African American Vernacular English (Ebonics)  Tags: ebonics ugl_subject_guide ugl  

Alternately called AAVE, Black English, Black Vernacular, or Ebonics, this dialect of the American English language is among the most widely used and recognized. AAVE has served as an instrument of unification and a defining component of black culture. However, use of AAVE in various social, professional, and education settings remains contentious. The proposed use of Ebonics in Oakland, California classrooms during the late 1990's prompted questions concerning the formal recognition of AAVE and the classroom use of dialect to "teach the standard".