African-American Vernacular English facts for kids

African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is a way of speaking used by many African-American people. Experts who study language, called linguists, gave it this name. Some people who are not Black also use this dialect, which is a special form of a language. AAVE has some sounds and grammar rules that are similar to how people speak in West Africa.

AAVE first started to develop in the 1500s and 1600s. It became well-known in 1996. This happened when some teachers in Oakland, California suggested using AAVE to help teach Black students. They called this way of speaking Ebonics. However, the word Ebonics often has a negative meaning for some people.

What Makes AAVE Different?

There are many rules that show how the sounds of AAVE are different from Standard English. Some of these differences are in how words are pronounced. Others are about the vocabulary (the words used). Most of the differences are in the grammar. This includes how verbs are used and how sentences are put together.

AAVE and Popular Culture

Hip hop music has helped make AAVE more famous since the 1980s. Some people think it sounds cool and try to speak it. They might try to learn it even if they are not very familiar with it. Some people who are not Black can speak AAVE very well.

See also

In Spanish: Inglés afroestadounidense vernáculo para niños