Sign-In
Cart
Wassup, My Nigga: The Hidden History of a Controversial Word
Hardcover
Black American HistoryLinguisticsBlack American Studies
Currently unavailable to order
Please enter your email and a message will be sent to you when this product becomes available on our website.
ISBN13: 9781647127398
Publisher: Georgetown University Press
Published: Sep 1 2026
Pages: 320
Weight: 1.28
Height: 1.04 Width: 6.35 Depth: 9.32
Language: English
The history and meaning of one of the most controversial words in American English
Few words in English are as charged as nigga and n*gger. While the slur n*gger is universally recognized as offensive, fierce debates continue over the use of nigga--who can say it, what it means, and whether it has been reclaimed as a term of endearment among Black people. Are these two words or one word with two pronunciations, and do they have different meanings?
Wassup, My Nigga is the first book written by an African American linguist to explore the word's origin, history, and usage. Drawing on sources across time, from nineteenth-century slave narratives and ex-slave recordings to contemporary conversations on social media, the book reveals how the word's meanings vary according to context and across racial groups. It challenges myths about reclamation, explains why multiple pronunciations exist, and examines what the evidence really shows about how--and whether--meanings have changed over time.
By presenting the discussion within the context of African American English, Wassup, My Nigga sheds new light on one of the most controversial words in American English and what it reveals about language, race, and identity.
Also in
Linguistics
The Well-Spoken Thesaurus: The Most Powerful Ways to Say Everyday Words and Phrases
Heehler, Tom
Paperback
How to Kill a Language: Power, Resistance, and the Race to Save Our Words
Galer, Sophia Smith
Hardcover
My First Book of Patterns Pencil Control: Patterns Practice Book for Kids (Pattern Writing)
Wonder House Books
Paperback
Korean Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Folktales in Korean and English (Free Online Audio)
Damron, Julie
You, Eunsun
Paperback
The Perfect English Grammar Workbook: Simple Rules and Quizzes to Master Today's English
McLendon, Lisa
Paperback
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
Winchester, Simon
Paperback
Learning Japanese Hiragana and Katakana: A Workbook for Self-Study
Takagaki, Tetsuo
Henshall, Kenneth G.
Paperback
English Vocabulary in Use Elementary Book with Answers: Vocabulary Reference and Practice
McCarthy, Michael
O'Dell, Felicity
Paperback
Print and Cursive Handwriting Workbook: 35 Lessons to Improve Your Penmanship
Sanders, Sally
Paperback
Remembering the Kanji 1: A Complete Course on How Not to Forget the Meaning and Writing of Japanese Characters
Heisig, James W.
Paperback
Japanese Folktales for Language Learners: Bilingual Legends and Fables in Japanese and English (Free Online Audio Recording)
Sato, Anna
Sato, Eriko
Paperback
Japanese Stories for Language Learners: Bilingual Stories in Japanese and English (Online Audio Included)
Sato, Eriko
McNulty, Anne
Paperback
Quack This Way: David Foster Wallace & Bryan A. Garner Talk Language and Writing
Wallace, David Foster
Garner, Bryan
Paperback
Arabic Writing Workbook: Alphabet, Words, Sentences⎜Learn to write Arabic with this large and colorful handwriting workbook. For adults and kids
de Kerdoret, Soulayman
Paperback
English Idioms in Use Advanced Book with Answers: Vocabulary Reference and Practice
McCarthy, Michael
O'Dell, Felicity
Paperback
The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography
Singh, Simon
Paperback
Reading & Writing Thai: A Workbook for Self-Study: A Beginner's Guide to the Thai Alphabet and Pronunciation (Free Online Audio and Printable Flash Ca
Rattanakhemakorn, Jintana
Paperback
Korean Folktales for Language Learners: Traditional Stories in English and Korean (Free Online Audio)
Kim, Yeon-Jeong
Cho, Sukyeon
Killick, Andrew
Paperback
Vietnamese for Beginners: Learning Conversational Vietnamese (Free Online Audio)
Tran, Tri C.
Paperback
Historically Black Phrases: From I Ain't One of Your Lil' Friends to Who All Gon' Be There?
