Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword by John R. Rickford
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1 Lexicons and meaning
- 2 Syntax part 1: verbal markers in AAE
- 3 Syntax part 2: syntactic and morphosyntactic properties in AAE
- 4 Phonology of AAE
- 5 Speech events and rules of interaction in AAE
- 6 AAE in literature
- 7 AAE in the media
- 8 Approaches, attitudes and education
- Endnotes
- References
- Acknowledgments
- Index
4 - Phonology of AAE
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword by John R. Rickford
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1 Lexicons and meaning
- 2 Syntax part 1: verbal markers in AAE
- 3 Syntax part 2: syntactic and morphosyntactic properties in AAE
- 4 Phonology of AAE
- 5 Speech events and rules of interaction in AAE
- 6 AAE in literature
- 7 AAE in the media
- 8 Approaches, attitudes and education
- Endnotes
- References
- Acknowledgments
- Index
Summary
Focal point The different sound patterns of AAE are reflected in the combination of sounds that are allowed in the variety. Words in AAE and general American English that have the same meanings may have different pronunciations due to constraints on sounds. For example, in AAE the th sound in general American English (and other varieties of English) bath is produced as f (i.e., baf), and the th sound in general American English bathe is produced as v (i.e., bav). Also, as explained in the preceding chapter, yes-no questions can be produced without an initial auxiliary. Does this affect the rhythmic patterns of sentences in AAE such that they are different from those patterns in other varieties of English? This chapter addresses sound and rhythmic patterns in AAE.
It's sofer tissue!
[facial tissues television commercial]Introduction
The unique pronunciation related to stress patterns of aspectual markers BIN and dәn has been mentioned in the preceding chapters on the lexicon and syntax of AAE. Especially in the case of BIN, the stress pattern affects meaning. While it would seem that these patterns are significant in the study of AAE, they have not been the focus of major studies on the sound system.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- African American EnglishA Linguistic Introduction, pp. 106 - 133Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2002
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