Court reporters are struggling when given phrases in black dialects

[sid]

Check this out:

https://www.inquirer.com/news/aae-aave-african-american-english-black-dialect-court-reporters-accuracy-justice-equal-access-20190605.html

[JOHN COOK]

Pretty good article and some truth about dialect. In and around the Barrier Islands on the Atlantic coast you run into what is called the Gullah dialect. It is a combination of African and English. ( look it up for a more precise explanation) In my home town there are still some Gullah expressions used by the black community. I am not black but sometimes use words that I have picked up from black kids when I was a youth that could be described as Gullah. In and around Beaufort,SC ( pronounced Buufort not Boe fort as in NC the sitting judge for General Session Court is furnished a translator when court is in session. Gullah is spoken rapidly and with a lot of emotion. There is a town around this area that is called Frogmore which has heavy Gullah dialect. I have a New Testament that was printed from the King James Version, and finally got a small Gullah dictionary so I can now read it fairley accurate. When you read it you actually fall into a kind of rhythm. The word "Dem" means Them, Others, Everybody, Those. I find it similar to Cajun dialect. Wife's Dad was raised in Cajun community then move to GA

john in SC