Are you po' or poor?

There’s actually a lot to unpack with this word! 

In linguistics, reduction refers to the simplification or shortening of sounds in spoken language. In the case of "poor" becoming "po'," the reduction involves dropping the final "r" sound (/r/). This reduction is common in many dialects, where final consonants are frequently dropped or weakened.

The pronunciation "po'" for "poor" is mainly associated with African American Vernacular English (AAVE), shaped by various factors: African Influence (African slaves' diverse linguistic backgrounds influenced AAVE. Simplification of consonant clusters in West African languages may contribute to dropping the final "r" sound; however, this is different from non-rhotic dialects) Southern Dialects “Southern states like Kentucky influenced AAVE formation through dialectal interactions) Isolation and Preservation, and Cultural and Social Factors.

This linguistic feature is also often used in African American music, particularly in blues, gospel, and hip-hop genres. Here are a few examples: "Po' Folks" by Nappy Roots: This hip-hop song by Nappy Roots includes the repeated refrain "All my life been po'." "Po' Boy" by Bob Dylan: In this blues-inspired song by Bob Dylan, he sings about a character who is down on his luck and struggling financially. "Po' Boy Blues" by Lead Belly: Lead Belly, a legendary blues musician, has a song titled "Po' Boy Blues" where he sings about the hardships of being poor. We also see it in "Ain't No Grave" - This gospel song, famously covered by Johnny Cash, includes the line "Oh, I'll be rich as po' Lazarus."

Overall, the pronunciation of "poor" as "po'" in AAVE reflects a complex interplay of historical, cultural, and linguistic factors, shaped by the experiences and interactions of early African American communities in the United States.

#language #linguistics #English #phonology #phonemes #AmericanEnglish #jackmcbrayer #conan #poor #AAVE #southernenglish 

[JennyleeFothergill]

OMG use to be my fave spot as a kid! Those po’ folks certainly knew how to throw down in the kitchen!!!

[zellway]

Amazing food! I so miss that place. Chicken and biscuits rocked! Last one in AZ was sierra vista. On long drive but it was worth it.

[YessiYuri]

They used to have one of those right next to Knotts Berry farm. So sad it's gone. Loved their hushpuppies and iced tea.

[osceola]

They had the best blackberry cobbler ever. With a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream it was heavenly.

[leighmassengill]

I’ve always lived in Georgia and Po’ Folks was the only restaurant I’d ever seen that
served sorghum for your biscuits.

[ryanedwards]

We had a PO' Folks in Glen Burnie. The fried chicken was pretty good. If you're wondering where; it was on Ritchie hwy across from the DMV. Go O' s. Go Ravens. Go CAPS!

[vinylsoup]

Po folks was great kids ate for free or a dollar I can’t remember which then they sold it or changed it or something and ruined it of course