TEWWG - Journal #3: Harlem Renaissance/Dialect

Harlem Renaissance figure: W.E.B. Du Bois
Du Bois was an African-American civil rights activist of the early 1900s. He attempted many different strategies, such as propaganda, national self-determination, and human rights, to put an end to racism in the United States. Also, he was the first African-American to earn a PhD in history at Harvard, which shows how far he went to achieve his goal of making the country more educated and accepting of others. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in 1910 by Du Bois; he carried through as the editor of the NAACP's journal The Crisis, giving him the chance to interview famous Harlem Renaissance writers and publish their work.

Dialect: Boston (-ish)
List of rules:
Pronunciation-

• Cannot pronounce "r", instead use "aw" sound (ex. hard --> hawd)
• Emphasis on vowels, drawn out longer (ex. path --> paath)
• "o" changes to a "uh" sound when not the beginning syllable (ex. Oregon --> Oregun)

Grammar-

• Verbs ending in "ing" drop the "g", leaving "in'"
• Often ends a sentence using someone's name/title/nickname
• Contractions used frequently

Vocabulary-

• "gonzo" = crazy
• "spa" = convenience store
• "jimmies" = ice cream sprinkles

 Conversation:
"Excuse me," W.E.B. Du Bois questioned a young Boston woman, "would you happen to know where Boston University is? I have not been to this area in quite a while and cannot seem to find my way."
"The Univahsity, you say?" the young woman echoed. "Shaw thing. In fact, I was just headin' baack theaw; I wawk theaw."
"Thank you very much. You are far too kind," Du Bois thanked her as the two began walking down the streets of Boston.
"If you don't miind, we caan pick up a bite to eat befoaw reaching the campus, saw," she said. "Theaw's a nice little spa up alung the road."
Du Bois, confused, asked, "Now why in the world would we be going to a spa for a midday meal?"
"You really awn't frum this pawt of the Staates, aw you?" the young woman laughed.
"Lets just say that I come from a time when things were a bit different," commented Du Bois.
Upon entering the convenience store, the woman pointed to a machine in the corner and told Du Bois, "Fawst off, this is the spa," she stated. "Secundly, I come heaw evawy Friday faw my vanilla soft seawve and some colawful jimmies to puut on top."
Eying the ice cream machine, Du Bois and the woman walked over where Du Bois, wide-eyed, decided what he wanted. "Such a magnificent machine! I have never seen anything like this. Though, I do believe I will give chocolate a try since I am always open to trying new options."
"You'aw gonzo, saw!" cried the woman. "I might be a vanilla faan, but evawyone has had some chocolate in theaw life."
"Well, I suppose the world has finally opened their eyes and come to see there is more than one color in the world, " a delighted Du Bois commented as the two made their way out of the store.
The woman smiled and glanced down at her multi-colored sprinkles. "Colaw is loved by evawyone," she explained. "As lung as rainbows leave people in awe, a colawful wawld's shaw to keep us togethaw."

Comment:
I commented on Isabella L's blog - journal #3.