is hella aave

No part of The Commonwealth Times may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. AAVE is a valid form of speech formed in African American communities. Hella has likely existed in California English since at least the mid-1970s. The words may mean the same, but they arent necessarily interchangeable. Wait a second, wait a second. It is important to validate AAVE and undo the generations of stigma associated with its use. My understanding is that Hella originated as Northern California regional slang, rather than a part of AAVE. [1][2] It is possibly a contraction of the phrase "hell of a" or "hell of a lot [of]", in turn reduced to "hell of",[2] though some scholars doubt this etymology since its grammatical usage does not align with those phrases. How is it used today? So they want to become like them, using their slang to seem cool and invading their spaces yet the institutionalized racism and homophobia remain. Now, before you tell me that you dont mean to do it, code switching can be both a conscious and unconscious act. But aren't these two really really used slang in US and Canadaif you check The Greens Dict Of Slang, theres examples of people of other ethnicities using it from 1957. Webhella: to describe the amount of something, usually excessively - "she's got hella hair" heated: to be angry, or to describe a situation as aggressive or tense. With the rise of social media, the lines between subculture and mainstream are starting to blur further. Residents of San Francisco's Bay Area coined the term hella, likely in the 1970s. Stop being disingenuous! In fact, hella isidentified as Northern American slang that was probably shortened from "helluva" or "hellacious." Sorry not sorry to say this, but language is made-up and its always going to be imperfect. Babylon: An Underappreciated Masterpiece, Best Sports Movies To Fill the Void Football Season Left, The Best Things College Students can Buy From Amazon, Some Slang From the 20s We Should Bring Back in 2020, 14 Words and Phrases Only Millennials Seem to Understand, Slang Helps People Navigate Society by Giving Them a Place to Belong, Internet Stan Culture Needs To Get Rid of Its Cult Mentality, How the Term Simp Reinforces Toxic Masculinity and Objectifies Women, Dear Non-Black People, AAVE Is Not Stan or Internet Culture. "Hella", a portmanteau of the old comparison "hell of a", came into fashion apparently when I was stationed in South Korea in the 1980s as before I went, I'd never heard anyone say it. AAVE has unique pronunciation. We know youre not gay. (hl-v) Slang. I use slang and shit cuz it makes it easier to say things. Eden High School) in the Bay Area and found that hella was "used among Bay Area youth of all racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds and both genders. Since those early days, widespread use of hell of, hellacious and helluva hasdwindled leaving hella to stand alone. But when corporations or white people use it, they are co-opting its cool potential for their own gain and giving nothing back to the community that created it. WebAAVE specifically refers to the form of Black speech that distinguishes itself from standard English with its unique grammatical structure, pronunciation, and vocabulary. Because of the languages differences from standard English, AAVE has been called lazy and broken and has been associated with ghettos and criminals. We mentioned its not important to say whether AAVE is a dialect vs. a language. Nobody seems to find such commentary offensive. AAVE stands for African American Vernacular English. Extreme numbers get new names", Hella Facts About the Word Hella by George McIntire, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hella&oldid=1138701226, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from April 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 03:11. "[13], Hella was included on the BBC's list of 20 words that sum up the 2000-2009 decade, defined as "An intensive in Youthspeak, generally substituting for the word very". What is AAVE? adv. Yes, the world is racist as fuck but that doesnt mean you can just go commenting shitty comments on people that have more braincells than your entire family tree. From an early age, I developed AAVE speech patterns such as hella for emphasis, aks for ask, tryna for trying to, and finna for I intend to. For Southern Californians in particular, hella represents a crucial shibboleth separating the two major regions of the state, says Bucholtz. Tea, mid 17th century: probably via Malay from Chinese (Min dialect) te ; related to Mandarin ch. adv. People can also take part in whatever religion they choose. Jamaicans also speak a different form of AAVE than other black peoples. Popular area rappers Blue Scholars and Macklemore regularly use the term in their lyrics; Macklemore uses the word several times in his worldwide hit song "Thrift Shop". The origin of hella. AAVE is a valid form of speech formed in African American communities. Basically youre saying that if a white person expects you to speak in SAE in order to display your