Lumbee English

Lumbee English as an Equal Alternative

The Lumbee tribe, a Native American group located in North Carolina, is unique in terms of dialectology. It is generally believed that the Lumbee have been speaking English for centuries now. At some point the Lumbee lost their language and adopted their own unique brand of English. It seems as though the Lumbee were forced to adapt to colonization. In doing so they lost touch with their original language and, as a result, other Native American groups along with the federal government tend to devalue the credibility of the Lumbee as an indigenous tribe.

http://slideplayer.com/slide/1641706/

The above image is a screenshot of a slide from a presentation concerning Lumbee English. It effectively summarizes the chronic misunderstandings that the Lumbee population deals with daily. The ridicule bestowed upon the Lumbee people seems to stem from the uniqueness of their dialect. Lumbee English is divergent from mainstream U.S. English in terms of pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.  For example, a member of the Lumbee tribe might say, "It bes really crowded." So, "be(s)" is often utilized in Lumbee English as a term similar to standard English's "is." Similarly, the use of "I'm" is altogether different in Lumbee English. One who uses the Lumbee English dialect might say, "I'm told you all that I know." This is recognizable as the Lumbee equivalent to "I've told you all that I know." In terms of pronunciation, the Lumbee dialect sounds somewhat like a cross between African American English and Southern U.S. English. However, there are a few distinct features of Lumbee English pronunciation that separate it from other local dialects. A "high" tide might be called a "hoi" tide according to Lumbee English. Such pronunciation harkens back to the influence of the British, the Highland Scots, and the Scots-Irish upon the Lumbee dialect. Also, the Lumbee people employ certain terms that are not widely known by those who speak standard American English. The term "júvimber," for example, refers to a sling shot. Similarly, the term "mommuck" is a verb that refers to messing something up. "Weren't" is also commonly used within the Lumbee community. A Lumbee person might say, "It weren't me." So, "weren't" seems to be interchangeable with "wasn't." 

These differences, although relatively slight, have alienated the Lumbee people as a tribe without a true identity. The Lumbee do not have their own unique indigenous language. Furthermore, their use of English is generally considered improper by those who promote mainstream U.S. English. This catch-22 situation makes the Lumbee population an altogether unique group. They are, of course, an authentic culture, and those who would deny the Lumbee of their indigenous history are simply unreasonable.