Portland Center Stage

“The dialect didn't change significantly once the migrants arrived in their new homeland... and now their great great great grandchildren still manifest the dialect of their Southern roots in speech and syntax... as though still carrying the bundles and bags their forebears brought with them when they left. The beautiful sound was theirs, a jewel this music: their ears heard the sound of a voice in the fields, and they knew – it is he, my father....and so.....we are safe."

—Mary McDonald-Lewis, from her AAVE dialect materials

 

The Unveiling of a Conciousness with Miss Mary Mac

 

by Sumayya Ali, Cast Member of Oklahoma!

 

I have learned that, here at Portland Center Stage, authenticity is taken very seriously. We are expected to speak and sing as the African Americans did in Oklahoma in 1906. The dialect turns out to be completely different from that of their white counterparts. To learn what that means, we were formally introduced to AAVE, African American Vernacular English. When Mary McDonald-Lewis was introduced as our dialect coach, there were naturally reservations amongst the cast. "How is this white woman from California going to assist me in speaking 'Black'?" In our first session, my mixed feelings turned into self-realization. Mary is truly a master of her craft. She has the perfect skill set to assist us on this lingual journey.

The vast majority of the cast has at least received a bachelor's degree from college. In the process of formal education and within the desire to excel professionally, African American Vernacular English has been abandoned, beaten down, strangled out, and hidden by many of us, with minstrelsy starting during Jim Crow and lingering unfortunately 'til present day in cariacatures like Sha nay nay. I have always felt like it was my responsibility to not perpetuate such ridiculous stereotypes and one way to do that is by communicating in "Standard English."

With Mary we approached the dialect from a historical, sociological and geographical perspective. The phonological characteristics of AAVE can be traced back to many beautiful African languages. When our ancestors were enslaved, education was forbidden and our own dialect was formed and subsequently carried throughout the country during The Great Migration.  Mary supplemented our studies and analysis with audio recordings of different African Americans and Oklahomans from different generations. They made me feel warm inside. Their melodious tone and speech pattern felt like home. Studying the history of the dialect caused me to reexamine myself and my way of thinking.

Here is what I have concluded. Firstly, why is it that this dialect is associated with people that are dumb, “ghetto,” uneducated, and immoral? It’s simply a dialect. For example many African languages do not have consonant clusters, as in the “st” in the word “last,” or in fact the “rd” of word. This is also true of the Japanese language, and so speakers of both Japanese and AAVE might drop the last consonant in these words – so “last” becomes “las’” in both AAVE and Japanese dialect.

The “th” sound of “this” or “thing” may also not be found in these languages. The closest substitution is “d.” So many African Americans may pronounce the word “the” as “de.” The automatic assumption is this person is slow. Mine as well. Why? The same ”th” sound that does not exist in French either would be pronounced as “ze.” The perception there is not low intelligence though; just a beautiful French accent.

This issue reaches far beyond AAVE. People are judged on how they speak every day. Is that really an accurate meter for one's intelligence or character? I am guilty of this kind of judgment as well. I just wasn’t aware. Secondly, deprogramming begins with me. I must not be ashamed of AAVE. I must not let it be hijacked and dishonored by minstrel characters or rappers with destructive messages or simply people who don’t know better. It is time to embrace and reclaim AAVE – even celebrate this dialect. I am honored to have the opportunity to do so through applying it to Oklahoma!. Thank you Mary for helping me grow artistically and personally. This linguistic study has definitely led to an unveiling of a consciousness.

 

 

Mary MacDonald-Lewis