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Like post above give away a predilection for posting on Stormfront?
Ah, no I don't like that site.
I did not mean it in a negative way, but to me the way AAs pronounce for instance certain vowels is simply different compared to white people. It is just an observation, just like you can tell immediately when an Indian speaks English, they have that extreme r sound.
Ah, no I don't like that site.
I did not mean it in a negative way, but to me the way AAs pronounce for instance certain vowels is simply different compared to white people. It is just an observation, just like you can tell immediately when an Indian speaks English, they have the extreme r sound.
You are stereotyping all around. Two people of different race/ethnic backgrounds who grew up in the same neighborhood and grew up in a similar manner will have the similar voice inflections.
That may well be, but many black people still grow up among other black people for whatever reason. And they learn their mother tongue from their own parents before they get to school, so it is kind of "inherited" I suppose.
Education is a possible factor. AA women usually have more post-secondary education than their AA male counterparts. It is also more "cool" and acceptable for AA males to use "black" english more. This from an insider.
I have actually noticed that my BF, who is AA, changes the way he speaks depending on the person he's speaking with or the environment. The way he speaks in his professional environment is completely different from the way he speaks with, say his nephews or one of "the boys". I think It's more of a "cool" factor you mentioned above than education because even educated ones do this.
I have actually noticed that my BF, who is AA, changes the way he speaks depending on the person he's speaking with or the environment. The way he speaks in his professional environment is completely different from the way he speaks with, say his nephews or one of "the boys". I think It's more of a "cool" factor you mentioned above than education because even educated ones do this.
i have always noticed the same thing. white southerners speak one way around each other, one way around southern blacks, and a 3rd way around everyone else. for most people it is subtle, but some people make huge adjustments.
being a white guy, i don't have the same sort of inside knowledge of southern blacks. but, i recently read a book written by a linguist in California (ebonics supporter, i think), about the history of language in South Carolina. She pointed out studies that show rural southern blacks used one dialect amongst themselves, and a different one around whites. she observed young (12 or 13 y/o) black girls in SC, who would read and write in more standard english, but when they'd read their own words aloud to the all-black classroom, they would shift to a more african dialect, with traditional african-american conjugations and sentence structure.
now, as far as the OP's question goes -- i'd be very surprised if gender plays into it. i think you just noticed one family.
i have always noticed the same thing. white southerners speak one way around each other, one way around southern blacks, and a 3rd way around everyone else. for most people it is subtle, but some people make huge adjustments.
being a white guy, i don't have the same sort of inside knowledge of southern blacks. but, i recently read a book written by a linguist in California (ebonics supporter, i think), about the history of language in South Carolina. She pointed out studies that show rural southern blacks used one dialect amongst themselves, and a different one around whites. she observed young (12 or 13 y/o) black girls in SC, who would read and write in more standard english, but when they'd read their own words aloud to blacks, they would naturally shift to a more african dialect.
i'm a white guy...33 years old. spent alot of my early youth in pretty diverse areas in houston, tx.
i recognize that when i'm around a predominately black crowd, my speech immitates those of whom i'm conversing with...and same goes when i'm spending time with my family in the hollows of West Virginia!! also, the same applies when i'm spending time with family in Fort Worth, TX!!
i don't believe it's a consious thing, it just flows out of my mouth effortlessly...
i think this is a common thing, and people just don't recognize they're doing it...untill a thread like this pops up and it makes you think...yep, i'm one of those types of people.
I have actually noticed that my BF, who is AA, changes the way he speaks depending on the person he's speaking with or the environment. The way he speaks in his professional environment is completely different from the way he speaks with, say his nephews or one of "the boys". I think It's more of a "cool" factor you mentioned above than education because even educated ones do this.
You are right. I work with almost exclusively black females here in Memphis, and we have had a few discussions about this. They straight up tell me that they can turn it on and off, just like that, depending on who they are speaking with. It is a cultural thing for sure.
You are right. I work with almost exclusively black females here in Memphis, and we have had a few discussions about this. They straight up tell me that they can turn it on and off, just like that, depending on who they are speaking with. It is a cultural thing for sure.
I am a black female and I most certainly do not change my speech pattern ever. My initial guess about you is that you work in a low-class environment, and as such associate with low class people. You very well may not be equipped to tell the difference. What do you do for a living?
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It often gives AAs away on the radio.
I don't like that site. 