Gullah Negation: A Variable Analysis

Abstract

This article provides a variable analysis of negation in Gullah and considers the implications of the observed patterns of variability for the debate over the history and development of African American English (AAE). For many years now, linguists have debated over the possibility of an AAE-creole connection and have hypothesized in particular about the putative role of Gullah (or a Gullah-like creole) on the origins and development of AAE. In recent years, negation has become a central topic in this debate, with examinations of variable negation in both early and contemporary varieties of AAE. However, practically no analysis has been done on the system of variable negation in Gullah. This study aims to fill this gap in the literature by providing a quantitative analysis of variable negation in both copula and noncopula constructions in Gullah. While no definitive claims are made about the AAE-Gullah connection based on this analysis, certain patterns in the data, such as the alternation between ain't and didn't in past contexts, allow for the possibility of a historical connection between the two varieties. Debate over the origins and development of African American English(AAE) has been well documented in the linguistic literature, with competing theories dating back to the mid-1900s. Gullah has played at least a nominal role in this debate from very early on, as creolists have hypothesized about a possible AAE-Gullah connection either via decreolization from Gullah (or a Gullah-like creole) to AAE (see, e.g., ) or through processes of language shift or contact between speakers of these respective varieties (see, e.g., Rickford 1997; Winford 1998). Others have argued against a creole origin for AAE or have emphasized the influence of English or other sources on its origins and development (see, e.g.