A Sketch of the History of Black English

From: Southern Quarterly | Date: January 1, 2008| Author: Dillard, J L | Copyright information

The grammar of Black English basilect1 [in the United States] is so similar to that of certain other Afro-American varieties of English that the temptation to look for historical connections has been irresistible to the small band of linguists who have interested themselves in the problem. But the most immediate solution which suggests itself - direct influence from the African languages spoken by the slaves - proves to be too simple and is made to seem unlikely by the language-mixing practic...

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