I'm not sure how to describe it, maybe ebonics accent. Anyway, why do so many black people speak in a certain tone or way? You can usually tell a black person on the phone because of their voice. I understand when a certain group of people live in a certain area (New Yorkers), (beach), but blacks spread thoughout the country in all areas and still speak the same way. Where does it come from? Why do they speak that way?
It is sort of like gays. A lesser amount though, however many speak with a high pitch voice but why? I've seen blacks from the U.K. and they all have the English accent so it can't be anything biological. I already knew that. So where does culture come in? I don't speak using ebonics nor do I have the accent. Why would you chose to speak this way? Is it natural or forced?
2006-09-26 02:29:44 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I can't really answer this question with authority since I'm not black. But it is interesting.
Probably has something to do with the sociological side of things - the "black" accent in American English may be an identifier that black people learn as a group, subconsciously. Similar to some gay men who adopt effeminate behaviour only after coming out - they want to show that they belong to a certain group, they seek group identity.
I don't think it has much to do with the original African slave languages, since I live in Africa and I hear no obvious correlation between Bantu languages (for example) and the current African-American accent that you refer to.
2006-09-26 02:40:17 · answer #1 · answered by candypants 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm around many professional blacks who do not speak in a ghetto accent however, by the tone of their voice, you can tell that they are black. Blacks have more base in their voice while white voices tend to be light and sometimes squeaky.
Accents are usually based on what you primarily heard while growing up. It is not a choice because you are born into it. Some people can train themselves to have a different accent. Many professionals have done this.
2006-09-26 06:27:32 · answer #2 · answered by truly 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I would say it is a learned behavior, however; I talk slang and proper English. You have to know how to turn it on and off, when I'm laid back chillin with friends and family I'm a little loose about the way I speak or the words I choose, but when its time to be professional I clean it up a bit. I think that goes for every culture.
2006-09-26 04:36:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's sort of like whites......they all speak like the way black comedians imitate them on TV.
really, though....people learn to speak by listening. so, if people in your community speak with a certain accent, so will you. makes sense, right? during slavery most blacks in america were in the south. they learned to speak english from southern whites, who have a marked accent. developing slang was and is a way for people to communicate without others understanding, and also to show that one belongs to a group.
2006-09-26 02:34:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
There's a stigma against blacks who "act white". They call them Carlton's, Uncle Toms, Aunt Jemima's. It's unfair because so many black people don't fit the black stereotype, yet many in the black community enforce that stereotype themselves by shutting out those who choose to carry themselves in a professional manner.
And there are whites with that "ghetto" accent too.
2006-09-26 03:24:22 · answer #5 · answered by Rainier 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Language accents serve as a cultural identifier. It is a learned behavior from birth, but can change if a person is immersed in another culture long enough depending on age and "open-mindedness". (Children can much more easily pick up new languages and accents)
Be careful of how you word your questions though. Labelling an accent as a ghetto accent goes a long way to making you look ignorant at best, racist at worst.
2006-09-26 02:50:05 · answer #6 · answered by Westward 2 · 2⤊ 4⤋
It is a learned thing. Mostly it is called laziness and lack of self respect. Any person, black , white , or other should be able to use proper English to show that they have some modicum of intelligence. If I were a prospective employer, you could send me 2 individuals who have the same educational background and I would choose to hire the one who spoke correctly everytime. That would mean I would not hire redneck speak either.
2006-09-26 02:35:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 2⤋
I guess its there millieu the live in! wherever you reside, and was born into...you will develop there speech pattern...that goes also for other groups...the Irish, the Italians, poor whites in the hills.etc...not only in this country in England to...German also...the Bavarian....no one cant understand them...
2006-09-26 02:32:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Are you a racist? Are you slow? What is a ghetto accent? Do you not know geography and therefore do not understand that accents very from city to city, or is that over your head? Read a book, and African Americans are a race. gays are people with a different sexual prefrence, how are the two alike? Are you really that slow?????
2006-09-27 12:04:09 · answer #9 · answered by nexus2k 2 · 2⤊ 7⤋
What a racist statement, to classify everyone black as speaking the same way. Obviously you have not been around to many black people in your life. Not all black people speak alike. Just as not all white people speak alike. Just as not all Hispanic people have accents. Where did you come up with this! I must say I strongly disagree with you. And what do you call what you speak? The language of ignorance ! Do you live in a cave.
2006-09-26 02:36:36 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 10⤋