Language is rooted in cultural history and tradition while being reflective of power in society. African American Vernacular English, commonly known as AAVE, is a variety or dialect of English spoken primarily by Black Americans. AAVE carries a rich history, with its origins being debated amongst scholars.
Some scholars have hypothesized one of AAVE’s origins is from European American dialects of English. Others have hypothesized modern AAVE is derived from creole from English and West African languages. Because language is tied to culture, in our media age we must be aware of the nuances and contexts of AAVE words in order to respect their cultural origins.
Despite its structured rules and rich history, AAVE has historically been stigmatized, treated as slang rather than a valid, textured form of communication. Users of AAVE may be subject to linguistic racism, where individuals are subject to discrimination based on their use of language.
In the age of social media, AAVE is often appropriated by non-African American users, in a way that risks its original meaning becoming lost or distorted. People may reduce AAVE words to “internet or TikTok slang,” disregarding their deep linguistic origins.
Because of the fast speed at which trends across social media come and go, cultural artifacts, phrases and sayings may soon be seen as simply trends by those outside of the culture.
“Cultural appropriation” refers to when members of a majority group adopt elements of a minority group in a way that is “exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical.” This is important because of systemic racism. Minorities are discriminated against for embracing elements of their culture while a majority group will not receive similar repercussions for appropriating those same elements of the minority group.
Language is tied to power. Words or phrases in AAVE may be co-opted in a way that distorts their original meaning. For example, the word “woke” has a rich history, stretching back as early as the 1920s.
The word woke was originally used to refer to staying aware of racial injustice and oppression. Marcus Garvey, a Black Jamaican Pan-Africanist, urged Black people to become more socially and politically aware as he wrote, “Wake up, Ethiopia! Wake up, Africa!”
The word woke was used during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s to encourage Black Americans to stay aware of racial injustice and oppression. As language is reflective of society, the term woke sheds light on how Black Americans and other minorities must navigate the world with an astute awareness of the social, political, economic and cultural landscape for survival.
In recent times, “woke” can be seen throughout Black pop culture, from Erykah Badu’s song “Master Teacher” to Childish Gambino’s song “Redbone.” The phrases “woke” or “stay woke” became more widespread during the Black Lives Matter Movement in the 2010s, drawing attention to police brutality and systemic racism.
In today’s political sphere, the word woke is often used as a pejorative label to describe something as too politically correct, despite its original meaning rooted in social justice and cultural awareness. This appropriation of the term, prevalent on social media and other platforms, strips the word woke of its rich and textured meaning and history.
Like the word woke, other words of AAVE can easily be co-opted, appropriated and exploited for political or social gain, removing words altogether from their cultural context. This act of appropriation is an act of erasure because it removes the richness of language and views cultural language as something that is simply trendy, silly or trivial.
Culture can be clearly seen in material things such as clothing, hairstyles and food. It is important to recognize language is also an integral part of culture. Language has historically been appropriated by members of a majority group, and in our contemporary age, can easily be appropriated through social media.
And because we live in a digital age, it is essential to be aware of the cultural origins of the language we interact with daily through social media. As Black music genres such as hip-hop trend on TikTok and other platforms, cultural awareness of linguistic origins brings cultural appreciation.
Language does not exist outside of the culture it comes from, and removing the cultural context of the word distorts its meaning. Language, while being reflective of power in society, is also reflective of cultural stories of those marginalized. This includes stories of resilience, triumph and ingenuity.
As we engage with AAVE and other dialects of people of color, we must recognize its impact in shaping language as we know it, while honoring the history of its speakers. Like all languages, AAVE tells a story that must be protected and remembered by those who come across it.
David Asamoah is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to David about his column? Email him at da602024@ohio.edu.
