Sumthin: A Context-Dependent African American Vernacular English Word for Variables
Abstract
If mathematics is a language, then African American Vernacular English (AAVE) could hold the key to a fascinating understanding of the evolution of algebra from human speech in North America. The use of the pronoun something (sumthin) to depict an unknown amount of money that varies implies that algebra developed as a logical necessity in human communication. Exploring this phenomenon and leveraging it to demonstrate the concept of algebra could enhance the comprehension of the subject among speakers of AAVE.
Fields of Study & Subjects
History and Theory of Mathematics
Mathematics Education and Teaching Techniques
Mathematics Education and Pedagogy
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Humanistic Mathematics
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 331–343
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN