Black English Vernacular (From "Ain't" to "Yo Mama" : the Words Politically Correct Americans Should Know) [Paperback]

Monica Frazier Anderson (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 99 pages
• Publisher: Rainbow Books (March 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568250053
• ISBN-13: 978-1568250052
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,318,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Once over lightly, January 5, 2000

By 

Big Guy (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black English Vernacular (From "Ain't" to "Yo Mama" : the Words Politically Correct Americans Should Know) (Paperback)

Would-be buyers of this book should be aware that it's primarily a simple listing of slang terms used by African-Americans. The unique syntax of Black English is hardly mentioned, which is sad because this is what differentiates Black English from such as Hippie Talk, Valley Girl Talk, or even Computer Nerd Talk. BEV would be useful as a current dictionary of slang terms used by African-Americans, although many terms have been used by whites for years or even decades.

The author's statement that "BEV [Black English Vernacular] is no more bad English than Italian is bad Latin" can hardly be supported by this book.

At less than a hundred pages in length, BEV is more booklet than book, and is over priced. To add insult to injury, in terms of research it comes across as a Saturday spent with some Black teenagers. One gets the feeling much of the contents will fade soon, leaving contemporary Black English interred along with "neat" and "groovy" and "radical." Surely this isn't the case with Black English, and any book on the subject should support the likelihood of Black English continuing on as a unique means of expression. This book doesn't.

5.0 out of 5 stars So Funny But , True, April 24, 2006

By 

Rosie "Chocolatecity" (Lake Providence, La) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black English Vernacular (From "Ain't" to "Yo Mama" : the Words Politically Correct Americans Should Know) (Paperback)

Black English Vernacular was a simple joy to read. I borrowed it first from a library to read. But after the first few pages I knew I had to have a copy for myself. We say, as adults, that we don't say slang like our kids, but after reading this book I found out that I say a lot of it as well. It was very interesting to see the phrases we say day in and day out without even noticing. Like the term "running buddy" I have been saying this for years. Or even "she put her foot in them". This book belongs in every home library. Trust me, I have two copies, one
I loan and one I keep for to make sure I have a copy handy.
Rosie, SWER READING CLUB

5.0 out of 5 stars A handy reference book in an easy-to-use format., October 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Black English Vernacular (From "Ain't" to "Yo Mama" : the Words Politically Correct Americans Should Know) (Paperback)

For parents, this is a practical reference book to help you become familiar with Ebonics. It was fun to read and the examples were very positve. This book really changed my perceptions of Ebonics. I would recommend it highly.