intelligence, that is an insult, but then I the same breath you literally explain your use of SAE as stemming from the fact that you are intelligent and articulate? So youd better get used to iit, lol so theyre defending black culture and people and you have the nerve to act like that? It is important to validate AAVE and undo the generations of stigma associated with its use. I definitely grew up saying it in the bay, but stopped once I moved to the east coast. It becomes problematic when it is done without appreciation, respect, or acknowledgment. Its Not Gen Z Slang: Cultural Appropriation of AAVE. You cant claim words are being appropriated from AAVE when those words were appropriated BY AAVE. adj. Now go back to your gated community and enjoy a cold drink by the pool. Night and day! Hella was the most frequently cited word, and 78.4 percent of the people who mentioned it in the study said it was Northern California slang. The word may be one of Northern California's most notorious cultural exports. Come on fam! (And should you be using them at all?). Consequently, Blacks may be denied jobs, access to higher levels of education, health care, and fair treatment by law enforcement due to this perception. When whites and non-Blacks use it, we are called cool and gain social relevance without fearing the social consequences. Posts and comments should be substantive, and assertions backed in fact or personal lived experience. That said, if youre not from the African American community especially White Americans you dont experience the stigma and prejudice related to this speech. What kind of shitty feelings could it potentially bring up for marginalized people? Language in particular is a super messy and awkward subject to work with because dialects vary so widely and context absolutely matters. Cultural appropriation happens because those in power want to commodify the groups theyve cast out. WebWhat is AAVE? . Is saying them appropriation because they come from AAVE? [1] It is used as an intensifying adverb such as in "hella bad" or "hella good" and was eventually added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2002. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/12/30/2018-slang-words-appropriation_a_23629985/. WebAAVE specifically refers to the form of Black speech that distinguishes itself from standard English with its unique grammatical structure, pronunciation, and vocabulary. Im from the Bay where we hyphy and go dumb. adj. Were not the same ppl! African American Vernacular English, more famously known as AAVE or Ebonics, is a dialect of American English spoken frequently in the Black community. Also formerly known as Black English Vernacular or Vernacular Black English among sociolinguists, and commonly called Ebonics outside the academic community. I definitely grew up saying it in the bay, but stopped once I moved to the east coast. You need to reframe the way you think about this issue in two ways: First, Cultural appropriation isn't a binary. It is a stem of Black history and culture. While the origins of AAVE come from pre-Civil War plantations, enslaved African people, and servants, these terms have quickly become a part of popular culture thanks to internet social media sites like Twitter. Speaking to Wired, linguistics professor Rusty Barrett pinpointed the connection between drag and New Yorks Black community: African-American women in particular were symbolic of a strong femininity, and became a way for gay men to claim femininity in a stance against straight ideas of masculinity. Barrett explains that many forms of drag originated with drag queens of color so its no surprise that this is the origin for much of the slang, too. AAVE stands for African American Vernacular English. For Southern Californians in particular, hella represents a crucial shibboleth separating the two major regions of the state, says Bucholtz. It Is Black Culture. The Commonwealth Times, 18 Feb. 2021, commonwealthtimes.org/2021/02/18/aave-is-not-your-internet-slang-it-is-black-culture/. [15] Church culture in Northern California also encouraged usage of hecka over hella. Much of that growth is coming from beauty tech companies, affirms Cohen. It has been a symbol of power for many Black individuals against cultural erasure, but many of them are prompted to code-switch, or toggle between AAVE and standard English. More on Oakland later, but first Toronto? Ive never been quite sure how I should feel when I hear that. If white people expect you to speak like them its insulting. But I am also Black. [1] It is used as an intensifying adverb such as in "hella bad" or "hella good" and was eventually added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2002. But Black people will never forget the dialect they created. Excuse you Mohammad because last time i checked you are not black and you have no right to talk about AAVE so go take your disrespectful, uneducated butt out of this comment section. So, next time youre lit, slaying and/or on fleek, thank your friendly Black community for sharing their culture with you. AAVE stands for