maruksa's definitions
Corny white people who gentrify and misuse AAVE/EBONICS SLANG THEN CHANGE IT AND CALL IT GEN ALPHA/GEN Z SLANG WHEN IT'S BEEN A THING FOR DECADES
Development of AAVE and historical connection to african dialects and slave resistance
Ebonics (translate literally to "Black language") came first and had a very particular connotation. Basically, it was viewed as "improper" English. It was associated with pidgin (hodge-podge) or nonsense languages (like Jive or made fun of in pop culture such as the character Anton from Living Color. The implication was often paired with media/cultural depictions of Black folks as uneducated, trying to get above their station, being ghetto/low class, etc. Basically, it was a stereotype that the way Black people talked was due to being stupid AND part of what made they inherently different or un-American. It was a form of distancing them from "correct" American (educated white) behavior even if they were born in the US. It was viewed as a separate language NOT a dialect (this definition is political, not linguistic).
By contrast, the phrase AAVE was officially recognized in 1996 by the Oakland School Board to affirm the fact that African Americans are American citizens with their own dialect of English. It was used to distinguish and validate the grammatical nuances while also moving away from the harmful stereotyping with Ebonics. AAVE does have its own set of grammatical rules, such as the use of habitual "be" (AAVE grammar). (source reddit)
Development of AAVE and historical connection to african dialects and slave resistance
Ebonics (translate literally to "Black language") came first and had a very particular connotation. Basically, it was viewed as "improper" English. It was associated with pidgin (hodge-podge) or nonsense languages (like Jive or made fun of in pop culture such as the character Anton from Living Color. The implication was often paired with media/cultural depictions of Black folks as uneducated, trying to get above their station, being ghetto/low class, etc. Basically, it was a stereotype that the way Black people talked was due to being stupid AND part of what made they inherently different or un-American. It was a form of distancing them from "correct" American (educated white) behavior even if they were born in the US. It was viewed as a separate language NOT a dialect (this definition is political, not linguistic).
By contrast, the phrase AAVE was officially recognized in 1996 by the Oakland School Board to affirm the fact that African Americans are American citizens with their own dialect of English. It was used to distinguish and validate the grammatical nuances while also moving away from the harmful stereotyping with Ebonics. AAVE does have its own set of grammatical rules, such as the use of habitual "be" (AAVE grammar). (source reddit)
thosepeople: "ts shit pmo" "i was so down bad hungover yesterday" "things we do that pmo each other (couples challenge)" "y'all are so ate" "the way you do that is pmo" "he fine as a chile" "it's giving chic vibez" it's giving pick me vibez" "me asf as fuck" "i finna gonna be in the pit" "FN" "YN" "GYATT" "YAM" "SYBAU" "HOOTIN' & 'HOLLERIN" "you gon finna catch me" "you ain't even gang" "it's giving ate tat sis!" "spin the block" "this beat on slap" " can i someday, finna find my time" "unc" twin" "im finna gonna go" and the worst of them all, "woke| it means most words/terms/slangs that white people/ #thosepeople USE on a daily basies but back then before tiktok and ig called most of these words/slangs, "ghetto talk" "gang slang" gang talk"
by maruksa November 11, 2025
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