n [ U ]
the type of English spoken by many African Americans . Language teachers call it African American Vernacular English (AAVE). It became a political issue in 1996 when school officials in Oakland , California , recognized it as a special language and accepted it in students’ written work. Some other schools did the same, but by 1998 many had stopped doing so because of the need for students to speak and write correct English in order to get the best jobs.
Compare English-Only Movement .