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features of AAVE as features of PPE: a study of adolescents in philadelphia

This paper examines the adoption of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) features by Puerto Rican adolescents in Philadelphia. The study investigates the effects of direct contact with AAVE, specifically focusing on grammatical (uninflected be) and phonological (th pronounced as [f]) aspects. The research project aims to determine if Puerto Ricans still pick up AAVE through contact or if aspects have already become integrated into Puerto Rican English (PPE). The study was conducted on 18 subjects aged 10-17 in a local grade school in North Philadelphia, using interviews, reading passages, and word lists.

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features of AAVE as features of PPE: a study of adolescents in philadelphia

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  1. features of AAVE as features of PPE: a study of adolescents in philadelphia paper by: tonya wolford keelan evanini presentation by: anthony so

  2. background • puerto ricans found to adopt aspects of AAE • effects of direct contact with AAE • grammatical - uninflected be • phonological - (th) pronounced as [f]

  3. research project • determine if puerto ricans still pick up AAE through contact or if aspects have already become integrated into PRE • studies conducted in north philadelphia • local grade school - 4th grade class • interviews, reading passages and word lists • results based on 18 subjects, aged 10-17

  4. uninflected be (habitual be) • well documented grammatical aspect of AAE • used to indicate habitual nature of a predicate • grammaticalization - less common among older AA adults • usage in AAE governed by 5 properties

  5. results - habitual be • each recorded instance agreed with the 5 properties • be + verb_ing was most common • be + adverb/ prepositional phrase, adjective, past participle and noun phrase also observed • distribution and use of uninflected be in young puerto ricans comparable to those in AAE

  6. pronunciation of (th) as [f] • well documented phonological aspect of AAE • positioning - initial (never), medial (seldom), final (variably) • style-shifting - situational use of [f] and [θ] • [θ] for word list, both for reading passage, [f] for spontaneous speech

  7. results - positioning • initial - [t], [θ] • medial - [t], [θ], others • final - [f], null, [θ], others

  8. results - style-shifting • significant difference in use of [θ] and [f] between groups • style shifters likely to use less [θ] in speech • no observable relationship between level of [f] use and amount of aa contact • possible internal PRE development

  9. sociolinguistic setting • few african american families living in studied area (70% pr, 25% aa) • elementary school children surveyed to determine level of aa contact • majority have casual contact - enough to support phonological variables but not grammatical ones

  10. final conclusions • uninflected be transferred to young pr by older siblings and adults - becoming integral part of PRE • style-shifting of [f] for (th) attributed to internal PRE constraints • pr with limited aa contact might be adopting speech from pr that do have extensive aa contact - high prestige of AAE in the inner city

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