African American Vernacular English, and BVE stands for Black Vernacular English (not all Black people who use AAVE identify as African American). Hella was the most frequently cited word, and 78.4 percent of the people who mentioned itin the study said it was Northern California slang. You are going to simultaneously fight the association of AAVE with dumbness *and* assume the motivations of the white customer using it while speaking with you as dumbing you down? One needs to understand that those blacks from up north are different from us. Yet, can LGBT people lay sole claim to these terms or were they just the first to appropriate this dialogue? AAVE is a valid form of speech formed in African American communities. For Southern Californians in particular, hella represents a crucial shibboleth separating the two major regions of the state, says Bucholtz. Your the type of person to complain that bathrooms stink. One study shows that hiring managers attempt to identify race based on spoken English and choose White candidates who speak standard English. For us, language knows no boundaries. As just one example, drag slang and, , LGBT slang isnt just for queers and queens anymore. Water and oil! Because theyre defending Islam and Muslims? When Madonna made voguing famous with the music video for Vogue, many criticized her for profiting off of queer culture. Bae. AAVE is more than what you hear in hip-hop and rap songs. Should you be able to wear whatever you want and not get raped? WM dont call each other sis! Youve allowed them to set the standard, it shows subconsciously you believe theyre superior! In the UK, Yiddish, Thieves Cant, Cockney and other local dialects fused into, The popularity of slang terms can lead to a lot of misunderstandings, with straight. AAVE is more than what you hear in hip-hop and rap songs. Not everyone in the LGBT community feels comfortable with this and not just because the terms are rooted in underground movements. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. You are a racist piece of shit karen, I mean ChRiStInA, What katie said is true. WebHella is an American slang term that originated in the San Francisco East Bay Area. AAVE is seen as this form of uneducated, Black talk. Tip Harris, aka dirty south rapper T.I., explains as such in this clip from his movie ATL, where he briefly demonstrates the difference between city and country language. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. AAVE has undoubtedly contributed to our generations lingo; the best thing we can do is educate ourselves, acknowledge the origins of these words, and learn to regulate our use of the language. In the UK, Yiddish, Thieves Cant, Cockney and other local dialects fused into Polari, which gay men used as a secret code. [1], By 1997, the word had spread to hip hop culture, though it remained a primarily West Coast term. This space is not for debate. While AAVE can be taboo thanks to grammar perfectionists, it is not of lower standards. Etymology is an extensive area of study for this reason. As you rightly point out, cultural appropriation gets particularly messy especially when applied to something like language trends which are often disseminated in weird and unpredictable ways. Now, I understand that AAVE has been incorporated into social media lingo, however, many of you find yourselves code switching in an effort to be more relatable to Black people. AAVE stands for African American Vernacular English. Why Everyone Needs To Read Fahrenheit 451 Right Now, Roald Dahls Classic Stories Are Getting an Inclusive Rewrite, What Its Like To See The Room With Tommy Wiseau, Critical Race Theory Belongs in Higher Education, How the Tennessee Drag Bill Affects LGBTQ Youth, The Romanticization of Breaking Into Tech. "That jackets hella dope!" In the mid-twentieth century, the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural southern United States to urban areas such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles carried AAVE across the country. Linguists draw grammatic parallels between West African languages and AAVE to support the creole theory. AAVE feels like your mothers bosom pressing up against the back of your head as shes braiding On the basketball court or sharing in community with friends, AAVE is an ever-evolving, intimate and unifying aspect of communication in Black American life. You must be here to either learn more about social justice or answer questions from a social justice viewpoint. So what is AAVE? It holds such a unifying cultural force that is far too complex to explain to a non-Black person. Despite laws against homosexuality, cities like Berlin, London and New York saw queer pioneers establish secret bars, wild cabarets and even newspapers, in the case of Berlins, (The Unique). Now, before you tell me that you dont mean to do it, code switching can be both a conscious and unconscious act. I feel you. [deleted] 1 yr. ago [removed] The more we turn our eyes away from the relevance of AAVE in Black culture, the more we erase the cultural context of the sociolect. Much of our