How Black and White Styles of Communication Differ

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How Black and White Styles of Communication Differ
Modified for US-1 from an original presentation
by Dr. Alan D. Desantis, University of
Kentucky. www.uky.edu/addesa01/documents/BlackLan
guage101.ppt
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A Brief History of English (1)

• 1) The British colonized North America
• They brought the English language and its customs
  and settled the original 13 colonies along
  Americas Eastern Coast.
• 2) The distances between the colonies created
  sub-dialects that are still heard today
• New York vs. Boston vs. Appalachian talk
• Cf. the American Tongues videotape
• Differences in accent, pace, vocabulary, etc.
• 3) One of the most distinctive U.S. dialects is
  Black English

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A Brief History of English (2)

• 4) Over time, Black English developed its own
  vocabulary, pronunciation, grammatical rules,
  nonverbal cues, dress, walk, and distinctive
  speech culture.
• 5) American dialects have different status
• Since political and economic power was centered
  in the Northeast, the way those people spoke
  became Standard English

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A Brief History of English (3)

• 6) The Problem
• Those who spoke differently were stigmatized
  by the majority speakers. Thus the Southern,
  Appalachian and Black dialects, among others,
  were considered to be bad English.
• 7) Most people know little about the Black
  Dialect, which is also known as Black English,
  Ebonics, AAVE and BEV, among others.

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Communication Differences

• 1) BE is Different from SAE
• Black English has its own specific rules for
  1) pronunciation (ax ask, spoze), 2)
  vocabulary, 3) syntax, 4) accent, and 5) grammar
  (are be)
• BE is not a bastardized version of SAE it is
  its own linguistic form with its own rules of
  appropriateness. However, non-blacks often
  view BE as being uneducated and unrefined, and
  sometimes even threatening.
• There is frequent misunderstanding, even
  conflict, when BE and SAE speakers do not
  understand their different modes of speaking and
  acting.

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Communication Differences

• 2) Call and Response Communication
• Traced back to Africa
• The black church, jazz, movies, clubs, talk
• Cf. the Apollo theater in Harlem, black churches
  (highly interactive), dance floor chanting,
  interpersonal exchanges (overlapping)
• Blacks see SAE as uninvolved and removed
• Whites see BE as loud, aggressive and impolite

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Communication Differences

• 3) BE Reflects a Personal Style
• A) BE speakers desire an individual style
• automobiles (personalized), sports celebration
  (Ali to Deon), dress, names (Tashaun vs. Bob),
  dress modes
• B) The style differentiates BE speakers from the
  speech and behavior norms of white culture
• Whites regard BE as showing off, cockiness, not
  being a team player (cf. Eddie Murphys Axel
  Foley, etc.)
• Blacks regard SAE behavior as boring and
  conformist

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Communication Differences

• 4) BE Differs From SAE Emotionally
• Blacks are more animated and expressive
• Anger joy are openly expressed
• For whites, being rational means to be calm and
  quiet
• White culture separates mind and emotion, and
  masks ones true feelings
• Whites see animated black behavior as less
  rational, unrefined and childish
• Blacks regard white rationality as cold,
  dispassionate, and unemotional

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Communication Differences

• 5) The Importance of Rhythm in BEV
• Rhythm/groove permeates everything
• Walking, dancing, worshipping, Black step shows,
  marching bands, cheerleading
• Gospel, blues, RB, jazz, rock, and rap all
  derived from only 12 of the U.S. population
• Research shows that black talk is more rhythmic
  and syncopated than white talk (there is a
  groove)
• Whites sense BE speech to be out of sync
• Blacks sense SAE speech to be out of sync

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Communication Differences

• 6) BE vocabulary is more dynamic
• White vocabulary is more stable over time
• Black language is more dynamic
• Why?
• BE language illustrates personal style
• Whites appropriate BE, and thus force BE to keep
  changing in order to remain more
  individualistic
• BE language is fun, not just a tool

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Communication Differences

• 7) BE Nonverbal Cues Are Different
• Proxemics Closer space
• Eye Contact Reversed
• Greater while talking, less while listening
• Gestures Greater use of body
• Handshakes, body movement, walk, etc...
• Touch Higher touch culture (with each other)
• Volume of Speech Loud Honest
• Whites sense BE as too emotional and child-like
• Blacks sense SAE as cold, distant and non-feeling

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Communication Differences

• 8) The Playful Use of Language in BE
• Playin Dozens, Signifying, Dissing, Dogin
• SAE culture sees language as a stable tool
• One strives to speak clearly, precisely,
  consistently
• Black culture see language as a dynamic art
• One strives to speak creatively imaginatively
• BE illustrates style, rhythm, and
  vocabulary
• Whites often feel insulted (whos your Daddy?) or
  confused when they hear BE
• Blacks feel SAE is boring, includes no feeling or
  fun or humor
• (The End)