Why is African American accent different ?

Question

what da hell ?

Answer 1

I'm black and I am a product of my environment. Since I grew up around many people of different ethnic backgrounds, I find that I just talk proper. I don't use many slang words and I sound awful using ebonics.

Even so, I have some white friends that say I talk "black" and some black friends that say I talk "white". I don't let it bother me. As long as I can get my point across.

Answer 2

Jeez loueez, lotsa h8ers here!

People, let's face facts. True, not all AA's speak with the AA accent, but most do, to some degree or another. And yes, there are differences between a Southern AA accent and a NY AA accent. But ALL AA accents have a strong similarity, that being very similar to Southern. Similar but not exact.

For example, I've heard so many AA's say "I'm finna ___" whatever. When was the last time anyone has heard a non-AA say "finna" whether they be Southern or otherwise? I've never heard it.

There is NOTHING WRONG with pointing out an AA accent, because it does exist. It's not a racist thing, it's an observant thing.

Beaners have an accent, and yes they're all different, but they all have more of a similarity than difference. I'm a Beaner with no Beaner accent, but I don't take offense to it being pointed out. Why do so many here take offense because this person has asked about an AA accent? It EXISTS, folks. That's the fact, Jack.

To AA's: why is there such an accent? I've often wondered that, because it's distinct from any other accent in the world.

My fiance is Egyptian, who's lived in Tampa and NYNY before. When I visited him in Cairo, even he mentioned the AA accent. Come on, it's not something racist or made up, it exists.

Answer 3

I also am black and I'm from the Midwest, I have no Southern accent and honestly, now that I reside in the South, I find I am more articulate than my Caucasian and other
Southern counterparts.

I hope you didn't post this just to get people to say negative things about African Americans, I find a lot of people in this forum doing this so they can get racist to call us the N word but like I say to those people...if using that word is the only way you feel powerful I refuse to let it have power over me, I'm educated(without affirmative action) I have a great job and own my own businsess...so if that is your intention go ahead we don't care anymore because it no longer pertains to our race but rather a class of people...ignorant, classless people!

hope you are not trying to insight hatred and racism...but if you are what a sad life you must have !


Of course a racist won't think it's a racist thing to say...every nationaliy has an accent but you people are only questioning African Americans...NY Jewish people have an accent, Southern Confederates have an accent...Swedish people have an accent, Germans have an accent why aren't you questioning any of those accents because like I said earlier the purpose of this question was insight racist behavior! Just read the responses...You people are lost!

Answer 4

I recently did a search on this topic, found some interesting answers. Terminology that many African Americans use (obviously not all, depending on where they live, and their environment) tends to be vaguely similar amongst English speaking areas where descendants of Western Africans reside, including some English speaking areas in Europe and Jamaica (Terminology such as "I'm finna----" are not found only amonst Western African descendants in the United States).

It is thought that these are vague traces of accents left over from the African languages many generations ago and passed down--

Just think of it as a different dialect of English, that's all. It is similar to other areas where there are many different dialects of the same language. Amongst family members and those of similar background, people tend to relax and speak as they are comfortable, but around others, such as some one in an area of authority or of a different background a person tends to attempt to speak in a more formal universal form of the same language so as to be more easily understood by that person, --this is not just a phenomenon found in the black community of the United States, it is common in many other cultures where there are many dialects of the same language.

Do a wikipedia search on "African American Vernacular English"....very interesting... Many (although, by no means all) African Americans are descendants of slaves from the Southern regions of the U.S. and thus many of the them carry this long lived southern accent and terminologies with them, sometimes even passed on for several generations.

As for slang and snoop dogg type terminologies, it's my opinion that these terms are just vain attempts at looking "cool" and being accepted by a certain crowd. I think slang is entirely different from African American Vernacular English.

Answer 5

It depends were you grow up. That can be said about any race. I know the people by NY, Boston, etc. have the same accent and the only difference is the race which really has nothing to do with it.

Answer 6

Same reason why people from Boston, Wisconsin, and Minnesota have different accents. Stop trying to single out the blacks.

Answer 7

What do you mean? Some Blacks tend to have a more deeper distinct voice than whites. But it's generally a regional thing. Southern Black sound differently than northern Blacks and Whites, same goes for Whites.

Answer 8

I recommend you to do this: buy yourself plane tickets and go to Africa, the Caribbean Islands, and southern part of the U.S. and let us know about your experience. It will be a pricy trip but you will gain great knowledge from this.

Answer 9

WHAT DA F&%^$@^$^!!!!

Stupid questions merit stupid answers.

Not all AA's speak the same. TAKE A F&^%&%#$^% TRIP AROUND THE WORLD.

Answer 10

I'm from the bowels of the south and damn proud of it. So if you got a problem with the way I talk then screw all yall!