African American Language

and
Patois
By Chelsea Jimenez
What is African American Language?
• African American Language is the primary language spoken by African
Americans.
• African American Language is NOT a dialect or slang; but instead is a
rule-governed language that is legitimate (real).
• Let’s talk more about how AAL made its way here!
What is African American Language? (cont.)
• African American Language developed through the meshing of
more than one language.
• This type of language, AAL, was passed down generations and
generations, until it finally made its way to you!
Where is Africa?
Africa
• Africa is a continent, like
North America.
• Within Africa, there are
many beautiful countries
with people who speak
many different languages.
• There are thousands of
different languages
spoken throughout Africa.
African People: Just Like You and Me
• People from Africa look just like you and me.
• Some people are have dark colored skin and some people have
lighter colored skin.
• Some people have kinky hair and some people have loose curls.
The First African People in America

• Many Africans were forcibly taken from

their homes in West Africa by
Europeans and brought to America.
• These African people were intelligent
and so powerful. They were scientists,
poets, farmers, musicians,
mathematicians, and more .
The First African People in America
• The African languages that were brought
here helped create African-American
Language, a mix of West African
Languages with the colonizers’ language,
English.
• Through all the trials and tribulations, this
language has been carried down through
many people over thousands of years.
Your language is STRAIGHT from
Africa, how cool!
African Languages
Look at all the beautiful
languages of Africa! The
continent of Africa has many
countries in it, and each
country speaks multiple
languages. Many African
people are multilingual, how
cool!

Some West African

languages are:
Krio
Mende
Igbo
Susu
 Africa’s Influence on Language Far & Wide
• In addition to African
American Language,
African people also
influenced the creation
of one of Jamaica’s
most spoken language,
Patois. It is
pronounced Pa-twah.
• Jamaica is an island
that is located between
North and South
America.
Patois: The Language of the Jamaican People
• Many people call it “Broken
English,” but it is not a broken
language. Just like AAL, it has
structure and rules.
• The fastest person in the world
is Usain Bolt, a Jamaican man
and speaker of Patois.
 Let’s learn about some
African
American
Language!
(If you use this language at home too, maybe I can learn a little something from you!)
 He be happy.

This means:
He is always happy.
In African American Language.

Let’s try saying it.

 Now let’s learn about some
Patois!
(If you use this language at home too, maybe I can learn a little something from you!)
Him ah always happy.

This means:
He is always happy.
In Patois.

Let’s try saying it.

 Look at the three languages.
What do you notice?
What is the same?
What is different?

He be happy. (African American Language)

Him ah always happy. (Patois)
He is always happy. (Standardized English)

Wow, AAL, Patois, and English are a lot a like!

Let’s try one more example!
 You a handsome boy.

This means:
You are a handsome boy.
In African American Language.

Let’s try saying it.

Yuh ah handsome boy.

This means:
You are a handsome boy.
In Patois.

Let’s try saying it.

 Look at the three languages.
What do you notice?
What is the same?
What is different?
You a handsome boy. (African American Language)
Yuh ah handsome boy. (Patois)
You are a handsome boy. (Standardized English)

Wow, AAL, Patois, and English are a lot a like!

 Wow! You have just translated across
THREE different languages! You are so
talented! How can we use 3 languages
as readers and writers?
How Can We Use Multilingualism in the Classroom and the Real
World?
• We can. . .
• speak multiple languages and help others by translating.
• read multilingual texts to. . .
• learn about a culture/language different than our own
• write in multiple languages. . .
• to pen pal buddies that speaks a language different from our own
 I hope you enjoyed this lesson about your
beautiful culture today, remember always. . .
You are important and shine in every way!