Skip to main content

FunTimes Magazine

The Language of Black Communities: Dialects, Slang, and Vernacular - Keeping Traditions Alive in the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities

Mar 09, 2024 12:00PM ● By Okechukwu Nzeribe

Photo by Siviwe Kapteyn on Unsplash


For as long as mankind has existed, language has always been not only just a form of communication but also a strong means whereby identity and culture are expressed. Whether in the remotest villages or the big cities, every ethnic nationality finds kinship in the dialects, slang, and vernacular associated with their mother tongue.

Among Black communities, the uniqueness of language is deeply interwoven into the fabric of their society. Dialects, slang, and vernacular are ways they express both spoken and unspoken contexts and experiences. 

Arguably, the language of the Black communities especially in the diaspora can be said to have originated from Africa as a result of the transatlantic slave trade. Over time, as many of these communities have acclimated over generations, these linguistic traditions have evolved for the diaspora communities but remained the same for the African communities where they originated.

Dialects, slang, and vernacular such as Patois, Pidgin, African American Vernacular English (AAVE), and Afrikaans among so many others have become interwoven with the various societies that it has found expression in their literature, music, film, television, and also on the digital space.

Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and other social platforms have become tools that several Black communities have leveraged to express their linguistic traditions, engage in shared experiences, and propagate the cultures that are unique to their communities.

Spaces, memes, hashtags, podcasts, online forums, and challenges have been used regularly to educate, inform, and deepen the spread of the dialects, slang, and vernacular of many Black communities to a global audience. 


Read also:

pCredit Christina Villanueva  a href

International Mother Tongue Day: African American English

Today we celebrate International Mother Tongue Day. This international holiday was established to celebrate and foster multilingualism for inclusion in education and society. Read More » 

 


Online communities and groups not bound by location now exist to propagate these linguistic traditions, provide authentic representation, challenge and correct misinformation, and provide opportunities for a wholesome experience through cultural exchange.

While these digital platforms offer considerable leverage, they also present a challenge in the way information can be structured whittling down the import behind the context and experiences being expressed in Black languages.

Having to operate within the rules guiding this social media community can be restrictive which might not provide for more engagement and in some cases misrepresentation of the dialects, slang, and vernacular of the Black community.

Another challenge faced is the disconnect experienced by those who are uninitiated in the linguistic traditions of the language of the Black community. As a result of the many prejudices faced by Black communities, and the misinformation that is commonly portrayed by mainstream media, a lot of stereotypes and stigmatization exist in the digital space that casts these Black languages as undeveloped and mundane.

Ensuring the survival of Black languages in this digital age requires continued investment in media especially in the digital space where it is easier to present the narratives in ways that are not restricted by the rules of the conventional mainstream media.

Another way of keeping the tradition alive in this digital age is to continue to increase the social media presence through programs and curricula that adequately provide proper context and information to a global audience.

 The richness and uniqueness of the language of the Black community will always remain an instrument of identification and affirmation and the digital space offers a veritable platform through which these linguistic traditions would not only be told but would be accessible to future generations.


Read also:

Empowering Deaf Rappers Redefining Music Expression for the Black Community through Sign Language Rhymes

Empowering Deaf Rappers: Redefining Music Expression for the Black Community through Sign Language Rhymes

In April 2023, DJ Supalee hosted Supafest Reunion 2023 to celebrate entertainers and promoters within the U.S. Deaf community. Read More » 

 

The strong Black woman myth A good or bad thing

The strong Black woman myth: A good or bad thing?

This stereotype suggests Black women are capable of shouldering any burden without showing vulnerability. They are celebrated and admired for this. But is it a blessing or a curse? Read More » 

 

Gumball Machine Poetry and a Philly Soul LindoYess Sweet Treats for the Mind

Gumball Machine Poetry and a Philly Soul: LindoYes's Sweet Treats for the Mind

In the artistic streets of Philadelphia, a different kind of treat is being dished out: tiny bursts of poetry and unexpected solace, courtesy of artist-activist LindoYes and his "Gumball ... Read More » 

 





 Okechukwu Nzeribe works with the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, in Anambra State, Nigeria, and loves unveiling the richness of African cultures. [email protected]







Read more from Okechukwu Nzeribe:

HBCU Spotlight Showcasing the Unique Contributions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

HBCU Spotlight: Showcasing the Unique Contributions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

From the moment they came into existence, HBCUs have contributed to shaping the trajectory of many African American lives and offering them educational empowerment which has seen them ach... Read More » 

 

  The Growing Influence of AfroBeat in Philadelphia

The Growing Influence of AfroBeat in Philadelphia

With a 40.83% Black population, the popularity of Afrobeat has continued to soar especially as a good number of Nigerians and Ghanaians make up this demographic. Read More » 

 

Rediscovering Our Roots The Significance of African Movie Industries in Preserving and Displaying African History

Rediscovering Our Roots: The Significance of African Movie Industries in Preserving and Displaying African History

Filmmakers have become custodians of history and must work tirelessly to provide accurate descriptions of the African experience. Read More »