The African Heritage of American English

"College-level students of linguistics and ethnic issues will welcome Joseph Holloway and Winifred VassÕ detailed collection of Africanisms . . . This isnÕt just a dictionary of definitions: it provides in-depth analysis of cultural patterns of African groups imported to the U.S., tracing how their language continues to influence American culture and language.Ó ÑReviewerÕs Bookwatch ÒImpressive research and attention to detail . . . a valuable addition to African American subject...
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"College-level students of linguistics and ethnic issues will welcome Joseph Holloway and Winifred VassÕ detailed collection of Africanisms . . . This isnÕt just a dictionary of definitions: it provides in-depth analysis of cultural patterns of African groups imported to the U.S., tracing how their language continues to influence American culture and language.Ó ÑReviewerÕs Bookwatch ÒImpressive research and attention to detail . . . a valuable addition to African American subject collections . . . Ó ÑLibrary Journal ÒDrawing impressivelyÑand in telling detailÑupon the field work of Turner, Puckett, Dalby, Vass, and others, this valuable study surveys the influence of African tongues upon the shaping of American language and culture.Ó ÑNineteenth-Century Literature ÒAn important contribution, as it builds on Lorenzo Dow TurnerÕs and Winifred VassÕs previous scholarship on the African origins and contributions to English, and takes the matter to a new level.Ó ÑJohn F. Szwed The comprehensive accounting of African words retained from the Bantu reflects the cultural patterns of groups imported to the U.S. and their continuing influence on the shaping of American culture. The listings are especially intriguing in light of the recent ÒEbonicsÓ debate.