Understanding African American and Australian English Varieties

African American English Vocabulary Sources

The vocabulary of African American English (AAVE) draws from two primary sources:

• West African Languages: The influence of West African languages is evident in AAVE vocabulary. Examples include 'goober' (peanut) and 'tote' (to carry).
• Semantic Extensions of English Words: Many words have undergone semantic extensions. For instance, 'bloods' is used to refer to other Black individuals, and 'whities' refers to white people.

Negation in African American English

AAVE employs several methods for marking negation:

• 'Ain't': Similar to other English varieties, AAVE uses 'ain't' to negate verbs where Standard English might use 'haven't'. 'Ain't' can also substitute for 'didn't' in some contexts.
• Double Negation: While stigmatized in Standard English, double negation is permissible in AAVE. An example is placing a negative auxiliary before 'nobody'.

Aboriginal Words in Australian English

Upon the arrival of British settlers in Australia, they encountered numerous Aboriginal dialects. The Dharuk language, spoken in the Sydney region, was a significant source of borrowed words. These borrowings primarily involved terms for Australian flora and fauna, as the settlers lacked existing English words for these unfamiliar species. Notable examples include 'kangaroo', 'dingo', and 'koala'.

Sociocultural Accents in Australian English

Three distinct sociocultural accents can be identified in Australian English:

• Broad Accent: This is the most localized accent, spoken by a smaller population, often in rural areas. Steve Irwin is a well-known example.
• General Accent: This is the most common accent, prevalent in urban areas and used by the majority of Australians. Hugh Jackman exemplifies this accent.
• Cultivated Accent: This accent sounds the most British and is primarily spoken by women, such as Cate Blanchett.

Australian Similes and Slang

Australian similes, a key component of Australian slang (known as 'Strine'), are characterized by creativity, informality, and often profanity. Examples include:

• 'As dry as a dead dingo's donger': Meaning extremely thirsty.
• 'As mad as a gum tree full of galahs': Meaning very crazy.

Understanding Australian slang can be challenging without prior exposure.

The Meaning of "New Englishes"

The term "New Englishes" refers to non-native varieties of English. These dialects did not originate from British settlers or daily interaction with native speakers. Instead, they developed through the use of English in public administration, law, education, and media. These varieties are predominantly found in South Asia and in East and West Africa.