I've read that in the areas where the Northern Cities Vowel Shift occur, the African Americans show no signs of having it. Is that true?
The Northern Cities Vowel Shift
Pretty much. In fact you could say the same about any US regional accent (except the South, probably).
<<I've read that in the areas where the Northern Cities Vowel Shift occur, the African Americans show no signs of having it. Is that true?>>
But of course you're probably referring to African Americans who speak AAVE. I know AAVE has, at least up to this point, not been demonstrably affected by the California Vowel Shift, for example, yet I've certainly known black Californians who had clear examples of the California Shift in their speech, as either they don't speak AAVE at all or when they code-switch out of AAVE they acquire the characteristics of Californian speech as seen in other groups.
But of course you're probably referring to African Americans who speak AAVE. I know AAVE has, at least up to this point, not been demonstrably affected by the California Vowel Shift, for example, yet I've certainly known black Californians who had clear examples of the California Shift in their speech, as either they don't speak AAVE at all or when they code-switch out of AAVE they acquire the characteristics of Californian speech as seen in other groups.
"Pretty much. In fact you could say the same about any US regional accent (except the South, probably)."
I'm not sure I quite agree with that, since I notice that many Black New Yorkers show features of New York English as well as AAVE. I'd say that Denzel Washington, for instance, is recognizably from the New York area.
However, this is a lot different from Detroit, where there's almost no overlap at all.
I'm not sure I quite agree with that, since I notice that many Black New Yorkers show features of New York English as well as AAVE. I'd say that Denzel Washington, for instance, is recognizably from the New York area.
However, this is a lot different from Detroit, where there's almost no overlap at all.
If an African American grows up in a very white neighborhood without other African Americans around, he or she might pick up the NCVS. I've heard it before among "rich Blacks." On the other hand, a white person who has grown up in a Black neighborhood will most likely speak in some kind of version of AAVE, although I haven't heard a white person speak this way before in person. It all has to do with what neighborhood one grows up in, not some factor that has to do with the race of the person.
I used to have traces of AAVE in my accent even though I'm white because I lived in a primarily black neighborhood as a small child. I would say "milk" as "meelk," for example. And I've heard some black New Yorkers speak with a strong NYC influence.
In a similar vein, I met a guy who grew up in Los Angeles the other day who speak with a slightly Spanish-influence accent, even though both his parents were Jewish. I also know a guy who grew up in the Bronx, who speaks with a very strong AAVE influenced dialect, even though he's 100% Irish. So it's really not a race issue as much anymore.
On this site I found recordings of people from Michigan. One of the guys is black, and he doesn't seem to have any hint of the Northern Cities Vowel Shift in his speech.
http://www.ku.edu/~idea/northamerica/usa/michigan/michigan.htm
I listened to the last two, the white guy born in 1978 and the black guy born in 1984 (my year!). The white guy obviously has a pretty progressive NCVS in his natural speech.
http://www.ku.edu/~idea/northamerica/usa/michigan/michigan.htm
I listened to the last two, the white guy born in 1978 and the black guy born in 1984 (my year!). The white guy obviously has a pretty progressive NCVS in his natural speech.
I don't think it is so much NCVS as it is a Yooper accent. I don't think the NCVS has even effected that part of Michigan.
Oprah is from Chicago but she does not have NCVS.
She has a mixture of General American and Californian (I guess she lived in Hollywood for a while)
She has a mixture of General American and Californian (I guess she lived in Hollywood for a while)
Josh Lalonde said:
<<You do realize that this thread has been dead for two years, right?>>
And I was wondering what the heck was wrong with the dates!
<<You do realize that this thread has been dead for two years, right?>>
And I was wondering what the heck was wrong with the dates!