A instead of ER (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Mullins, Bill AMRDEC]

Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE



> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society
> [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Jonathan Lighter
> Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 6:03 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: A instead of ER
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
> Subject:      Re: A instead of ER
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------
>
> There is an additional (or more comprehensive) possibility.
> Hiphop lyrics and, hence, criticism, frequently use final {a}
> in place of orthographic {er} to stress the "r-lessness" of
> much urban AAVE.  Thus, e.g., "playa" for "player," "hata"
> for "hater."
>
>   The point of the slogan may be that this development
> somehow emphasizes "African-Americanness" in a positive way.
>
>   Another possibility: maybe whites are allowed to write
> "nigga" in contexts where racist motivation is obviously out
> of the question - as it would/should be in mainstream hiphop
> criticism. If I may once again allude to _Idiocracy_, just
> before he starts the time experiment, white "Officer" Collins
> addresses both subjects (played by Luke Wilson and Maya
> Rudolph)

Formerly known as "Mayer Rudolph"


>  comically but (I would think) harmlessly as "my
> niggaz."  That confirms what we already know. He's a pathetic
> jerk, but not a white supremacist.
>
>   I still find my very first suggestion, however ironically
> presented, mot appealing, but the second one may be lurking
> in the background.
>
>   JL
>
> Barbara Need <nee1 at MIDWAY.UCHICAGO.EDU> wrote:
>   ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: Barbara Need
> Subject: A instead of ER
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------
>
> The Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago has an
> exhibit is titled "Black Is, Black ain't" and the poster says
> a instead of er "changes everything"!
>
> http://www.renaissancesociety.org/site/
>
> Barbara
>
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Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

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