Hill, Jarrett
Anderson, Tre'vell
Hardcover
Reading and Writing Korean: A Workbook for Self-Study: A Beginner's Guide to the Hangeul Writing System (Free Online Audio and Printable Flash Cards)
Driggs, Derek
Kiaer, Jieun
Paperback
Arabic Folktales for Language Learners: Traditional Stories in Arabic and English (Free Bilingual Online Audio)
Risha, Sarah
Paperback
Words to Love a Planet: An Illustrated Lexicon of Landscape, People, and Possibility
Sanders, Ella Frances
Hardcover
Conversational Japanese: A Practical Communication Guide for Visitors to Japan
Kaneko, Anne
Paperback
Chinese Stories for Language Learners: A Treasury of Proverbs and Folktales in Bilingual Chinese and English (Online Audio Recordings Included)
Wang, Peng
Ling, Vivian
Paperback
365 Days to Improve Your English: A Daily Vocabulary Builder to Become More Well-Spoken - Unlock 1,000+ Words to Boost Your Vocabulary and Communicati
Mode, Airplane
Lee, Dae
Paperback
Word Smart, 6th Edition: 1400+ Words That Belong in Every Savvy Student's Vocabulary
The Princeton Review
Paperback
How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth: A Guide to Understanding and Using Bible Versions
Fee, Gordon D.
Strauss, Mark L.
Paperback
Chinese Folktales for Language Learners: Famous Folk Stories in Chinese and English (Free Online Audio Recordings)
Wang, Peng
Ling, Vivian
Paperback
A Gateway to Sindarin: A Grammar of an Elvish Language from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings
Salo, David
Paperback
The Navajo Language: The Elements Of Navajo Grammar With A Dictionary In Two Parts Containing Basic Vocabularies Of Navajo And English
Young, Robert W.
Morgan, William
Hardcover
Mastering Logical Fallacies: The Definitive Guide to Flawless Rhetoric and Bulletproof Logic
Withey, Michael
Paperback
Language and Life on Ocracoke: The Living History of the Brogue
Wolfram, Walt
Gaskill, Candy
Reaser, Jeffrey
Paperback
Beginning Mandarin Chinese for Modern Learners: A Complete Self-Study Language Guide for the Digital Age
Reiter, Yingying
Paperback
Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World
Sanders, Ella Frances
Hardcover
Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog: The Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences
Florey, Kitty Burns
Paperback
Writing Japanese Hiragana: An Introductory Japanese Language Workbook: Learn and Practice the Japanese Alphabet
Gleeson, Jim
Paperback
English Vocabulary in Use Elementary Book with Answers and Enhanced eBook: Vocabulary Reference and Practice
McCarthy, Michael
O'Dell, Felicity
Paperback
English Short Stories for Beginners: Learn English With Stories From an American Life
Guru, Language
Paperback
Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages
Deutscher, Guy
Paperback
Arabic Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Middle Eastern Tales in Arabic and English (Online Included) [With CD (Audio)]
Mansur, Lutfi
Brosh, Hezi
Paperback
English Short Stories for Intermediate Learners: Learn English and Build Your Vocabulary the Fun and Easy Way
Guru, Language
Paperback
The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World
Anthony, David W.
Paperback
Japanese Kanji for Beginners: (Jlpt Levels N5 & N4) First Steps to Learn the Basic Japanese Characters [Includes Online Audio & Printable Flash Cards]
Stout, Timothy G.
Hakone, Kaori
Paperback
Basics of Akkadian: A Grammar, Workbook, and Glossary
Hugenberger, Gordon P.
Erickson, Nancy L.
Paperback
I Is an Other: The Secret Life of Metaphor and How It Shapes the Way We See the World
Geary, James
Paperback
A Navajo Alphabet Book For Kids: Diné Bizaad: Language Learning Educational Present For Toddlers, Babies & Children Age 1 - 3:
Press, Bilingual Kiddos
Paperback
The Indo-Europeans Rediscovered: How a Scientific Revolution Is Rewriting Their Story
Mallory, J. P.