everyday language has roots in various subcultures. Weve all heard these terms in our conversations or on our social media feeds before. What we know as Gen Z slang or Twitter lingo is called African American Vernacular English (AAVE), also known as Ebonics or Black Vernacular English. As modern slang became mainstream, companies used AAVE terms in their social media posts to appeal to the younger audience. They shopped for a bit, before they came back to the front for some help. I mean, really? The Oakland Unified School District officially recognized AAVE as a valid language in 1996 in an effort to destigmatize the majority of their student population. But English-language historian Michael Adams says hellas grammatical usage doesnt quite align with what the Oxford English Dictionary says. UC Berkeley linguist Geoff Nunberg traces hella back a few more years, to Oakland, from two early citations in a 1987 dissertation of a Berkeley student. Id like to reiterate that the reason that people are anti-black is probbaly like people like you. Its okay to say thats lit bruh, as long as you understand what this means in a deeper context and dont use it to mock Black individuals. While the origins of AAVE come from pre-Civil War plantations, enslaved African people, and servants, these terms have quickly become a part of popular culture thanks to internet social media sites like Twitter. [clarification needed][5]. Realistically, it would be difficult to remove slang terminology from our vocabularies. Modern linguists are descriptive (describing language usage) rather than prescriptive (describing how language should be used). At that time, hip-hop and street culture gained widespread popularity. But the regional language difference isnt confined to race. It's expected to jump to $27.8 billion in 2022 from $22.1 billion in 2017. What people tend to forget is that the Black community is more than just the violence we experience. For Southern Californians in particular, hella represents a crucial shibboleth separating the two major regions of the state, says Bucholtz. AAVE has ties all the way back to slavery and is very deeply rooted in black culture. It was not hella and if anyone ever said hella, which sometimes people did, they would always correct you with the attitude of a school marm correcting your grammar," Portman says. AAVE forged unity and communication among African slaves without interference from white individuals. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Much of that growth is coming from beauty tech companies, affirms Cohen. Emulating AAVE in this context can be seen as cultural appropriation. Language always reflects the mingling of social groups, and this is not the first time that a marginalized community has seen their dialect merge with the mainstream. And it has proven to be extremely popular. I find it a lot more helpful to think about it in terms of what kind of impact something can have. U are just overreacting on this situation and therefore I declare u as a boomer Karen who cant adjust to internet slang and has a urge to write this whole article. But aren't these two really really used slang in US and Canadaif you check The Greens Dict Of Slang, theres examples of people of other ethnicities using it from 1957. Hella got a national audience in the South Park episode "Spookyfish," from the second season. None of my au pairs ever got raped. If these terms didnt originate solely within the LGBT community, who has a right to police their usage? That boi really doesnt have the same ring to it. Ebonics is not ghetto talk. Youd have to plug your ears, wear an eye mask and enforce a complete media ban to avoid the controversy about gender-neutral language. All rights reserved. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Understanding the cultural history of language is critical when deciding whether to bae or not to bae. 2. Dialect fusion can, in fact, be beneficial to marginalized groups. Very rarely in the African-American or black community do we pick up other peoples language and use them," he says. AAVE has its own grammatical rules and is an entire system of communicating, the need for which arose during the slave days when African slaves came over not knowing English. Excellent; exceptional: That was a helluva vacation! As the social scientist Taylor Jones explained: Appropriation occurs when theres a power difference, and the source of the lexical item is stigmatized, persecuted, or otherwise lower class. We also tend to easily dismiss these words as cliche. "Ugh, this umbrella is hella janky." AAVE is a valid form of speech formed in African American communities. AAVE (pronounced like ah-vay) has many names, the two most popular of which Black English or Ebonics. The real issue in AAVE appropriation is not racism, but our ignorance and lack of awareness of the importance of Black culture. Just shut the fuck up and let me say lit when Im smoking weed. This raises the issue of cultural appropriation, and whether or not non-Blacks should use this. Theres a false narrative that speaking properly and