Gullah
Gullah refers to both a unique cultural and linguistic heritage originating from enslaved Africans brought to the sea islands of Georgia and South Carolina, primarily in the early nineteenth century. The Gullah language is a distinct creole, blending English vocabulary with grammar and elements from several West African languages, including Ewe, Mandinka, Igbo, Twi, and Yoruba. This dialect emerged in a context where geographical isolation enabled the preservation of African traditions, myths, and language among the Gullah communities.
Despite facing challenges from modern influences such as television and education, which have diminished the use of the Gullah language, it remains an important aspect of identity for many speakers, particularly within family and community settings. Gullah has also contributed to broader American culture, with words like "goober," "gumbo," and "yam" entering mainstream usage. The stories of Uncle Remus and Bre'r Rabbit played a significant role in sharing Gullah culture beyond its geographic roots, illustrating its impact on American folklore. Understanding Gullah offers insight into the resilience and richness of African American history and culture.
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Gullah
The Gullahs came to North America in the first decades of the nineteenth century as slaves, originally from Angola (hence the name). Gullah is also a creole form of English that derives from the sea islands of Georgia and South Carolina. Gullah, once similar to the language spoken on slave plantations in the South, is very different from other African American dialects of English. The Gullah dialect combines elements of English vocabulary with grammar and punctuation elements of several West African languages such as Ewe, Mandinka, Igbo, Twi, and Yoruba.
Gullah traditions, myths, and language stayed longer with the Coastal Carolina Gullahs because of the isolation and self-sufficiency they experienced on the sea islands. As with many minority languages around the world, television, education, and increased social contact have all undermined the Gullah language and culture. Many Gullah speakers use various African American English dialects in dealing with nonislanders, though Gullah remains the language of home, family, and community. Gullah has affected culture and language beyond the Carolina sea islands with words such as goober (peanuts), gumbo, and yam. The Gullah dialect and culture were spread to mainstream America through the tales of Uncle Remus and Bre’r Rabbit.
Bibliography
Campbell, Emory S. “Gullah Geechee Culture: Respected, Understood And Striving: Sixty Years After Lorenzo Dow Turner’s Masterpiece, Africanisms in the Gullah Dialect.” Black Scholar 41.1 (2011): 77. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
Cross, Wilbur. Gullah Culture in America. Westport: Praeger, 2008. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
Graves, Brian. “‘A Glimpse into the Past’: Communication, Cultural Tourism, and the Political Economy of Modern Gullah Preservation.” Studies in Amer. Culture 36.1 (2013): 55–77. Humanities International Complete. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
Green, Gardenella Teresa. “The Unique Culture of Gullah/Geechee Families on the Southern Coast of the United States.” Jour. of Human Behavior in the Social Environment 23.5 (2013): 573–578. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
Morgan, Philip D., and Georgia Humanities Council. African American Life in the Georgia Lowcountry : The Atlantic World and the Gullah Geechee. Athens: U of Georgia P, 2010. eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 16 Apr. 2015.