African-American communication: The continuity and extension through talk elements of commercial black radio

This study sought to examine the presence of Afrocentric discourse within talk elements of black radio programs aired on Howard University radio (WHUR). Emphasis within this study was placed on: the traditionally Afrocentric oral practices that characterize talk elements of black radio and the emergence of innovative communication practices of contemporary black radio. Results of this study found that characteristics of African-American communication are used in all of the researched programs. Linguistic examples of lyrical code and style were more readily apparent in the two syndicated programs. Afrocentric ways of communicating, such as empathetic understanding and community harmony, were more readily apparent in the two local programs.