Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell me, What Is?
In this article "If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell, What Is?" (1979) written by James Baldwin, he states that the black culture has their own version of English. He supports his statement by giving examples of how one word could mean something to black people, but then the white culture would use the word in a different term; such as, "jazz". It was written in order of how the Black English was created. This article was written to inform others on the English language that black people uses.
From my perception, I would impose that language, overall, is a worldwide culture that differentiates people even from their own culture. After reading Baldwin's article, I understand his perspective that he gives on the English language that infers on how Blacks English language is different regular American English. Furthermore, I agree with the article in general and came to the conclusion that no one language is the same.
the features of other dialects to Black English to suggest that Black English is a legitimate language or dialect. For instance, he states, “ A Frenchman living in Paris speaks a subtly and crucially different language from that of the man living in Marseilles; neither sounds very much like a man living in Quebec; and they would all have great difficulty in apprehending what the man from Guadeloupe, or Martinique, is saying, to say nothing of the man from Senegal--although the "common" language of all these areas is French”(1). Basically, he is telling that language is culture, so you can’t critique people by their language because they don't speak the way you speak. He some of the word to compare their English like “Jazz me” into “Jazz age” (2).
From my perception, I would impose that language, overall, is a worldwide culture that differentiates people even from their own culture. After reading Baldwin's article, I understand his perspective that he gives on the English language that infers on how Blacks English language is different regular American English. Furthermore, I agree with the article in general and came to the conclusion that no one language is the same.
In Article, “Black English Isn’t Language, Then Tell Me what is it?”, Baldwin’s editorial compares
the features of other dialects to Black English to suggest that Black English is a legitimate language or dialect. For instance, he states, “ A Frenchman living in Paris speaks a subtly and crucially different language from that of the man living in Marseilles; neither sounds very much like a man living in Quebec; and they would all have great difficulty in apprehending what the man from Guadeloupe, or Martinique, is saying, to say nothing of the man from Senegal--although the "common" language of all these areas is French”(1). Basically, he is telling that language is culture, so you can’t critique people by their language because they don't speak the way you speak. He some of the word to compare their English like “Jazz me” into “Jazz age” (2).
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