This article possibly contains original research .(September 2023) |
Multicultural Toronto English | |
---|---|
Toronto slang/Toronto accent | |
Native to | Canada |
Region | Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area |
Ethnicity | Various (see Ethnic groups in Toronto) |
Indo-European
| |
Early forms | |
Latin (English alphabet) | |
Sources | Jamaican Patois, Arabic, English and Somali |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | – |
Multicultural Toronto English (MTE) is a multi-ethnic dialect of Canadian English used in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), particularly among young non-white working-class speakers. [1] [2] [3] First studied in linguistics research of the late 2010s and early 2020s, [4] [5] [6] the dialect is popularly recognized by its phonology and lexicon, commonly known as the Toronto accent and Toronto slang, respectively. It is a byproduct of the city's multiculturalism, generally associated with Millennial and Gen Z populations in ethnically diverse districts of Toronto. [7] It is also spoken outside of the GTA, in cities such as Hamilton, Barrie, and Ottawa. [8] [9]
External videos | |
---|---|
Home Feeling Struggle For A Community |
The origin of Toronto's slang and accent can be traced back to widespread migration from the Caribbean, East Africa, and the Middle East to Canada from the 1960s to the 1990s. During this period, a significant influx of immigrants from countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, and Ethiopia predominantly settled in Toronto and other parts of the Greater Toronto Area. [10] [11] [12] With many of these immigrants fleeing war, conflict, and poor economic conditions, they were left with limited financial resources and, as a result, found homes in Toronto's lower-income communities. [13] [14] [15] These neighbourhoods rapidly transformed into vibrant melting pots, filled with a diverse array of cultures and ethnic backgrounds. [16] [17] This cultural amalgamation played a crucial role in developing MTE, which is rooted in Toronto's multiculturalism and draws heavy influence from Caribbean, East African, and Middle Eastern languages. [18] Towards the end of the 90s, native Toronto rapper Kardinal Offishall released his Billboard-charting single "BaKardi Slang" showcasing a variety of the cities slang throughout the lyrics and signaling the dialect was already significantly developed by this time. [4]
The second-generation descendants of these immigrants significantly contributed to embedding Toronto's distinctive slang and accent into the city's culture. [19] Faced with limited economic opportunities within their communities, these children of the initial immigrant influx turned to creative outlets like rap music, fashion, and athletics for both expression and livelihood. [20] Their influence as in these areas helped shape the city's popular culture, especially among the youth in the Greater Toronto Area. [21] Consequently, their unique manner of speaking, shaped by the aforementioned multiculturalism of their communities, gained widespread adoption throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, given their status as local tastemakers. [22] 2006 marked the first mention of Toronto's slang or accent in any formal or academic research. [23] The rise of blogging in during this time period played a pivotal role in documenting the use and development of MTE. One notable example is Jane-Finch.com, a community-driven archive dedicated to the Jane and Finch area that captured key examples of MTE's use throughout the decade. [24] Furthermore, documentaries produced by local broadcasters such as CityTV and CBC served to spotlight the dialect's presence in the city. [25] [26] This linguistic evolution during this period not only reflected Toronto's multicultural heritage but also served as a unifying cultural element for the city.
