ORIGINAL + SLANG + CREATIVE
Yesterday the DEA announced that it was looking to hire "translators" of the "Ebonics Language" to help investigators decipher the results of “telephonic monitoring of court ordered nonconsensual intercepts, consensual listening devices, and other media. Ebonics is listed among 114 languages for which prospective contractors must be able to provide linguists. The 114 languages are divided between “common languages” and “exotic languages.” Ebonics is listed as a “common language” spoken solely in the United States. Upon hearing this a few things came to mind:
1- I never knew "Ebonics was respected enough as a "language" to even need a "translator". This is a big deal! When the government with all of it's power is confused enough to make a public call for help there is something to be said for that.
2 - It says a lot good and bad, for black people's ability to make lemonade out of lemons. Good because it's a real "coded" dialect that changes regionally, created "for us and by us". Bad because it's usually derived from ignorance and improper use of the English language. I would be happy if EVERY Ebonics speaking person had the ability to contextually use both Ebonics and the English language. Ebonics becomes negative when it's used in normal situations i.e; at work, public speaking, television interviews, etc.
3 - Where is Big L when you need him. His classic single "Ebonics" was paramount for illustrating exactly what "Ebonics" even meant. His definitions for "street slang" were illustrated so simple it could make any scholar feel like an idiot for not understanding them on his own.
4- The "Ying Yang Twins" should retire from rap and get down with the DEA. The buffoonery must stop...help your country be a better place.
5- The "Jive" talking black dudes from the 70's classic "Airplane" should be employed as well.
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