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The Oxford Dictionary of African American English

Air Date:
Heard On The Morning Show
Zora Neale Hurston interviewing two musicians
Zora Neale Hurston (left) interviewing musicians Rochelle French and Gabriel Brown in 1935 in Eatonville, Florida. An anthropologist and author, Hurston wrote fiction in the African American vernacular, including the classic novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” (Alan Lomax/ Library of Congress) 

Linguists have begun compiling the Oxford Dictionary of African American English. We speak with a linguist from Washington University in St. Louis about the effort, why it’s important, what makes Black English unique and inventive, and what misconceptions people might have about it.

Episode Credits

  • Shereen Siewert Host
  • Joe Tarr Producer
  • Maria Lopez Technical Director
  • John Baugh Guest

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