Do black people have different english accent than the white's?

Question

I am a Chinese, I am just wondering, do black people have different english accent than white's? If yes, what causes this difference, the black people in America were born in the USA, and they live there for a few generations, how can they have different accent if they were educated under the same environment? If they do have accent, does that mean their english is not accurate? Just curious.

Answer 1

I am sure everyone does including you. Does it mean your English is not accurate? There could be many reason why. People say Asians are bad drivers because their eyes are slanted. They can't see the road. Is this accurate? Everybody does not speak proper English. People are people. Every race may do things their own way. It doesn't mean it right or wrong. Just different. I have some Asian and Latino friends and they have accents. They have been in America a long time. Is there English inaccurate? Blacks always put a different spin on everything we do. We are very creative. We are colourful people. A lot of people copy what black people do too. I am sure you probably use some slang words too (ebonics). We are all different and I like that. If we were all the same, the world will be boring. Do you have any black friends? Ask them? It's a black thang, you wouldn't understand. Racism is so sick and stupid.

Answer 2

The "black" accent in the USA, is a distorted mixture of a native African accent and southern American accent (not South American!).

I say distorted because accents are anything but static, and there can be great variation in accents from one generation to the next, and one region to the next.

A person with a "black" accent typically speaks that way because...
1. Their parents do.
2. Their friends do.
and
3. It is part of their cultural and personal identity. They may infact feel silly trying to speak with an accent they did not grow up with. Similar things occur in China you know.

Having an "black" accent is not considered inaccurate, or even poor English. However, if this person were to become a new broadcaster, they'd be encouraged to speak with a "standard" American accent.

There is another thing though that has been dubbed "ebonics" often spoken by African Americans to some extent, and this has been called improper English. For example, a person may say "We was going to see Grandma, but she not home right now," instead of "We were going to see Grandma, but she isn't home right now."

Because there is indeed structure to ebonics, and it's widespread, it can rightfully be considered a dialect of English. Issue arises because it is indeed composed of what were originally grammatical inaccuracies due to the lack of education on such things in the Southern states to begin with. That being said, you will find a similar error born dialect amongst many southern, or uneducated, or lower class whites, albeit with a different accent and slight differences in syntax.

The important thing is, that everyone can understand everyone.

Answer 3

It's not a 'black' accent. It's not even really 'ebonics'.

What most of you consider to be 'black' speech is really just a southern accent. I am white and have many people ask me why I sound 'black'.

During the days of slavery, there were many more slaves in the south than the north. When slaves were freed, many of these people traveled far away from where they spent most of their lives under oppression. [wouldn't you?]

But, their accent followed them. Their children picked up on this, and so on, and so on. It's pretty much the same with any people. My daughters have a bit of my southern accent and a bit of their dad's new york one.

You speak the way you hear others speaking. Simple as that.

Answer 4

Do you mean in the US?

In the US there are a number of cultural and regional affectations to the English Language.

The standard American born in raised in the State of New York has a different accent to someone from Kentucky.

It is a common misconception that all "white" Americans sound alike, they don't, nor do all "black" Americans.

Let me repeat that more clearly. There is no one white English accent and there is no one black accent, any more than there is one Chinese accent.

Answer 5

I think there are many accents in the States...whites and blacks may have different dialects in different areas, but sometimes the difference you hear in groups in the same area has to do with education. All races, if they are uneducated may have a different way of speaking. MAY, not always. For instance, under educated people may use street language or slang compared to proper English. Again, I state that this is all races, not only blacks.

Answer 6

Can't really speak for America, but in England the answer is generally - no, it just depends on the area where you are brought up. Some people keep their African or Carribean accents because it's a big part of their lives and cultural heritage.

But there are just as many black people who have a really Scouse (Liverpool) accent, or Manchester accent. All depends on how, and where, you're brought up.

Answer 7

the reason why the speak like that is not becous ther black it is becouse they disided to use slang a shortning of the english language and they are not the only nation or race that have don that look at the australians and the spanish and the arabs and the maxicons a larg number of these difrent nations they live in english speaking countreys for many ganaration but they still have a diffrent accent and i have known many black people that speak proper english it only comes down to ones own choice of his/her accent or what people they grow up whith

Answer 8

The difference is cause by previous generations not being educated. Often times certain black comedians make fun of how their grandparents speak, because it is just plain wrong. My Grandfather was not allowed to go to school, he wasn't really allowed to talk to whites other than saying yes sir and no sir. How does he learn correct english? So when he teaches my father and his other kids, they have his influence and society's influence. So they can speak the languae but it is a little different. My wife and I are pretty good at speaking, black people tell us both we sound white on the phone.

So to answer your question, yes we do have a different accent. Sometimes it is on purpose, sometimes it is accidental. It is not accurate, but it isn't necessarily our fault. Schools didn't start being relatively close in the quality of education until the 90's. Love the question.

Answer 9

in my opinion, the accent comes from where in the states you live not the color of peoples skin. in the south the people, both black and white, have the same accent. where as you go to different states the accents are varied. you have the southern drawl, the texas twang, and so on. take nyc for example, i am from northern NY and when i go to the city, they have an accent to me and both races have the same accent where as they think i have an accent. so like i stated in the beginning, the accents vary from state to state.

Answer 10

In the United States, each of our regions have a different accent. And you can clearly hear it, regardless of ones skin tone.
I can totally tell whether someone is from the North West, North East, and Southern regions.

..As to How?
I would imagine its the same as in China.
It simply is.
..and most likely there's no explanation. Which is odd, come to think of it.

Now as far as the "accuracy" its a sad but true statement that most Americans speak American "slang" as opposed to proper English.