Intro to AAVE Class Six: Sociolinguistic Perspectives on AAVE

In our sixth class of the Introduction to AAVE series, we dive into the complexities of code-switching and the politics surrounding African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Language is power, and the ability (or necessity) to shift between AAVE and Standard American English (SAE) reflects deeper social, economic, and cultural realities.

We discuss linguistic discrimination, including how schools and workplaces police language and reinforce systemic barriers for Black speakers. The class also covered the Ebonics Debate of 1996, when Oakland schools proposed recognizing AAVE as a legitimate linguistic system. We also discuss the concept of code-meshing—the intentional blending of AAVE and SAE to challenge language hierarchies.

After reviewing the course work ponder on how do we create spaces where AAVE is accepted without judgment?

Additional Resources and Journal Articles :

Talking Black In America 

Sorry to Bother You Movie Clip

Visibly Invisible: The Study of Middle Class African American English

From African American Vernacular English to African American Language: Rethinking the Study of Race and Language in African Americans’ Speech

The Cost of Code-Switching