I hear a lot of African Americans say "dis" for "this" and "dat" for "that" and I wonder if they have a difficulty saying those words or is it just part of their culture? Do Black people in Great Britain talk the same way?
2006-09-13 20:38:41 · 18 answers · asked by opjames 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I'm not stereotyping anyone...I did not say "Every". I said "a lot".
I am not making some racist statement.
I really want to know why SOME people talk that way.
2006-09-13 20:59:31 · update #1
No. They call it slang. The sad part is they spell the way they talk. I call that uneducated.
Trust me, I had to grade papers in college and read a lot of english papers that would not pass 4th grade english much less college level. Had less problems with white people's work but there were still some that should never have passed elementary level english. I have no idea how they ever made it through highschool.
After that semester I decided that it was just proof that our school system has broken down and is next to worthless.
2006-09-13 20:48:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A couple of the above answers show a certain lack of understanding. It all about location people. I was brought up in the city, but was private schooled. So I can tell you "dat" not all african americans use slang - even though I was not born in the states - Brits have their own slang. And as I have said before, it's all about location.
2006-09-13 20:53:01 · answer #2 · answered by Nije L 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know what you're saying. I don't think your being a racist just because you noticed that the majority of the black people in your world use this slang even when typing, writing and speaking to other people who clearly do not use their slang.
I think it's more a lack of manners on any person's behalf to speak in slang to a diverse group, or someone they know doesn't speak slang. I don't think its cultural in any way nor set in a specific race. Just, bad manners.
You will meet many many Black Americans, who would rather die than claim it as something as sacred as culture, or something as set in stone as exclusive to their race.
Persoanlly I abhore chat speak.
Wat wit dat silly *** lookin thnkn it look gr8, when it just looks lazy and sad.
2006-09-13 21:47:38 · answer #3 · answered by Sen 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
African-American culture is basically centred around slavery. Everything can be traced back to the psychic stain of indentured labour. Education levels for blacks in the 1840-50's were virtually nil. So they spoke 'poorly' made up ***** spiritual songs to cope with the abuse. Gospel songs were not written down due to illiteracy, so translations of the sound 'th' became 'd'. Blacks aren't stupid, they are just imitating their 'stupid' (by white standards, at least) forefathers.
2006-09-13 20:58:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Look, everyone uses slang! So dis and dat is slang. I know I can say this and that. That is like saying all white people talk country. Stereotyping is what u are doing. Black people in Great Britain have a British accent
2006-09-13 20:43:57 · answer #5 · answered by good4u06@verizon.net 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think it is how they chose to say it. Greek black people pronounce th very well. On the other hand, Germans have trouble pronouncing it because it doesn't exist in their language. So it is not a racial thing, but cultural.
2006-09-13 20:47:25 · answer #6 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i became informed that the notice with out the er on the top is assume to point some form of empowerment. i'm undecided yet i understand i don't use the notice and don't pick to be stated because it the two. that's an ignorant term any way that's used for my section.
2016-10-14 23:51:23 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, its just the way they are grown up, their education, the american background, where they grew up. i have had many african american friends who speak, perfect english with none of that 'dat' and 'dis' and 'yo'. but on the other hand ive also had many african american friends who have learned to speak the other way and yet they were also educated. its just a matter of character.
for example, im not american by blood, born in south america, but grew up in los angeles. when people speak to me on the phone they have no idea i am hispanic, as i speak perfect fluent american accent. and yet i have many hispanic girl friends from school that were actually born in california and yet speak with a latin accent but perfect english. my sister was 13 when we moved to the states ( i was 5 at the time) and you would think, a kid barely learning english at the age of 13, she would have a little bit of accent right? WRONG she speaks also perfect fluent english with non latin accent. my parents are educated people wiht masters and degrees, and my sisters now graduated from top IV league schools, they are latin and speak perfect english, like i said i think its a matter of education and what backgroudn you grew up from.
2006-09-14 02:58:48 · answer #8 · answered by sueet2b 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, blacks don't have a problem pronouncing the "th" sound. Those that replace that sound do so because it is a cultural thing.
2006-09-14 02:57:15 · answer #9 · answered by truly 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no stupid, it's just the stupid uneducated people who talk like that. it's not just black people, its any ignorant fool. I'm black and my family is well educated. You'd get beat (figuratively) if you were caught using improper English and syntax....yeah so you might want to re-think you're question before asking it. It'll save you some harsh words and keep bigots and uneducated eejits away.
2006-09-13 20:48:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