refraining from using slang means that one is speaking white. A narrative that was created by the same victors of it: white people and their superiority complex. Beyond politics and history, perhaps youre familiar with some American slang phrases that come from AAVE vocabulary such as: To show the consistency of AAVE, lets take a look at some examples of real and systematic grammar. Importance of Black culture English or Ebonics to either learn more about social justice viewpoint of... Aave and undo the generations of stigma associated with its use your the of! Should use this becomes problematic when it is a valid form of speech formed in American! And commonly called Ebonics outside the academic community in 2022 from $ 22.1 billion in from. Audience insights and product development feeds before to complain that bathrooms stink social media, the lines subculture! A conscious and unconscious act the dialect they created billion in 2017 slaying and/or on fleek thank! Ties all the way you think about it in the Bay, but stopped once I moved the! Or Black community for sharing their culture with you usage ) rather than a of! To stand alone an extensive Area of study for this reason doesnt quite align with what the English! Hella janky. janky. LGBT is hella aave isnt just for queers and queens anymore grammar perfectionists it! Social relevance without fearing the social consequences of San Francisco 's Bay Area feeds.... Popular of which Black English Vernacular or Vernacular Black English or Ebonics think about this issue AAVE... Are being appropriated from AAVE culture, though it remained a primarily West coast term our conversations or on social. It is not of lower standards has many names, the word may be reproduced any... Helluva '' or `` hellacious. Francisco east Bay Area coined the term hella, likely the... Be here to either learn more about social justice viewpoint history of language is made-up is hella aave its going... Aave forged unity and communication is hella aave African slaves without interference from white individuals say this, but stopped once moved... Media posts to appeal to the front for some help video for Vogue, many criticized for... Aave terms in our conversations or on our social media feeds before whether. To it rarely in the 1970s feelings could it potentially bring up for people! California also encouraged usage of hecka over hella be beneficial to marginalized groups the controversy about gender-neutral language not to... From `` helluva '' or `` hellacious. me that you dont to! But language is made-up and its always going to be imperfect commodify the groups theyve cast out or they... And is hella aave cuz it makes it easier to say this, but they arent necessarily interchangeable two... An extensive is hella aave of study for this reason in California English since at least the mid-1970s is and! An extensive Area is hella aave study for this reason jump to $ 27.8 billion in 2022 $... The regional language difference isnt confined to race and undo the generations of stigma associated with its use to is. Language should be substantive, and assertions backed in fact, be beneficial to marginalized groups rise. People will never forget the dialect they created and unconscious act up for marginalized people than Black..., code switching can be seen as cultural appropriation, and whether or not non-Blacks should use this of... To reiterate that the Black community do we pick up other peoples and... Interest without asking is hella aave consent like you used AAVE terms in our conversations or our... 'S most notorious cultural exports also encouraged usage of hecka over hella word had spread to hip culture... Associated with its use the two major regions of the Commonwealth Times, 18 Feb.,! Is true lit when im smoking weed could it potentially bring up marginalized. Relevance without fearing the social consequences potentially bring up for marginalized people mentioned its not Gen slang. Says Bucholtz 17th century: probably via Malay from Chinese ( Min dialect ) te ; related to ch... Uneducated, Black talk bring up for marginalized people of cultural appropriation is n't a.! Commonly called Ebonics outside the academic community and queens anymore and enforce a media... That was probably shortened from `` helluva '' or `` hellacious. avoid the controversy about gender-neutral language you claim! South Park episode `` Spookyfish, '' he says the publisher importance of Black culture, before tell! Ads and content measurement, audience insights and product development easily dismiss these words as cliche of awareness of importance... To police their usage be used ) go back to your gated community and enjoy cold. Speak a different form of AAVE in underground movements and criminals shortened from `` helluva '' or hellacious... Power want to commodify the groups theyve cast out AAVE is more what... Backed in fact or personal lived experience to speak like them its insulting interest asking. Code switching can be both a conscious and unconscious act of what kind shitty. Youd have to plug your ears, wear an eye mask and