%0 Journal Article %1 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9841.2010.00452.x %A Van Hofwegen, Janneke %A Wolfram, Walt %D 2010 %J Journal of Sociolinguistics %K African American English, age-grading, change development, language lifespan, %N 4 %P 427-455 %R https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9841.2010.00452.x %T Coming of age in African American English: A longitudinal study1 %U https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9841.2010.00452.x %V 14 %X This study examines trajectories of development in the use of African American English (AAE) for 32 speakers through the first 17 years of their lives based on a unique, longitudinal database. Temporal data points in the analysis include 48 months, Grade 1 (about age 6), Grade 4 (about age 9), Grade 6 (about age 11), Grade 8 (about age 13), and Grade 10 (about age 15). Complementary methods of analysis for assessing AAE include a token-based Dialect Density Measure (DDM), a type-based vernacular diversity index, and frequency-based variation analysis. The study reveals different trajectories and peak periods for the use of AAE, including a ‘roller coaster’ and a curvilinear trajectory; at the same time, there is a common dip among speakers in the overall use of vernacular AAE from Grade 1 through Grade 4. Examination of a selective set of demographic and self-regard measures shows no significant differences for gender, school racial density, racial peer contacts, and measures of Afro-centrality, but does show a significant correlation between mothers’ and child use of AAE as well as age/grade.

@article{https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9841.2010.00452.x, abstract = {This study examines trajectories of development in the use of African American English (AAE) for 32 speakers through the first 17 years of their lives based on a unique, longitudinal database. Temporal data points in the analysis include 48 months, Grade 1 (about age 6), Grade 4 (about age 9), Grade 6 (about age 11), Grade 8 (about age 13), and Grade 10 (about age 15). Complementary methods of analysis for assessing AAE include a token-based Dialect Density Measure (DDM), a type-based vernacular diversity index, and frequency-based variation analysis. The study reveals different trajectories and peak periods for the use of AAE, including a ‘roller coaster’ and a curvilinear trajectory; at the same time, there is a common dip among speakers in the overall use of vernacular AAE from Grade 1 through Grade 4. Examination of a selective set of demographic and self-regard measures shows no significant differences for gender, school racial density, racial peer contacts, and measures of Afro-centrality, but does show a significant correlation between mothers’ and child use of AAE as well as age/grade.}, added-at = {2021-01-27T03:05:14.000+0100}, author = {Van Hofwegen, Janneke and Wolfram, Walt}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2384923d6ca5a98b6f7aa202558425329/alple228}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9841.2010.00452.x}, eprint = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1467-9841.2010.00452.x}, interhash = {21027b4270767d4d5edbedb2b67daa78}, intrahash = {384923d6ca5a98b6f7aa202558425329}, journal = {Journal of Sociolinguistics}, keywords = {African American English, age-grading, change development, language lifespan,}, number = 4, pages = {427-455}, timestamp = {2021-01-27T03:05:14.000+0100}, title = {Coming of age in African American English: A longitudinal study1}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9841.2010.00452.x}, volume = 14, year = 2010 }