Word from the Mother: Language and African Americans

233 Pages·2021·10.624 MB·

by  Geneva Smitherman

Word from the Mother
This classic text by Geneva Smitherman, pioneering scholar of Black
Talk, is a definitive statement on African American Language (AAL).
Enriched by her inimitable writing style, the book outlines past debates
on the speech of African Americans and provides a vision for the future.
As global manifestations of AAL increase, she argues that we must
broaden our conception of the language and its speakers, and further
examine the implications of gender, age and class on AAL. Perhaps
most of all we must appreciate the “artistic and linguistic genius” of
AAL, from Hip Hop lyrics to the rhyme and rhetoric of the broader
Black speech community.
Smitherman explores AAL’s contribution to American English,
includes a summary of expressions as a suggested linguistic core of
AAL, and features cartoons that educate readers on the broader rela-
tionship between language, race, and racism. This classic edition features
a new foreword by H. Samy Alim, celebrating Smitherman’s continuing
impact on Black Language scholarship and her influence on the future
of the field.
Word from the Mother is an essential read for students of African
American speech, language, culture and sociolinguistics, as well as the
general reader interested in the worldwide “crossover” of Black popular
culture.
Geneva Smitherman (aka Dr. G) is University Distinguished Professor
Emerita in English and Core Faculty, African Studies Center at Michi-
gan State University in the U.S. A linguist and educational activist,
she has been at the forefront of the struggle for language rights since
the 1970s. She is the author of several books, among them, Talkin and
Testifyin (1977), Black Talk (2000), and Talkin That Talk (2000).
Routledge Linguistics Classics
Routledge Linguistics Classics brings together key seminal books from
the rich heritage of Routledge linguistics publishing. Each book is reis-
sued with the original text, and also includes an additional new chapter,
foreword or afterword to situate these titles in current scholarship. These
titles have been deemed classics by leading academics and are essential
reading for students and all who need to keep up to date with the field
of linguistics.
Power and Politeness in the Workplace
A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Talk at Work
Janet Holmes and Maria Stubbe
Language and Creativity
The Art of Common Talk
Ronald Carter
Women, Men and Language
A Sociolinguistic Account of Gender Differences in Language
Jennifer Coates
The Cultural Politics of English as an International Language
Alastair Pennycook
Crossing
Language and Ethnicity Among Adolescents
Ben Rampton
Input, Interaction, and the Second Language Learner
Susan M. Gass
Language – The Loaded Weapon
The Use and Abuse of Language Today
Dwight Bolinger
African-American English
Structure, History, and Use
Edited by Salikoko S. Mufwene, John R. Rickford, Guy Bailey,
and John Baugh
Word from the Mother
Language and African Americans
Geneva Smitherman
For more information on this series, please visit https://www.routledge.
com/Routledge-Linguistics-Classics/book-series/RLC
Word from the Mother
Language and African Americans
Classic Edition
Geneva Smitherman
With a Foreword by H. Samy Alim
Reissued in the Routledge Linguistics Classics series 2022
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 Geneva Smitherman
The right of Geneva Smitherman to be identified as author of this work has
been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
First published by Routledge 2006
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Smitherman, Geneva, 1940-author. | Alim, H. Samy, author of
foreword.
Title: Word from the mother: language and African Americans/
Geneva Smitherman; with a foreword by H. Samy Alim.
Description: New York: Routledge, 2021. | Series: Routledge linguistics
classics | Includes bibliographical references, discography, and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021023613 | ISBN 9781032079974 (hardback) |
ISBN 9781032079998 (paperback) | ISBN 9781003212423 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: African Americans—Languages. | English language—
Variation—United States. | Black English—United States. | Americanisms.
Classification: LCC PE3102.N44 S58 2021 | DDC 427.97308996073—dc23 LC
record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021023613
ISBN: 978-1-032-07997-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-07999-8 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-21242-3 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003212423
Typeset in Times New Roman
by KnowledgeWorks Global Ltd.
For
Amber and Anthony and all my peeps
in the young generation

