![]() Here are a selection of words that met the criteria for our most recent update. When many people use a word in the same way, over a long enough period of time, that word becomes eligible for inclusion. They turn words inside out.The dictionary chronicles how the language grows and changes, which means new words and definitions must continually be added. Black people take language and ‘wrap it around’ themselves. “That is the best of both worlds because we want to show how Black English is part of the larger of ‘Englishes,’ as they say, spoken around the world. The literary critic declared that this project “will address that need.” The editor also shared that the 10 words revealed will also be added into the original Oxford English Dictionary. Gates also noted that many scholars have attempted to create a collection of Black vocabulary, but not one that is backed by “the resources to undertake a large-scale, systematic study, based on historical principles, of the myriad contributions that African Americans have made to the shape and structure of the English language that Americans speak today.” And words that we take for granted today, such as cool and crib, hokum and diss, hip and hep, bad, meaning ‘good,’ and dig, meaning ‘to understand’ - these are just a tiny fraction of the words that have come into American English from African American speakers, neologisms that emerged out of the Black Experience in this country, over the last few hundred years.” He added, “Words with African origins such as goober, gumbo, and okra survived the Middle Passage along with our African ancestors. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Statue Of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation) arrives at the Statue Of Liberty Museum Opening Celebration at Battery Park on in New York City. NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 15: Henry Louis Gates Jr. The dancing and chanting gradually intensify and often conclude with participants exhibiting a state of spiritual ecstasy. ring shout (n.): A spiritual ritual involving a dance where participants follow one another in a ring shape, shuffling their feet and clapping their hands to accompany chanting and singing.(Etymology: Probably a reference to Hagar in the Bible, who, with her son, Ishmael, was cast out by Sarah and Abraham, and became, among some Black communities, the symbolic mother of all Africans and African Americans and of Black womanhood.) Aunt Hagar’s children (n.): A reference to Black people collectively.Usually of a person’s foot: to tap in rhythm with music, sometimes to demonstrate participation in religious worship. To tap (the foot) in rhythm with music, sometimes as an indication of participation in religious worship. Also used to describe the music and artists of that style and time period. old school (adj.): Characteristic of early hip-hop or rap music that emerged in New York City between the late 1970s to the mid 1980s, which often includes the use of couplets, funk and disco samples, and playful lyrics.Something that is considered easily done, as in This job is a cakewalk. The winner would receive some type of cake. A contest in which Black people would perform a stylized walk in pairs, typically judged by a plantation owner. kitchen (n.): The hair at the nape of the neck, which is typically shorter, kinkier and considered more difficult to style.(Variant forms: chitlins, chittlins, chitlings, chitterlins.) Occasionally also pig intestines as an ingredient. plural): A dish made from pig intestines that are typically boiled, fried or stuffed with other ingredients. (Etymology: A reference to the biblical story of Jewish people seeking freedom from Egyptian bondage.) Promised Land (n.): A place perceived to be where enslaved people and, later, African Americans more generally, can find refuge and live in freedom.grill (noun): A removable or permanent dental overlay, typically made of silver, gold or another metal and often inset with gemstones, which is worn as jewelry.Describing a party, event, etc.: busy, crowded, lively. Also more generally: impressive, excellent. Especially describing food: tasty, delicious.
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