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Bermudian English

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This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

Bermudian English is a regional dialect of English found in Bermuda, a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic. Standard English is used in professional settings and in writing, while vernacular Bermudian English is spoken on more casual occasions.[1] The Bermudian dialect began to develop following settlement in the early 17th century and retains traits of Elizabethan English.[2]

Casual observers tend to have difficulty in placing the Bermudian dialect, as it differs from those that are clearly British, American, or Caribbean; they also note that the accent tends to vary between individuals.[3] To Americans, it sounds slightly English, while those from the British Isles find it more American.[4]

Classification

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Bermudian English has been called "one of the most severely under-researched varieties of English".[5] It primarily shows a mixture of traits typical of British English and American English, and is generally classified as a form of American (rather than Caribbean) English.[6] The most detailed scholarly study of Bermudian English, in 1933, stated that this type of speech "would create least remark, if indeed any, between, say, Norfolk, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina" (Bermuda was settled as an extension of the Colony of Virginia, and Charleston and the Carolina Province were settled from Bermuda, and Bermuda retained close links with both into the 19th century, although the start of its tourism industry in the latter 19th century would see its transport connections move to the North East of the United States, from where most of its visitors continue to come; within the British Empire, Bermuda was administered not as part of the British West Indies but with the continental colonies to its west as part of British America until 1783, then as part of British North America, with closest ties to the Maritimes, until left out of the 1867 Confederation of Canada);[7] Bermudian actor Earl Cameron noted that because the Bermudian accent sounded American, he was able to land a speaking role in London's West End in 1942.[8] Consequently, in certain aspects of vocalization, some Bermudian English dialects are close to some versions of Caribbean English,[9] and some would bracket all these varieties to the broad region of the "English-speaking West Indies".[10]

Phonology

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The dialect's most evident characteristic is a variation in letter/sound assignment. The switching of [v] and [w],[11] characteristic of many dialects in Southern England during the 18th and 19th centuries,[12] and of [d] and [dʒ] (similarly to the dialects of English speakers of Gaelic heritage), when combined with a front vowel, can both be seen in the title of a humorous glossary, Bermewjan Vurds (Bermudian Words).[13] The traditional Bermudian pronunciation of the word "boy", used in preference to the term "guy", was originally pronounced in the same way as in Newfoundland: bye.[14][15][16] As in Newfoundland, when the word is used similarly, Bermudians still use this pronunciation, but otherwise generally now say boy when speaking of a boy. Bermuda was administratively part of continental British America 'til the 1783 independence of the colonies that became the United States of America, and thereafter was part of British North America, within which it was grouped with the Maritimes until 1867, at which point, as an Imperial fortress, it was left out of the formation of the Canadian dominion and remained under the administration of the British Government, which increasingly grouped Bermuda for convenience with the British West Indian colonies (usually termed as "the West Indies and Bermuda" or "the Caribbean and Bermuda").[17][18]

Bermudian Creole English

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Bermudian Creole English, or Bermudian Patwah, is a creolized form of Bermudian English (similar and related to the English-based creole languages of Cayman Islands English, Turks and Caicos Creole, and San Andrés–Providencia Creole); which is a dialect of Jamaican Patois (Patwah) spoken particularly among Bermuda’s younger generations.[19]

Bermudian Creole English is significantly influenced by Jamaican Patois (Patwah) and shares many of the same words such as Bredren (Friend), Gwine (Going to / Going), and Wahm (What’s happening);[20][21] which is due to the shared history of the islands and the close familial links that many Bermudians have to Jamaica, such as Premier David Burt (politician),[22] Minister Wayne Caines,[23] and former Premier Ewart Brown.[24] Bermuda has also produced a number of internationally renowned Dancehall and Reggae artists such as Collie Buddz and Mishka (musician).

Interestingly, the Island of Jamaica was actually initially settled by 200 Bermudian settlers in 1658 following the English conquest of Jamaica in 1655,[25][26] and Bermuda’s first recorded local hero is a Jamaican Coromantee slave named Tom who was tried by the colonial authorities in 1682, as the mastermind behind a plot to incite an island wide slave rebellion in Bermuda;[27][28][29] which illustrates the deep cultural, linguistic, and historical ties that unite the people of Bermuda and Jamaica.

Common Bermudian Words

[edit]
Word Meaning
Aceboy / Acegirl Good friend
Bermy Bermuda / Bermudian
Bredren Friend
Chingas Wow
Chopse / Chopsing Chatting / Gossiping / Time-wasting
Deal wid To handle in a rigorous manner
Di Rock Bermuda
Ganzy T-shirt / Sweater / Outfit
Gombey Junkanoo
Greeze Food / Meal
Gribble Angry / Irritable / Bad-tempered
Gwine Going to / Going
Micing Daydreaming
Mindral Soda
Seen I understand
Session Party
Shadeesh Sausage
Wahm What’s happening
Wrinch Scold / Reprimand

[30][31][32][33]