Hardcover
'O Faia Fa'atumua O Samoa Mai Tala O Le Vavau
Papalii, Aumua Mataitusi Sima
Simanu, 'Aumua Mata'itusi
Paperback
Reading & Writing Farsi (Persian): A Workbook for Self-Study: A Beginner's Guide to the Farsi Script and Language (Free Online Audio & Printable Flash
Ahooie, Amir Hossein
Vil, Pegah
Paperback
An Apple a Day: Learn 25 Idioms and Sayings in English, Spanish, French, and Italian
Tartaglia, Michela
Hardcover
Learn Japanese with Manga Volume Two: A Self-Study Language Guide (Free Online Audio)
Bernabe, Marc
Paperback
Japanese Kanji Made Easy: An Easy Step-By-Step Workbook to Learn the Basic Japanese Kanji (JLPT N5)
Lingo Mastery
Paperback
Ancient Greek Thematic Dictionary. Volume I: General Concepts, Dimensions, and Senses
Rico, Christophe
Hardcover
The Art of Language Invention: From Horse-Lords to Dark Elves to Sand Worms, the Words Behind World-Building
Peterson, David J.
Paperback
Chinese for Beginners: Learning Conversational Chinese (Fully Romanized and Free Online Audio)
Liang, Xiyuan
Ren, Yi
Paperback
Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and Other Typographical Marks
Houston, Keith
Paperback
Aprender inglés para adultos principiantes: 3 libros en 1: ¡Habla inglés en 30 días!
Towin, Explore
Paperback
Trace Letters and Numbers Workbook: Learn How to Write Alphabet Upper and Lower Case and Numbers
Noosita, Nina
Paperback
The Slangman Guide to STREET SPEAK 1: The Complete Course in American Slang & Idioms
Burke, David
Paperback
Kingdom of Characters (Pulitzer Prize Finalist): The Language Revolution That Made China Modern
Tsu, Jing
Paperback
Elementary Korean Workbook: A Complete Language Activity Book for Beginners (Free Online Audi)
Lee, Insun
Paperback
The Unfolding of Language: An Evolutionary Tour of Mankind's Greatest Invention
Deutscher, Guy
Paperback
Enhancing Instruction for Multilingual Learners: Coaching Practices to Empower Students
Polk, Paula
Paperback
Learn Korean - The Language Workbook for Beginners: An Easy, Step-by-Step Study Book and Writing Practice Guide for Learning How to Read, Write, and T
Polyscholar
Lee, Jennie
Paperback
Arabic for Beginners: A Guide to Modern Standard Arabic (Free Online Audio and Printable Flash Cards)
Risha, Sarah
Paperback
Basic Tagalog: Learn to Speak Modern Filipino/ Tagalog - The National Language of the Philippines: Revised Third Edition (with Online Audio)
Hernandez, Yolanda Canseco
Aspillera, Paraluman S.
Paperback
The First 100 Chinese Characters: Simplified Character Edition: (Hsk Level 1) the Quick and Easy Way to Learn the Basic Chinese Characters
Matthews, Alison
Matthews, Laurence
Paperback
Easy Thai: A Complete Language Course and Pocket Dictionary in One! (Free Companion Online Audio)
Rattanakhemakorn, Jintana
Paperback
Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World
Bergstrom, Carl T.
West, Jevin D.
Paperback
Tuttle Practical Cambodian Dictionary: English-Cambodian Cambodian-English
Smyth, David
Kien, Tran
Paperback
English Short Stories for Beginners and Intermediate Learners: Learn English and Build Your Vocabulary
Guru, Language
Paperback
Vietnamese Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Folktales in Vietnamese and English (Free Online Audio)
Le, Tram
Tran, Tri C.
Paperback
Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes: Life and Language in the Amazonian Jungle
Everett, Daniel L.
Paperback
The Lexicon: A Cornucopia of Wonderful Words for the Inquisitive Word Lover
Buckley, William F., Jr.
Buckley, William F., Jr.
Paperback
Japanese Kanji Fast Finder: Find the Character You Need in a Single Step!
Matthews, Laurence
Paperback