Term
| Deletion of verbal copula |
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Definition
This means that in some contexts, the word "is/are"
can be left out. If you think this is "lazy grammar," speakers of Russian, Arabic, and
Mandarin would like to have a word with you. example. "he workin'." |
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Term
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Definition
(known as habitual be, or invariant be). Aspect refers
to whether an action is completed or on-going. Habitual aspect means that a person
regularly/often/usually does a thing, but does not give any indication of whether
they are currently in the process of doing that thing. example: "he be workin'"
(meaning: he is usually working.) |
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Term
| A remote present perfect marker |
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Definition
(stressed been). This communicates that not
only is something the case, and not only is it completed (ie. perfective aspect), but
it has been for a long time. example: "he been got a job." meaning: he got a job a long
time ago. |
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Term
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Definition
This means that negation has to all "match." If you've ever
studied French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, or any of a whole slew of other
languages, you've seen this. It is often stigmatized in English ("don't use double
negatives!"), but is totally normal in many, many languages and in many varieties of
English. example: He ain't never without a job! Can't nobody say he don't work. |
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Term
| It for the dummy expletive there. |
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Definition
What's a dummy expletive? It's that word
that's necessary to say things when there isn't really an agent doing the thing in
question -- like in "it's raining." Some languages can just say "raining," and be done
with it. English is not one of them. In contexts where speakers of other dialects
might say there, some AAVE speakers say it. example: "it's a man at the door here to
see you." More famous example "Oh, Lord Jesus, It's a fire." |
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Term
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Definition
This refers to grammatical constructions that in other dialects do
not use had, but use the simple past. It's usually used in narrative. example: "he had
went to work and then he had called his client." meaning: he went to work and then he
called his client. |
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