The late 2000s and much of the 2010s marked a pivotal era of growth for MTE, significantly driven by the third-generation descendants of the original immigration wave. The brewing Toronto music scene, deeply rooted in the artistic expressions of Toronto's lower-income and culturally diverse working-class communities, began receiving nationwide attention. [27] [28] The emergence of YouTube and streaming services revolutionized the music industry by dramatically reducing the barriers to music distribution, thus enabling local artists to reach vast audiences beyond the traditional mediums of CDs and mixtapes. [29] Neighbourhoods such as Regent Park, Jane and Finch, Lawrence Heights, Chester Le, Alexandra Park, and Rexdale became hotbeds of cultural growth, producing Rap and R&B artists like Smoke Dawg, Robin Banks, Top5, Pengz, K Money, and Moula1st, to name a few. [30] [31] [32] [33] These artists had significant influence among the youth of the Greater Toronto Area; the use of MTE in their lyrics, a reflection of the dialect spoken within their communities, spread contagiously as they began to amass millions of views and followers in the hundreds of thousands. [34] [35] [36] Consequently, the dialect once confined to their lower-income communities began breaking ethnic and socioeconomic barriers, making its way into suburbs and highschools, transforming Toronto's linguistic landscape. [37] [38] The impact of this cultural and linguistic shift was further magnified by the advent of social media. Platforms such as 6ixBuzz and Waveroom put a spotlight on the culture brewing in these communities through short-form, easily digestible content, attracting millions of followers. This significantly contributed to the widespread adoption and normalization of MTE seen today. [39] [40]
As in Standard Canadian English, this dialect features rhoticity, the Low Back Merger Shift, and GOOSE fronting (led by women speakers). Canadian raising also still exists, however, possibly less so than among Standard Canadian speakers.
The distinct accent features of Multicultural Toronto English include the TRAP vowel before a nasal consonant being unraised or only slightly raised and the GOAT vowel being monophthongal, both of which are "distinctly non-normative" in 21st-century Standard Canadian English and led by men in the Toronto area. [41] Th-stopping is a variable feature, likely adopted from Patois, for instance with words like youth, thing, and them colloquially spelled as yute, ting, and dem. [42]
Here is a list of common vocabulary in Multicultural Toronto English:
The increasing criticism of the Toronto accent as "fake" or indicative of a "ghetto" identity reflects a form of linguicism, akin to the discrimination encountered by speakers of African American Vernacular English in the United States. Such perceptions suggest that non-standard linguistic features are indicative of low intelligence or poor education; a perspective rooted in classism, racism, and xenophobia. [92] Specifically, this xenophobia manifests as it associates multicultural expressions—which the dialect is an amalgamation and celebration of—with the negative stereotypes of being a non-contributing member of society. Additionally, the prevalent social media claim that "People don't speak like this in Toronto" reinforces the belief that only speakers of "proper" English are fully functional members of society, while others should be subconsciously dismissed. [93] [94] By dismissing Toronto's diverse linguistic expression as merely "fake" or "ghetto," there is a failure to recognize it as a legitimate part of the city's cultural identity.
This misconception often stems from the dialect's incorrect adoption and use by outsiders, particularly in suburbs and cities outside Toronto, such as Ottawa, Hamilton, Barrie, Brampton, Mississauga, and Vaughan. These regions are significantly disconnected from the communities and localities where the culture and dialect organically developed. [8] As a result, the accent's portrayal by individuals from these areas can sometimes appear inauthentic or caricatured, which heavily distorts its true character and contributes to a negative perception of its genuine use. [9]
Compounding this issue are broader misunderstandings regarding the development of MTE. Critics have accused it of mimicking Multicultural London English, However, this is not the case; Both dialects have evolved independently, sharing roots in similar immigration patterns, thus showcasing unique sociolinguistic developments reflective of their respective cities’ multicultural landscapes. [95] [96] Furthermore, the spotlight has often been placed on public figures such as Drake or PartyNextDoor, attributing the development and popularization of the slang to them. [97] This overlooks the deeper, historical, and community-driven origins of the language. In reality, the dialect predates careers like Drake's by decades, something even he had acknowledged before adopting it himself. [98]
Discussions around cultural appropriation have arisen in regards to MTE and its origins. Some have argued the possibility of its usage veering into the territory of cultural appropriation. [99] This results from a failure to recognize that the concept of 'cultural appropriation' is largely rooted in American cultural discourse—analyzing an inherently Canadian multicultural phenomenon through this lens may not be entirely appropriate. [100] A nuanced understanding positions Toronto's slang and accent as a celebration of cultural diversity and integration. [101] Rather than a medium of appropriation, the dialect serves as a fusion of diverse cultural elements, reflecting the appreciation and mutual understanding within Toronto's diverse communities. [102] While acknowledging this, it is also important to consider the potential for appropriation by non-black individuals, particularly white individuals, who may adopt the dialect without having grown up speaking it. This commodification can project stereotypes of 'toughness' without facing associated negative implications, similar to Black Vernacular English. [103] Criticisms of cultural appropriation from recent immigrants or those still in their home country, who see second or third-generation descendants of immigrants sharing cultures, are often misguided. Claims of appropriation from various races and socioeconomic backgrounds, detached from the cultures the language sources, can obscure native speakers' connection to their dialect.
