Why dont some African Americans know how to speak correct english?

Question

Not to offend...So please dont be offensive.

Answer 1

Some do-not know how, while others do-not want to

Answer 2

There really is no "correct English." Every country, every region, every city, every subculture, even every family and individual, has their own linguistic anomalies. Language is not static, but dynamic. Human surroundings are constantly changing, thus their need for new forms of communication grows. Naturally, dialects form. This happens throughout history and throughout the world.
So you sit here asking your question with what you presume is "correct English," which some of your ancestors would have been appauled by. There are few people who speak using Received Pronunciation or "The Queen's English." You presumably aren't one of them, and neither am I.
And even if you were, you'd be no more correct than anyone else. Research it. There are at least seventy known dialects of English.
Look, if someone was brought up to speak "Ebonics," and they're communicating using it, that's a valid dialect of English, even if it's not yours.
Much of the perception that African Americans don't speak "correct English" is based on stereotypes. Many African Americans don't use "Ebonics," or they speak that way in certain contexts, but not others. In any case, an individuals expression of his or her thoughts shouldn't be dismissed because it's different than the way you would say it.

Answer 3

Theres no culture where you will find a person speaking correctly any lenguaje at all. So first of all it has nothing to do with being african america, european american, asian american ... etc.

The second thing is that, "speaking correctly" is related with the accent, pronunciation and the words being used. So even when you learn a new lenguaje all this factors can be used to tell that you dont speak correctly. Accent and pronunciation are factors related to an specific geographical area and words are more related with the culture.

From all my trips I can tell that all cultures have the same kind of debate but they related with different factors: the culture, social eduacion, education level, economical status, race etc., which at the end normally are just prejudices because who can really say who speaks correctly? Normally we use an standard from a major association (like in spanish they follows "la real academia de la lengua").

As a general rule, some factors to have a good knowledge of the lenguaje is related with the education level and the education (write and speak) of the lenguaje.

Answer 4

Are you from England? Even a lot English ppl don't know how to speak "correct English". Apparently you weren't trying to be offensive, so I'll try to do the same here. It's all down to perspective. What do you think of Southern white people? Their accent, their slang.... It's all coloquial English and we should celebrate the different forms. Yes, there is a "correct" way to speak the Queen's English, but I'm a white girl in the Maritimes and Lord knows we have our own way of speaking it too! It's just a way of identifying with one another. If I'm speaking with friends from around here I would probably say things you wouldn't understand. Try to keep an open mind. Things like these are the seeds of racial discrimination.

Answer 5

I am surprised that almost all of the answers so far have missed the point. It is well known that there has been a bias for a long time among Afro-Americans (particularly males) against coming across as "white". The consequences have been poor results in school, single moms, and, of course, speaking incorrect English. However, the poor academic results and poor English do not indicate ignorance or low IQ; rather, they are the results of a conscious effort to "rebel" against mainstream culture which some Afro-Americans equate with "white".

Answer 6

What exactly is correct English???..Do you speak Old English/Saxon??....Or are you from Oxford England??...I would assume that the British were appalled at how we Americans twisted the ole English to our needs.

Are you aware that there are many different forms of English in this country alone. And that Certain African American have developed there own interpretation of the language no different than our fore fathers have.

True you may think Ebonics is Ghetto sounding....But what about Jamaican?...Environment,Culture and changing times change languages....Study origins of languages and you will find that English is actually derivted from German, and that our English is a very good blend of French, German, Spanish, Native Tongue,Slavic, and Basic Oxford English.

Its all about education History just have to explore your world

Answer 7

I don't think it is only African Americans. I think a lot of Americans don't speak correct English (some even forget that the "e" in English should be capitalized).

Answer 8

I think some of them choose not to and use slang or Ebonics because of their culture and it may just be a learned trait--obviously through their environment. It also depends partly on their educational level and their preference. I have known many white people not to speak correct English as well as other races.

Answer 9

Whoa why would you even ask that?!...We can speak correct english some just choose not to because they are around their friends...and how are you gonna say not to offend when your question is clearly offensive

Answer 10

Well me, Im an African American, and i speak it WELL. I think its because some of then other race think that we are a bunch of people that does drugs and do all bad stuff, so the smart ones of the black race, we try to show that not all blacks are dumb and that we are as smart as most people. Thats just me.

Answer 11

I dont think its a "all african americans just cant learn it thing"... I think its just a lot of black people choose not to. Its more comfortable to talk in the way some people are acustomed.