A Raisin in the Sun

by Lorraine Hansberry

A Raisin in the Sun: Dialect 1 key example

Dialect
Explanation and Analysis—Black English Vernacular:

The play’s speaking lines are almost exclusively written in what is called African American Vernacular English (AAVE). This is a term for a prominent dialect used by many Black Americans—a dialect scholars have long recognized as having a specific set of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation rules. Writing the play in AAVE is foundational to the play as a work of social realism, informing the portrayal Black Americans and their struggle.