The Myth of "Cry Wolof": The Wolof Provenance of African American Language

In: Journal of black studies, Band 48, Heft 5, S. 446-464

Abstract

The term "Cry Wolof" is a disparaging catchphrase first introduced by U.S. linguist Laurence Horn as a dismissal of Wolof etymologies in African American language. The cogency of this catchphrase is largely dependent on the circa-1970s argument that the African American term hip meaning (among other things) "in fashion" or "to inform" is derived from the Wolof term xippi meaning, "to open the eyes." This study aims to demonstrate that while the Wolof term xippi is not the proper etymology of hip, the etymology of hip is indeed Wolof. More broadly, this study aims to demonstrate the Wolof presence in African American language.