What is an Ebonic?

Answer 1

a type of English spoken by some African-Americans

Answer 2

Since the 1996 Oakland School Board decision regarding the use of Ebonics as a tool of instruction, opinions have clashed over whether Ebonics is a separate language or merely a dialect of English. Called Black Vernacular English (BVE) in the 1960s and 70s and African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in the 1980s and 90s, Ebonics has traditionally been considered a dialect of English by educators and linguists (e.g., Fromkin & Rodman, 1998; Tshudi & Thomas, 1998). To understand why Ebonics might be considered a language other than English requires a closer look at what it takes to make a language, as well as what the differences are between a language and a dialect.

First, I would like to point out that the term Ebonics is not an appropriate name for a linguistic entity. However, the coinage is actually very close to a natural way of naming languages. There are languages that end in "ic," like Arabic and Amharic, as well as language family names of that form, like Slavic and Germanic. Ebonic, in such a naming system, is a clear way to specify black language. Thus, in this paper, I use the term Ebonic.

Answer 3

Many Black Americans do not speak standard English. They speak Ebonics ("Ebony," meaning "black" and "phonics," meaning "sound") -- a language which evolved in the Americas as a result of the adaptation of English words to an African language system. Since many African Americans do not speak standard English, "it is more than reasonable to suggest that in order to effectively and sussessfully teach the culturally and linguistically different Black child in the urban school the English language, the logical place to begin is with the cultural and linguistic experiences of the Black child. That is, with Ebonics, using a bilingual and bicultural approach."
In Ebonics, the consonant cluster /ct/ (which in linguistic circles is recognized as /kt/) also does not occur. Therefore, in Ebonics the English words object, reject, respect and collect will be pronounced /abjek/, /rijek/, /rispek/ and /kelek/.

In Ebonics, the final consonant cluster /pt/ is also absent. Hence, the English words except, slept, crept and wept are pronounced /eksep/, /slep/, /krep/ and /wep/.

The /sk/ and /st/ consonant clusters found in English also do not exist in Ebonics. Therefore, the English words mask, desk, tusk and husk are pronounced in Ebonics as /mas/, /des/, /tus/, and /hus/; and the English words west, best, test, fast, last, list and mist are pronounced /wes/, /bes/, /tes/, /fas/, /las/, /lis/ and /mis/ in Ebonics.

In Ebonics the /ld/ and /nd/ consonant clusters are alo absent. Therefore, such English words as build, bold, hold, told, cold, mold, wild and child will be pronounced /bil/, /bol/, /hol/, /tol/, /kol/, /mol/, /wayl/, and /chayl/. Likewise the English words sand, hand, stand, land and grand or find, mind, kind and blind will be pronounced as /saen/, /haen/, /staen/, /laen/, and /graen/ or /fayn/, /mayn/, /kayn/, and /blayn/ in Ebonics.

Also absent from Ebonics is what is called the progressive suffix (ing). So that such English words as looking, talking and walking will be pronounced as /lukin/, /tokin/ and /wokin/ in Ebonics.

Answer 4

Ebonics
One entry found for Ebonics.


Main Entry: Ebon·ics
Pronunciation: E-'bä-niks, i-, e-
Function: noun plural but singular in construction
Etymology: blend of ebony and phonics
: BLACK ENGLISH

Answer 5

1

Answer 6

I have never heard of the singular Ebonic.

Ebonics, however, is a dialect of English.

Answer 7

It basically is a language that is all slang.