Date:  Sat, 19 Nov 1994 00:19:03 -0800

From:  Audrey Wright <awright[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]SEACCD.SCCD.CTC.EDU>

Subject: Re: Recent Black English



This is entirely possible. Mainly because most information on AAL/BE

refers to the'traditional' or most pure form of its usage. Over time, a

lot of African Americans are standardinzing the language. Then too,

there are some indications that the language is taking a different

direction by some users. The language/dialect is not a monolith. There

are many variations, both regional and social.



Audrey Wright





On Fri, 18 Nov 1994, Timothy C. Frazer wrote:



> The last few years, my students (including some African-Americans)

> complain that the info on BE in their textbooks doesn't square with their

> experience. For example, one young African-American told me that when

> she used uninflected BE it did NOT refer to a habitual action. Anyone

> else have this happen? A of my readings are based on Labov's work 25

> years ago, so I have to give her oberservations some credence.

>

> Tim Frazer

>