Spoken Soul

In Praise of Spoken Soul: The Story of Black English "e;Spoken Soul brilliantly fills a huge gap. . . . a delightfully readable introduction to the elegant interweave between the language and its culture."e; -Ralph W. Fasold, Georgetown university "e;A lively, well-documented history of Black English . . . that will enlighten and inform not only educators, for whom it should be required reading, but all who value and question language."e; -Kirkus Reviews "e;Spoken Soul is a must read for anyone who is interested in the connection between language and identity."e; -Chicago Defender Claude Brown called Black English "e;Spoken Soul."e; Toni Morrison said, "e;It's a love, a passion. Its function is like a preacher's: to make you stand out of your seat, make you lose yourself and hear yourself. The worst of all possible things that could happen would be to lose that language."e; Now renowned linguist John R. Rickford and journalist Russell J. Rickford provide the definitive guide to African American vernacular English-from its origins and features to its powerful fascination for society at large.