About CSAAL

The Center for the Study of African American language is in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. It serves as a center of research on various dimensions of African American language. The study of African American language to be carried out in the context of the Center includes at its core linguistic research on the variety known as African American English (AAE), which is spoken, in varying degrees, by a large number of African Americans in the United States. The Center builds on expertise at the University of Massachusetts and in the Five Colleges on issues related to the study of African American Language varieties. Research conducted in the context of the Center builds on and extends past research on AAE and contributes to bridging the gap between theory and practice. The Center sponsors programs such as summer research experiences for undergraduates, in-service workshops, and conferences, which place emphasis on the study of African American language varieties.

Programs, Activities & Services

Faculty

The CSAAL is directed by Lisa Green, Professor of Linguistics, and associated faculty are from Afro-American Studies, Education, English, Linguistics, Communication Disorders, and Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Smith College.