Africanisms in the Gullah Dialect (Southern Classics (Univ of South Carolina))

Rating:
Summary: Good intro into Gullah research
Review: This book is the foundation of the research of the Gullah dialect as a serious subject. Being an Afrcan-American himself. Dr. Turner won the confidence of Sea Island Gullah speakers in the 1930s and won their confidence in providing a window to their lives and folkways. The result was this book, which was probably the first that did not patronize Gullah speakers as being backward and ignorant as some (sadly) still do today.

The central section of this book, which deals with linguistic similarities between West Africans and Gullah speakers, is primarily for linguists. But the chapters on Dr. Turner's acquaintance with the Gullah speakers anmd his collection of their tales of slavery, religion, and life expereinces make for interesting reading for the layman. Overall, a great window into a subject that had long suffered from mockery and ridicule. It shows the Gullah speakers in their pride and dignity.