THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 6, 1997 TAG: 9702060005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 30 lines
The British think we Americans have mutilated the language; we counter that our wonderful and ever-growing version of English suits our purposes quite well: We communicate.
Sometimes we create new words or borrow from other languages. What word in English rivals ``chutzpah'' (say: hoots' pah), for example? This word, one loosely meaning ``what nerve,'' is one of my favorites and borrowed from the Jewish Yiddish, a German-based Euro-melting-pot language.
What's wrong with Ebonics is calling it ``Ebonics,'' which we are doing to make it academically palatable, I suppose. Let's just call this cultural language ``African English,'' - which it is - and embrace it as we have done with all the other foreign contributions to our wonderfully mutilated king's English.
I am only surprised that Rabbi Forman (letters, Jan. 27), who reads and teaches liturgical Hebrew and already knows what ``chutzpah'' means, would challenge the authenticity and sheer fun of a living language like African English.
Face it. American kids already know African English. The only reason to teach it is so the adults can understand the kids. The kids may not think that's such a good idea. Has anyone asked them?
BRENDA McCORMICK
Virginia Beach, Jan. 27, 1997