The Role of African American Dialect in Literature from 1800 – 1970 : The Role of African American Dialect in Literature from 1800 – 1970
Slide 2: “Black Language usage is a worthwhile resource in the educational enterprise”
Slide 3: Antebellum Cycle (1800-1860) Reconstruction Cycle (1865-1877) Renaissance Cycle (1920-1940) Civil Rights Cycle (1945-1970)
Slide 4: Antebellum Cycle Purpose: Create sympathy Establish manliness Example: William Wells Brown Clotel ; or, The President’s Daughter
Slide 5: Pompey : “. . . dat is what marser says you is to be” Slave : “I know I is more den dat ” Features: - th with a - d Verb system ( is instead of are ) Eye dialect – “ marser ”
Slide 6: Reconstruction Cycle Purpose : Demonstrate the submissive attitude of the freed slave Example : Joel Chandler Harris The Complete Tales of Uncle Remus
Slide 7: Brer Rabbit : “’ Mawnin ’!’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee – ‘nice wed der dis mawnin ’,’ sezzee ” Features: reduction of consonant clusters –s to –z, – th to –d, vowel changes
Slide 8: Renaissance Cycle Purpose : Development of the “New Negro” Example : Zora Neale Hurston Jonah’s Gourd Vine
Slide 9: John : “’Lo , Lucy” Lucy : “Hello , John” Feature: The altered dialect is central to the plot development.
Slide 10: Civil Rights Cycle Purpose : Assert the African American identity Example : James Baldwin Go Tell It On The Mountain
Slide 11: / / x x / x / x x don’t want / you to go /to movies / and / / x x / x x / x don’t want/ you to play / in the streets/ and / / x x / x / x x don’t want/ you to have/ no friends and/ he
Slide 12: Respect Reference Re-interpret
Slide 14: Respect Reference Re-interpret