaccurate English. Due to anti-Blackness, many Black AAVE speakers may feel compelled to code-switch when in professional or predominantly white settings.
Considering AAVE or any other dialect incorrect or “improper” can be a form of linguistic racism, as can instances of mock AAVE — “utterances by non-native speakers of AAVE that stylize iconic features of this socially stigmatized variety in order to invoke a Black persona.”
When quoting a source who speaks in AAVE (as when quoting any source), it’s important to keep in mind your newsroom’s standards of accuracy and clarity in capturing how someone communicates in their own voice. Authentically capturing a range of voices is vital to accurate, representative reporting. Understanding that AAVE has its own underlying rules and structures can help combat biases of what constitutes “proper” language and ensure someone’s words are being represented fairly and accurately.
If using AAVE terms that have gained mainstream use, discussing the origins of those terms, particularly with AAVE speakers, can help avoid cultural appropriation or erasure.
Additional resources
- The Academic Story of African American English Has Been Wrong All Along (Slate)
- The Limits of Standard English (Paris Review)
- Style Guide (National Association of Black Journalists)
Summary
AAVE, or African American Vernacular English, is a dialect of American English rooted in the language practices of Black Americans. Its distinct grammatical structures, vocabulary, vowel enunciation, tense structure, and pronunciation patterns distinguish it from standard American English. Understanding that AAVE has its own underlying rules and structures can help combat biases of what constitutes “proper” language and ensure someone’s words are being represented fairly and accurately. If using AAVE terms that have gained mainstream use, discussing the origins of those terms, particularly with AAVE speakers, can help avoid cultural appropriation or erasure.