January 25, 2021
African American English derives from a historical past of contact between multiple language speakers. It varies across age, ethnicity, class, and gender. There is more than one AAE.
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African descendants in the U.S. have been speaking varieties of English, today known as African American Language (AAL), for many centuries. While not all Black people speak AAL, many do. Think you know all there is to know about the language? Think again! Read on for what you should know about AAL.
1. The
V in AAVE stands for vernacular.
African American Vernacular English (AAVE) references the language being used in more casual settings. However, as time progressed, language scholars realized that AAVE is spoken in a variety of settings including more informally at home and in more formal spaces like the office.