Talking Back, Talking Black: Truths About America’s Lingua Franca

Description

It has now been almost fifty years since linguistic experts began studying Black English as a legitimate speech variety, arguing to the public that it is different from Standard English, not a degradation of it. Yet false assumptions and controversies still swirl around what it means to speak and sound “black.” In his first book devoted solely to the form, structure, and development of Black English, John McWhorter clearly explains its fundamentals and rich history, while carefully examining the cultural, educational, and political issues that have undermined recognition of this transformative, empowering dialect. Talking Back, Talking Black takes us on a fascinating tour of a nuanced and complex language that has moved beyond America’s borders to become a dynamic force for today’s youth culture around the world. Introduction It's Complicated: A Toy Piano Isn't a Steinway, Right?: The Real Story About Black English Grammar What Do You Mean "Sounds Black"?: Don't Black People Just Have Southern Accents? But They Can't Talk That Way at a Job Interview!: Why Americans Think You Can Talk Only One Way Speaking Black or Speaking Minstrel?: And How Much of It Did White People Make Up? Through a Lens Darkly?: Perceiving Black English as It Is: Life Lessons Endnotes Index