Contents
Acknowledgements viii
Foreword to the Routledge Linguistics Classics Edition:
She Do It for the Culture: The Deep Structure of
Geneva Smitherman’s Radical Linguistics of Black Love xii
H. Samy Alim
1. African American Language: So good it’s bad 1
2. Words and Expressions, Proverbs and Familiar Sayings 23
3. The N-words 59
4. Honeyz and Playaz Talkin that Talk 77
5. “I used to love H.E.R.”: Hip Hop, in its Essence and Real 99
6. “All Around the World, Same Song” 129
7. “Negro Dialect, the Last Barrier to Integration”? 145
Notes 175
References 181
Discography 191
Index 192
Acknowledgements
I wish first to acknowledge my editor, Louisa Semlyen, who stayed on
the case, reminding me that this is a book I needed to write. Big ups
to her editorial assistant, Elizabeth Johnston, who stepped to the plate,
large and in charge, during Louisa’s absence. Thanks also to Routledge
Editor Kate Ahl for advice—and inspiration when I needed it.
Special shout outs to Austin Jackson and H. Samy Alim, scholar-
warriors and Hip Hop headz, who helped in innumerable ways that kept
me righteous. And to David Kirkland, for technological expertise, as
well as patience with this Old School head making her way in 21st cen-
tury cyberspace.
Thanks to Camille Redmond for coming to my rescue with research
assistance during the long summer of 2004. To historian Pero Dagbovie,
for continuing advice and expertise in matters of African American His-
tory. And to Lynn Mande, for help with permissions (couldn’t have done
it without you, girl).
Finally, I must acknowledge my many MSU students over the years,
who ask the hard questions and present the real world data that force me
to come straight up and correct.
Acknowledgement is due to copyright holders for their kind permis-
sion to include the following material in this book:
Illustrations:
Fig no 1.1 “Herb & Jamal” cartoon by Stephen Bentley © Creators Syn-
dicate, reproduced by permission.
Fig no 2.1 “The Boondocks” cartoon © Universal Press Syndicate,
reproduced with permission.
Figure 3.1 “The Boondocks” cartoon © Universal Press Syndicate,
reproduced with permission.
Figure 4.1 “The Boondocks” cartoon © Universal Press Syndicate,
reproduced with permission.
Figure 5.1 “Candorville Zoo” © 2004 Darrin Bell/Dist. By WPWG,
Inc. www.candorville.com, reproduced with permission.
Figure 6.1 “The Boondocks” cartoon © Universal Press Syndicate,
reproduced with permission.
Figure 6.2 “Juan Emilio Rodriguez and his brother” by Meredith
Davenport, reproduced with permission from Aurora Photos.
Figure 7.1 “Candorville” cartoon © 2004 Darrin Bell/Dist. By
WPWG, Inc. www.candorville.com, reproduced with permission.
Song lyrics:
“Fight the Power”
Words and Music by Carlton Ridenhour, Hank Shocklee, Keith
Shocklee and Eric Sadler.
Acknowledgements ix
Reproduced with permission from Universal Music Publishing Lim-
ited (62.5 percent)
© 1989 Terrordome Music Publishing, LLC. (BMI), administered by
Reach Global Songs and Songs of Universal, Inc. Used by permission
(37.5 percent). All rights reserved.
“By the Time I get to Arizona” by Public Enemy
Words and Music by Neftali Santiago, Carlton Ridenhour, Hank
Shocklee and Gary Rinaldo.
Reproduced with permission from Universal Music Publishing Lim-
ited (18.75 percent)
© 1991 Terrordome Music Publishing (BMI) and Suburban Funk,
Inc. (BMI), both administered by Reach Global Songs and Songs of
Universal, Inc.
Used by permission (81.25 percent). All rights reserved.
“I Used to Love H.E.R”
Words and Music by Lonnie Lynn and Ernest Wilson
Reproduced with permission from Universal Music Publishing
(50 percent) Copyright © 1994 Songs of Universal Inc., Senseless Music,
Chrysalis Songs and No I.D. Music Publishing (50 percent)
All rights for Senseless music controlled and administered by Songs
of Universal, Inc. All rights for No I.D. Music Publishing controlled
and administered by Chrysalis Songs. All rights reserved.
“21 Questions”
Words and Music by Luis Resto, Curtis Jackson, Jimmie Cameron
and Vella Reproduced with permission from Universal Music Publish-
ing (40 percent).
“Biscuits”
By Clifford Smith and Robert F. Diggs, Jr.
© 1994 Ramecca Publishing (BMI)/Wu-Tang Publishing (BMI)/
Careers-BMG Music Publishing Inc. (BMI), reproduced with permission.
“Niggers Are Scared of Revolution”
Written by Omar Ben Hassen
Published by Douglas Music (BMI), Copyright © 1970. All Rights
Reserved. Used by permission.
“They Schools” by Dead Prez
Reproduced with permission from Notting Hill Music and The Roy-
alty Network Inc.
“Song Cry”
Written by Shawn Carter, Ralph Johnson and Douglas Gibbs.
Published by SC’s info/Extraslick Music (ASCAP)/Chitty Chitty
Music (ASCAP) “Song Cry” includes a sample of “Sounds Like A
Love Song” written by Ralph Johnson and Douglas Gibbs, published
by Extraslick Music (ASCAP)/Chitty Chitty Music (ASCAP). Both
Extraslick Music and Chitty Chitty Music are administered by Heavy