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Difference or Disorder?
Feature AAE SAE Examples
Questions Invert the verb in Use different What it is?/ What is it?
indirect questions forms for direct
and indirect
questions
Conditional Use “do” in place of Use conditional I wonder did she go./ I
“if,” omit “if” from “if” wonder if she went.
embedded questions
They asked could I go./
They asked if I could go.
Comparative and Uses root word with Uses –er with This car gooder./ This
superlative –er in comparative comparative and car is better.
form and adds –est –est with
to superlative form superlative He is the bestest./ He is
the best.
Bland‐Stewart, 2005; Craig & Grogger, 2012; Craig, Kolenic, & Hensel, 2013; Green &
Stockman, 2003; Packer, M. 2001; Wikipedia, 2013; Wood & Lyngaas, 1995)
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I am a speech‐language pathologist who grew up as a bi‐dialectal speaker. My first
dialect is African‐American English and my second dialect is Standard American English. I did
not begin speaking Standard American English until my adolescent years. During these years,
I found my passion for language. At that time I did not understand the complexities of being
able to speak both African‐American English and Standard American English. Even now I am
amazed at how beautiful, yet complicated, it is to be bi‐dialectal in America.
I recall growing up in an African‐American community. There was always a love for
language; this was demonstrated in music, poetry, and everyday lingo. It was a way to
connect with my peers and family members, express my thoughts, and gain a sense of 99
belonging. Occasionally, I would see an individual who spoke Standard American English and
my peers would state “they were talking funny.” Eventually this person felt a sense of
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