The Formation of a New Dialect: The Bilingualism of Miami

Language Convergence in Miami

“We got down from the car and went inside.”

A New Dialect Emerges

“I made the line to pay for groceries.”

A Celebration in a Different Tongue

“He made a party to celebrate his son’s birthday.”

These phrases may sound unfamiliar to most English-speaking Americans, but in Miami, they have become part of the local language.

According to recent research, these expressions, among many others, are shaping a new dialect in South Florida.

This linguistic variety has emerged through sustained contact between Spanish and English speakers, particularly when direct translation from Spanish occurs.

When French Collided with English

Many English speakers, whether in Miami or elsewhere, are unaware of the origins of the words they use.

While it is known that a limited number of words, mainly related to food, are borrowed from other languages, the prevalence of borrowed words is much more extensive.

Loan words are found throughout the English vocabulary, such as “pajamas” from Hindi, “gazelle” from Arabic via French, and “tsunami” from Japanese.

These loan words often come from bilingual speakers who navigate between different cultures and places, resulting in the sharing of vocabulary.

When contact between languages occurs over an extended period, the structures of the languages can begin to influence each other, leading to vocabulary sharing among speakers.

The English language experienced a significant shift due to bilingual convergence. In 1066, the Norman French invaded England, leading to the replacement of the English-speaking aristocracy with a French-speaking ruling class.

While English did not reach the aristocracy, the French words seeped into the language through communication between different classes and intermarriage.

During this period, over 10,000 French loanwords entered the English language, particularly in domains associated with the aristocracy, such as the arts, military, medicine, law, and religion. Words that are now fundamental to English, such as “prince,” “government,” “administer,” “freedom,” “court,” “prayer,” “judge,” “justice,” “literature,” “music,” and “poetry,” were borrowed from French around 800 years ago.

Spanish Meets English in Miami

Fast forward to present-day Miami, where a similar language convergence involving Spanish and English has been taking place since the end of the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

Following the revolution, a large number of Cubans migrated to South Florida, setting the stage for a significant linguistic convergence.

Today, the majority of Miami’s population is bilingual, with over 65% of Miami-Dade County identifying as Hispanic or Latino. In municipalities like Doral and Hialeah, the figures reach 80% and 95%, respectively.

While language loss has occurred among second- and third-generation Cuban-Americans, Spanish and English are still widely spoken in Miami.

Within this bilingual mix, individuals navigate the sociolinguistic landscape of South Florida, knowing when to use each language and when it’s acceptable to mix them.

When the first wave of Cuban immigrants arrived in Miami, they alternated between Spanish and English, sometimes within the same sentence. This laid the foundation for the enduring presence of Spanish vocabulary in South Florida and the emergence of “Spanglish.”

Additionally, as people learned English, they often translated directly from Spanish, resulting in calques or borrowed translations.

Calques can be found throughout the English language. For example, the phrase “get down from the car” is a calque of the Spanish phrase “bajar del carro,” which translates to “get out of the car.” This direct translation influenced the way Miamians express leaving a car.

Other calques include saying “married with” instead of “married to” based on the Spanish phrase “casarse con,” and using “make a party” as a literal translation of “hacer una fiesta.”

Furthermore, semantic calques involve borrowing the meaning of words. For instance, the Spanish word “carne,” which translates to “meat,” can refer to both all meat and specifically beef. In Miami, locals use “meat” to specifically refer to beef, such as ordering “one meat patty and two chicken patties.”

These calques demonstrate the influence of Spanish on the English spoken in Miami.

A New Jargon Emerges

Research conducted in Miami has documented the calques of Spanish origin in the English spoken in South Florida.

Various types of loan translations have been identified, including literal lexical calques, semantic calques, and phonetic calques.

Literal lexical calques involve direct word-for-word translations, such as using “get down from the car” instead of “get out of the car.”

Semantic calques involve borrowing the meaning of words, such as using “meat” specifically for beef.

Phonetic calques involve translating certain sounds, such as saying “Thanks God” instead of “Thank God.”

Those Born in Miami Adopt Calques

Some calques are primarily used among the immigrant generation, while others are adopted by Miami-born individuals who speak English as their primary language.

In an experiment, Miami locals rated local expressions, such as “married with,” more favorably than non-local
This content discusses the phenomenon of language convergence in Miami, particularly the emergence of a new dialect shaped by sustained contact between Spanish and English speakers. The article highlights phrases that may sound unfamiliar to English-speaking Americans but have become part of the local language in Miami. It also explores the prevalence of borrowed words in the English vocabulary, which often come from bilingual speakers navigating different cultures and places. The article further explores the historical example of French loanwords entering the English language after the Norman French invasion in 1066. In present-day Miami, a similar language convergence involving Spanish and English has been taking place since the end of the Cuban Revolution, with a large number of Cubans migrating to South Florida. The article concludes by discussing how individuals in Miami navigate the sociolinguistic landscape, knowing when to use each language and when it’s acceptable to mix them.

How has sustained contact between Spanish and English speakers in Miami led to the emergence of a new dialect?

Sustained contact between Spanish and English speakers in Miami has led to the emergence of a new dialect called “Miami English” or “Miami Spanglish.” This dialect is a unique blend of Spanish and English, influenced by the cultural and linguistic interactions between the two communities.

One of the main factors contributing to the emergence of this dialect is the large population of Spanish speakers in Miami. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 70% of Miami’s population speaks a language other than English at home, with Spanish being the most widely spoken language. The constant interaction between these Spanish speakers and English speakers creates a linguistic environment where code-switching and borrowing between languages occur naturally.

Code-switching is a common phenomenon in Miami, where individuals seamlessly switch between languages within the same conversation or even sentence. Spanish and English words, phrases, and grammatical structures are often integrated into the speech patterns of Miami residents. For example, an English sentence may start with “Hey, ¿qué pasa?” (Hey, what’s up?), blurring the boundaries between the two languages.

Borrowing from one language to another is also prevalent in Miami English. English speakers may adopt Spanish loanwords and incorporate them into their everyday speech, while Spanish speakers may use English words or phrases to express particular concepts. This constant borrowing and switching between languages create a distinct linguistic hybrid that characterizes the Miami dialect.

Additionally, cultural influences play a significant role in the development of the Miami dialect. The city’s diverse Latino population, comprising individuals from various Spanish-speaking countries, contributes to the varied Spanish accents, idioms, and vocabulary present in Miami English. The influence of Cuban, Puerto Rican, Colombian, Venezuelan, and other Hispanic cultures shapes the unique linguistic features of the dialect.

Overall, sustained contact between Spanish and English speakers in Miami has given rise to a new dialect that reflects the linguistic and cultural diversity of the city. Miami English is a dynamic and evolving linguistic hybrid that continues to evolve as a result of ongoing interaction between the two language communities.