AAVE Phonetics, Morphosyntax & Lexicon

AAVE Phonetics

  1. Monophthongization: [ai] > [a].
  2. Pin/pen merger: [e] > [i].
  3. Non-rhotic: r-dropping in postvocalic position.
  4. [ju:] > [u:]: (e.g., biutiful > butiful).
  5. Consonant cluster reduction: final consonant disappears (e.g., lift > lif, sand > san, desk > des) (when plural, this does not apply).
  6. Nasal + voiceless stop preservation: with nasal + p, t, k we do not delete anything (e.g., jump, can’t).
  7. [ŋ] > [n]: velar nasal (e.g., -ing) realized as alveolar nasal (e.g., jumping,
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Jackie Robinson in 42: Breaking Baseball’s Color Barrier

42 — Jackie Robinson and Racial Barriers in Baseball

42 is a movie based on a true story about the first African American player in Major League Baseball. It is directed by Brian Helgeland. Shortly after World War II ended, many baseball stars returned to the league, but the surprising event during this period was that Branch Rickey, the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers (now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers), signed Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in MLB. Even though many white

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Literary Analysis: Alternate History, Duty, and Generational Gaps

The Adventure by Jayant Narlikar: Alternate History and Quantum Theory

The Adventure by Jayant Narlikar is a science-fiction story that skillfully combines history, philosophy, and the concept of parallel realities. The narrative centers on Professor Gangadhar Gaitonde, a renowned historian deeply interested in Indian history, particularly the Third Battle of Panipat.

Gaitonde’s Journey into a Parallel World

While traveling by train to Bombay, Gaitonde contemplates how history might have unfolded differently

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Literary Periods: Middle Ages to Realism Analysis

Middle Ages: Theocentrism and Community

The Middle Ages were characterized by theocentrism; theology was the main focus. Favorite reading material included the Bible and the lives of saints. Salvation was considered the path to heaven. Individuals felt integrated into a community: the Church and the Kingdom. Literary creation was anonymous, and artistic creation was collective.

Baroque Period: Decay and Contrast

During the Baroque period, Spain began to lose control of the seas, marking the start of

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Essential Literary Concepts and Short Story Analysis

Literary Terms and Key Concepts Defined (with Examples)

Core Narrative and Figurative Techniques

  1. Narrative Point of View – The perspective from which a story is told.
    Example: “The Yellow Wallpaper” is written in first-person, giving intimate access to the narrator’s descent into madness.

  2. Types of Narrator – Categories include first-person, third-person limited, third-person omniscient, and unreliable narrator.
    Example: “Cat Person” uses a first-person limited perspective to show Margot’s

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The Emotional Core of ‘Iris’: Vulnerability and Connection

A Personal Interpretation of the Song “Iris”

Dear John Rzeznik,

I hope you are doing well. I want to begin by expressing my sincere admiration for your music and the emotion you bring into your songs. I have listened to your work for many years, and it has always touched me in a deep and personal way. Your ability to express vulnerability, longing, and honesty is something I truly appreciate. I am writing this letter to share my personal interpretation of your song “Iris.” It has followed me through

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