The African Heritage of American English - Hardcover

Holloway, Joseph E

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0253328381 ISBN 13: 9780253328380

Publisher: Indiana University Press, 1993

Synopsis

The African Heritage of American English provides a detailed compilation of Africanisms, identified linguistically, from a range of sources: folklore, place names, food culture, aesthetics, religion, loan words. Presenting a comprehensive accounting of African words retained from Bantu, Joseph Holloway and Winifred Vass examine the Bantu vocabulary content of the Gullah dialect of the Sea Islands; Black names in the United States; Africanisms of Bantu origin in Black English; Bantu place names in nine southern states; and Africanisms in contemporary American English. These linguistic retentions reflect the cultural patterns of groups imported to the United States, the subsequent dispersion of these groups, and their continuing influence on the shaping of American culture.

About this title

From the Back Cover

The African Heritage of American English provides a detailed compilation of Africanisms, identified linguistically, from a range of sources: folklore, place names, food culture, aesthetics, religion, loan words. Presenting a comprehensive accounting of African words retained from Bantu, Joseph Holloway and Winifred Vass examine the Bantu vocabulary content of the Gullah dialect of the Sea Islands; Black names in the United States; Africanisms of Bantu origin in Black English; Bantu place names in nine southern states; and Africanisms in contemporary American English. These linguistic retentions reflect the cultural patterns of groups imported to the United States, the subsequent dispersion of these groups, and their continuing influence on the shaping of American culture.

Reviews

The English language has depended heavily on linguistic borrowing of grammar and words from many other languages. Here, Holloway and Vass set out to show just how American English has been enriched by African languages. The authors relied on some previous scholarship but also conducted their own extensive research. As a result, they discovered that the Gullah dialect of the Southeastern United States contains a core Bantu lexicon of 35.2 percent, though linguistic connections to many other languages are also evident. The authors consider not only compiled word lists but also social customs like traditional naming practices. Gullah speakers, for instance, have two and sometimes three distinct names: an English one for public use, an African one for private family use, and a characteristic "community" name. Impressive research and attention to detail makes this book a valuable addition to African American subject collections in academic libraries. Though technical, public library patrons will also benefit this book.
- Kevin M. Roddy, Univ. of Hawaii at Hilo Lib.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0253328381
• ISBN 13: 9780253328380
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 193