References

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  1. ^ Ruth Thomas, "Notes on Bermudian Language", in "Bermuda connections", Smithsonian Folklife Festival. 2001. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 2001.
  2. ^ Petrone, Kelly. Welcome to the Bermuda Department of Tourism's Media Information Kit Archived December 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Corbin & Associates, Ltd
  3. ^ Weller, Anthony. Celebration Bermuda Archived 2017-07-26 at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, June 15, 2003
  4. ^ "From chingas to chopsing: introducing Bermudian English". Oxford English Dictionary. 2021-03-15. Archived from the original on 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  5. ^ Cecilia Cutler, Stephanie Hackert and Chanti Seymour, "Bermuda and Bahamas", in Ulrich Ammon (ed.), Sociolinguistics. An International Handbook. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Walter de Gruyter, 2006. ISBN 3-11-018418-4. p. 2066.
  6. ^ Tom McArthur (ed.), Oxford Companion to the English Language. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. ISBN 0-19-214183-X. pp. 116, 352.
  7. ^ Harry Morgan Ayres, "Bermudian English", American Speech 8:1 (1933), p. 4. Available online to JSTOR subscribers Archived 2018-09-01 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Bourne, Stephen (2005). Black in British frame. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-8264-7898-6.
  9. ^ Cecilia Cutler, "English in the Turks and Caicos Islands: A look at Grand Turk" in Contact Englishes of the Eastern Caribbean, ed. Michael Aceto and Jeffrey P. Williams. John Benjamins: 2003, pp. 51–80. ISBN 90-272-4890-7. p. 60.
  10. ^ John Wells, Accents of English 3: Beyond the British Isles. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982. ISBN 0-521-29719-2. p. 561.
  11. ^ Dependents information on Bermuda, United States. Dept. of the Air Force, 1956, page 3
  12. ^ On the Opposite Sides of the Continuum: Standard British English and Cockney. A Historical Outline of the Parallel Developments of the Two Varieties Archived 2011-02-06 at the Wayback Machine, Matteo Santipolo, Università degli Studi di Padova, Department of Linguistic and Literary Studies
  13. ^ Peter A. Smith and Fred M. Barritt, Bermewjan Vurds - a Dictionary of Conversational Bermudian Archived 2024-05-26 at the Wayback Machine. Hamilton, Bermuda: Lizard Press, 1988.
  14. ^ "'BERMEWJAN VURDS' - Our Bermuda Dictionary", by Peter A. Smith and Fred M. Barritt, which lists: "BYE 1) A male child. 2) Plural BYES: WE BYES wrote this book and US BYES and THEM BYES and we sold it to YOU BYES."
  15. ^ guide to Newfoundland Slang Archived 2020-06-14 at the Wayback Machine, which records: "B'y - Though originally a short form of 'boy' it's actually gender neutral and isn't interchangeable with 'boy'. It adds emphasis to a phrase. Example: Yes, b'y, Go on, b'y."
  16. ^ Walsh, Candice (2010-08-03). "A Newfoundland Language Lesson: Using the Word B'y". freecandie.com. Candice Walsh. Archived from the original on 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-03-31. "B'y" (pronounced "bye") is dynamic and complicated. Even the Newfoundland Dictionary doesn't seem to know much about this word, but I'm certain it isn't a warped version of "boy" as it applies to females too.
  17. ^ "Caribbean Regiment Trains In U.S. For Active Service". Trinidad Guardian. Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. 1944-06-08. (Secretary of State for War Sir Percy James Grigg, KCB, KCSI, PC) I should like to send to you and to all the officers and men in your battalion my best wishes on your departure for an active theatre of operations.
    The army is glad to welcome you and I feel sure that the men from the Caribbean and Bermuda will carry on the fine traditions founded by their fathers in the last war.
  18. ^ "Caribbean Regiment Trains In U.S. For Active Service". Trinidad Guardian. Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. 1944-06-08. (Secretary of State for the Colonies (Major (Honorary Colonel, TA) Oliver Stanley, MC PC MP, Royal Field Artillery)) Now that your battalion has left its home base to take its place overseas with Allied Forces, I should like to send you and all ranks my best wishes for your success. I know how much you and your friends in the Caribbean and Bermuda have wished for this opportunity, and I have no doubt that you will make the very most of it, and that your bearing and discipline, in all circumstances, will fulfil the high expectation of us all. Good luck to all of you.
  19. ^ Shorto, Lieutenant-Colonel A. Gavin (2011-02-04). "The roots of Creole charm". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  20. ^ https://jamaicanpatwah.com/
  21. ^ Cassidy, F.G. & Le Page, R.B. (1980). Dictionary of Jamaican English. (Second ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 217. https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Jamaican-English-Frederic-Cassidy/dp/9766401276
  22. ^ "New Bermuda Premier A 'Miracle Baby'". The Gleaner. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  23. ^ "Caines twins combine to tell their story". The Royal Gazette. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  24. ^ "Former Bermuda premier praises formative years in Jamaica at book launch". The Gleaner. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  25. ^ Wilkinson, Henry (1933). ″The Adventurers of Bermuda: A history of the island from its discovery until the dissolution of the Somers Island Company in 1684.″ London: Oxford University Press. pp. 300–301.
  26. ^ Jarvis, Michael J. (2010). “In the Eye of All Trade: Bermuda, Bermudians, and the Maritime Atlantic World, 1680–1783.” Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. pp. 45, 67.
  27. ^ Bernhard, Virginia (1999). “Slaves and Slaveholders in Bermuda, 1616–1782.” Columbia: University of Missouri Press. pp. 196–198; See also: Wilkinson, Henry (1958). “The Adventurers of Bermuda” (Second ed.). London: Oxford University Press. pp. 18–24, 29–34.
  28. ^ Jarvis, Michael J. (2022). “Isle of Devils, Isle of Saints: An Atlantic History of Bermuda, 1609–1684.” Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University. p. 350.
  29. ^ "Bermuda's Black History: The 17th and 18th Centuries". The Bermudian. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  30. ^ "From chingas to chopsing: introducing Bermudian English". Oxford English Dictionary. 2021-03-15. Archived from the original on 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  31. ^ https://wiwords.com/dictionary/bermuda/all
  32. ^ http://www.bermemes2017.com/vurds?start=15
  33. ^ https://pdos.csail.mit.edu/~decouto/bvurds.html#m
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