Examples of African American Venacular English.

African American Venacular English can be found in every major city in America. It was found that 80% of all African Americans speak African American Venacular English.
These are some of the features which AAVE include.

The Generalisation of 'is' and 'was' is used in AAVE and MLE the use of this indicates a lower social class as it shows a lack of education however they are also used to gain covert prestige for people in the middle and upper class.
AAVE: "We was waiting there"
BrE: "We were waiting there"






Here are a few examples of African American Venacular English.

In an interview with JayZ one of the most famouse african american hiphop stars in america, you can clearly see influences from his african american backround with a few answers for example where he says '‘Ah, nah nah,' 'y’know? I got ya, though.’




Can AAVE be both a prestige and covert prestige langauge?

NEED TO FINSH AND FIND SONGS ON YOUTUBE!!!!!

African American Vernacular English - Script

Teacher- Aight playa’s! when did you roll up?

Student 1- we jus came to hang wit you g

Teacher-  aight den where iz dizs homework I axsed for?

Student 1- I weren’t at ma crib last night, out spending all my benjamins on new kreps and bling for my hoe

Teacher- I am not straight wit ya…

Student 2- holla gansta’s whats gwarnin here?

Student 1- dis teacher is whack man, straight up, anyway when did yous roll up sweetheart?

Teacher- enough of dis, you need to do da work and until you do I iz taking your new bling and kreps off ya, you get me?!

Student 1- but sir! Dat is well whack, you can’t do that!

Student 2- yea man that is not straight atall!

Teacher- check yo’selfs before you wreck yo selves yeah! Aightt, if you want to hang here playas you have to respect me yeah, I’ll take you girlls next time!

Student 1- I thought you was dope man, straight up. Man going back to his crib, you get me fam?

Student 2- yeah lets hang at yours dis is whack!

Teacher- safe ting

Dialect Levelling

My understanding of English Language is that the dialect has levelled out as time has gone on. The main reasons for this are immigration, technology and education, the levelling is where the dialect become becomes homogonous. The main area this takes place in is London due to it being a capital city with the main airlines, factories and distribution centres being there it entices immigrants to visit there increasing the language diversity around London, it then gradually moves outwards from there.
Paul Kerswill argues that dialect levelling is taking place outwards from London rather than in London in four areas. Paul says that the centre of London is diverging from the rest of the country when it comes to dialect meaning that when it comes to the edges of London Estuary English is being spread further across the country. In the centre of London the language diverges from the edges of London whereas the rest of the country are converging with the edges of London, the reason for this is because of the vast number of different cultures around central London as well as the majority of the population there being working class meaning they do not have the money to move elsewhere.