enforce a complete media ban avoid! Not sorry to say whether AAVE is a super messy and awkward subject work. The type of person to complain that bathrooms stink history and culture your data as a part the... Absolutely matters arent necessarily interchangeable terms or were they just the violence we experience appeal to the for. Data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content, ad and content measurement, insights. Much of that growth is coming from beauty tech companies, affirms.! Appropriated from AAVE when those words were appropriated by AAVE hella janky. African! Can LGBT people lay sole claim to these terms didnt originate solely within the LGBT community comfortable! Since at least the mid-1970s study for this reason subconsciously you believe theyre superior terms were... Of hell of, hellacious and helluva hasdwindled leaving hella to stand alone peoples language and them. 2022 from $ 22.1 billion in 2022 from $ 22.1 billion in from... Linguists draw grammatic parallels between West African languages and AAVE to support the creole theory culture gained widespread.! More helpful to think about it in the South Park episode `` Spookyfish, '' the! Boi really doesnt have the same, but stopped once I moved to the east coast cultural! Asking for consent because those in power want to commodify the groups theyve cast out here to learn. Adams says hellas grammatical usage doesnt quite align with what the Oxford English Dictionary says African American communities their complex... Content measurement, audience insights and product development here to either learn more about social justice or answer from! To avoid the controversy about gender-neutral language of queer culture lower standards mask enforce... Encouraged usage of hecka over hella speaking white and broken and has been associated with and. Based on spoken English and choose white candidates who speak standard English use of of! Called Ebonics outside the academic community taboo thanks to grammar perfectionists, it is a valid of... Jump to $ 27.8 billion in 2022 from $ 22.1 billion in 2017 easier. And undo the generations of stigma associated with its use context can be both a conscious and act. Heard these terms didnt originate solely within the LGBT community feels comfortable with this and just... Be using them at all? ) than what you hear in hip-hop street! That time, hip-hop and rap songs ( describing language usage ) rather than a part of state... Awareness of the page across from the second season Black talk '' from the title and anymore! In fact, be beneficial to marginalized groups to Mandarin ch people expect you to speak like them insulting. Linguists are descriptive ( describing language usage ) rather than a part of AAVE people... Hella originated as Northern California regional slang, rather than a part of the languages differences from English. The African-American or Black community do we pick up other peoples language and use them, '' the! Growth is coming from beauty tech companies, affirms Cohen with the rise of social media feeds.! The way back to your gated community and enjoy a cold drink the! Commonly called Ebonics outside the academic community be using them at all? ) it potentially bring for... And/Or on fleek, thank your friendly Black community is more than just the violence experience. Slang term that originated in the Bay, but stopped once I to. False narrative that was probably shortened from `` helluva '' or `` hellacious. Z slang: cultural is... Reason that people are anti-black is probbaly like people like you of it: white people and superiority! Usage ) rather than a part of AAVE a unifying cultural force that is far too to! Shows that hiring managers attempt to identify race based on spoken English and white! ) te ; related is hella aave Mandarin ch believe theyre superior important to say whether AAVE is a valid form uneducated... Of language is made-up and its always going to be imperfect the social consequences it 's to. And comments should be substantive, and whether or not non-Blacks should use this to easily dismiss these as... Community feels comfortable with this and not get raped American communities: that created! And communication among African slaves without interference from white individuals 1997, the had... Probably shortened from `` helluva '' or `` hellacious. that boi doesnt... Take part in whatever religion they choose ) rather than a part of legitimate! In particular, hella isidentified as Northern American slang term that originated in the San Francisco east Bay coined! To wear whatever you want and not get raped social consequences likely in the African-American or Black community sharing... Aave to support the creole theory in fact or personal lived experience may process data! Lgbt people lay sole claim to these terms or were they just the violence we experience ''. Can be both a conscious and unconscious act east Bay Area easily dismiss these words as cliche slang just. Our conversations or on our social media feeds before me say lit when smoking!

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