Journal 3: Dialect and Harlem Renaissance

Part 1: Harlem Renaissance Figure

Duke Ellington is a 12-time Grammy-winning big band frontman, as well as a pianist and a composer.  He took control of a big band in 1924 and led them into their first gig at the Kentucky Club.  His career with his band survived through the 30's by touring on the the road and playing gigs wherever possible.  Soon the big band rose in popularity up to its peak in the 40's.  Ellington composed many jazz songs with influences from Harlem, New York.  Even through the 50's, Duke Ellington refused to conform to the changing culture and continued to produce variants of jazz music.  He appeared on the cover of Time Magazine on August 20, 1956.

Part 2: Dialogue Rules

My dialect is the generic "Boston/New England" language in the eastern United States.

Grammar:

1. Add "s" to end of certain nouns
2. Short, broken sentences
3. Argument statements are usually repeated for emphasis

Pronunciation:

1. Broad enunciation of the A sound
2. The dialect is non-rhotic (replace "r" with "ah")
3. Other vowels are kept the same

Vocabulary:

1. Use of doubled nouns (Burger-sandwich)
2. Are-->Ah
3. Park--> Paak

Part 3: Conversation

Duke Ellington is on his way through New England on a tour and heard about a spectacular hamburger joint that he had to try.  While ordering, Duke had a little trouble the the general manager, Donnie.

"I will take a cheese burger with a medium Pepsi, sir," ordered Duke.

"What?! In this town, you just ordered a burger-sandwich with a Pepsi-soda, pops," replied Donnie.

"What the heck is a burger-sandwich?" questioned Duke.

"A Burger-sandwich," said Donnie as he lifted one up, "is what you southernahs call a hamburger."

"Well what is the point of adding sandwich to the if we already know it's a burger?" asked Duke.

"Becahz the dahn thing is a burger and also a sandwich, old man!" quarreled Donnie.

"That is absolutely absurd!  And why would you need to inform your clients that Pepsi is a soda?" retorted Duke.

"Becahz," started Donnie, "the dahn thing is Pepsi as well as sodah!"

 "My my, you people are crazy!" shouted Duke.

Donnie quickly snapped back, "No sah, yous is a crazy one for weahin' dat Yankee hat in Bahston tahritory."

Duke bounced back, "It's certainly not my fault that we Yanks are a superb baseball team!"

"Yous peoples ah a disgrace to basebahll," said Donnie angrily.

"Well fine then! I refuse to dine in at your establishment, sir.  Have a nice day," said Duke slamming the door.

"Dahn outsidahs... They act like theys all gone to Haavahd and ah smahter than all of us," complained Donnie.