Spoken Soul: The Story of Black English

by John Russell Rickford; Russell John Rickford

• ISBN13: 9780471437222
• ISBN10: 0471437220
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2002-03-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

In Praise of spoken soulthe story of black english"Spoken Soul brilliantly fills a huge gap. . . . a delightfully readable introduction to the elegant interweave between the language and its culture."-Ralph W. Fasold, Georgetown university"A lively, well-documented history of Black English . . . that will enlighten and inform not only educators, for whom it should be required reading, but all who value and question language." -Kirkus Reviews"Spoken Soul is a must read for anyone who is interested in the connection between language and identity." -Chicago DefenderClaude Brown called Black English "Spoken Soul." Toni Morrison said, "It's a love, a passion. Its function is like a preacher's: to make you stand out of your seat, make you lose yourself and hear yourself. The worst of all possible things that could happen would be to lose that language."Now renowned linguist John R. Rickford and journalist Russell J. Rickford provide the definitive guide to African American vernacular English-from its origins and features to its powerful fascination for society at large.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Acknowledgments	xi
Part One Introduction
What's Going On?	3	(10)
Part Two ``This Passion, This Skill, This Incredible Music''
Writers	13	(26)
Preachers and Pray-ers	39	(18)
Comedians and Actors	57	(16)
Singers, Toasters, and Rappers	73	(18)
Part Three The Living Language
Vocabulary and Pronunciation	91	(18)
Grammar	109	(20)
History	129	(34)
Part Four The Ebonics Firestorm
Education	163	(18)
The Media	181	(23)
Ebonics ``Humor''	204	(19)
Part Five The Double Self
The Crucible of Identity	223	(10)
Notes	233	(28)
Index	261	(7)
Permissions	268