Date: Fri, 31 Dec 1993 23:50:38 CST

From: "Donald M. Lance" ENGDL[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]MIZZOU1.BITNET

Subject: Variation in AAVE



P.S. Those who've asked about regional variation in African American

Vernacular English must read Guy Bailey's article in Dennis Preston's new

volume on research on language variation -- AMERICAN DIALECT RESEARCH (John

Benjamins, 1993). The article doesn't give you "final answers" but

demonstrates why the question is a very complex one. Guy also covers

the 'divergence' issue, and he refers to the essentail bibliography.

John Baugh's 'urban' / 'rural' distinction is at the core of what's been

happening in AAVE in the speech of speakers born after World War II.

DMLance