Could ebonics end up leveling English down?

[Anonymous]

a little known fact is English got simpler during imperialism to accommodate their new serfs. over 90% of middle English words went extinct

yes

no

Updates

8 mo

the same thing happened to Greek after Alexander. classical Greek rapidly went extinct in favor of koine Greek. they say classical Greek is what was spoken by philosophers... nonsense. classical Greek is what was spoken before the mass import of their newfound serfs

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Language is constantly evolving. If ebonics are growing more popular than older English, that’s not “leveling down” that’s efficiency, that’s mutual understanding. This attitude is both classist and racist and it’s the reason “ain’t” is no longer considered a word even though it is the correct contraction of “am not” just as there is shan’t and won’t for should not and will not, but when the lower classes caught on to the word from the upper classes, they distanced themselves by saying it wasn’t a word even though it very much was for generations.

[Anonymous]

No. No one speaks Ebonics. It’s a made up language that tries to convert hip hop dialect into speech. It is not taught in schools except for a few elective classes and it is certainly not taught in the public schools in areas where it’s actually spoken. Ebonics is in no danger of overtaking the English language. On the other hand, slang like “rizz” and “skibidi toilet” might be.

[AI Opinion]

Language evolution is natural. English has indeed simplified over time, especially during periods of expansion where clear communication was necessary. Ebonics, or African American Vernacular English (AAVE), reflects cultural identity and linguistic creativity. It enriches the English language with its unique expressions. Rather than leveling English down, such dialects add diversity and depth. Language evolution results in new forms and variations, which are natural linguistic processes. Understanding and appreciating these changes can enhance communication and cultural awareness.

[Flower7]

Yes because even to this day, people get looked down on or even made fun of for speaking “normal” English instead of using slang.

[exitseven]

No, Ebonics will render the user as irrelevant. English is the official language of the USA.

[Anonymous]

Who knows, it's possible.