British English is the set of varieties of the English language native to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. More narrowly, it can refer specifically to the English language in England, or, more broadly, to the collective dialects of English throughout the British Isles taken as a single umbrella variety, for instance additionally incorporating Scottish English, Welsh English, and Northern Irish English. Tom McArthur in the Oxford Guide to World English acknowledges that British English shares "all the ambiguities and tensions [with] the word 'British' and as a result can be used and interpreted in two ways, more broadly or more narrowly, within a range of blurring and ambiguity".
Canadian English encompasses the varieties of English used in Canada. According to the 2016 census, English was the first language of 19.4 million Canadians or 58.1% of the total population; the remainder spoke French (20.8%) or other languages (21.1%). In the Canadian province of Quebec, only 7.5% of the population are mother tongue anglophone, as most of Quebec's residents are native speakers of Quebec French.
Cockney is a dialect of the English language, mainly spoken in London and its environs, particularly by Londoners with working-class and lower middle-class roots. The term Cockney is also used as a demonym for a person from the East End, or, traditionally, born within earshot of Bow Bells.
Patois is speech or language that is considered nonstandard, although the term is not formally defined in linguistics. As such, patois can refer to pidgins, creoles, dialects or vernaculars, but not commonly to jargon or slang, which are vocabulary-based forms of cant.
Jamaican English, including Jamaican Standard English, is the variety of English native to Jamaica and is the official language of the country. A distinction exists between Jamaican English and Jamaican Patois, though not entirely a sharp distinction so much as a gradual continuum between two extremes. Jamaican English tends to follow British English spelling conventions.
The Brummie dialect, or more formally the Birmingham dialect, is spoken by many people in Birmingham, England, and some of its surrounding area. "Brummie" is also a demonym for people from Birmingham. It is often erroneously used in referring to all accents of the West Midlands, as it is markedly distinct from the traditional accent of the adjacent Black Country, but modern-day population mobility has tended to blur the distinction. Population mobility has meant that to a degree, the Brummie accent extends into some parts of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, but much of the accent within the borough might be considered to be closer to contemporary Received Pronunciation (RP).
Darrin Kenneth O'Brien, known by his stage name Snow, is a Canadian reggae musician, rapper, and singer. His 1992 single "Informer" spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
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. The Bermudian dialect began to develop following settlement in the early 17th century and retains traits of Elizabethan English. Bermudian Creole is also spoken in Bermuda, especially among younger Bermudians.
Jamaican Patois is an English-based creole language with influences from West African and other languages, spoken primarily in Jamaica and among the Jamaican diaspora. Words or slang from Jamaican Patois can be heard in other Caribbean countries, the United Kingdom, New York City and Miami in the United States, and Toronto, Canada. The majority of non-English words in Patois derive from the West African Akan language. It is spoken by the majority of Jamaicans as a native language.
Nigerian Pidgin, also known as Naijá in scholarship, is an English-based creole language spoken as a lingua franca across Nigeria. The language is sometimes referred to as Pijin or Vernacular. It can be spoken as a pidgin, a creole, dialect or a decreolised acrolect by different speakers, who may switch between these forms depending on the social setting. In the 2010s, a common orthography was developed for Pidgin which has been gaining significant popularity in giving the language a harmonized writing system.
Rinkeby Swedish is any of a number of varieties of Swedish spoken mainly in urban districts with a high proportion of immigrant residents which emerged as a linguistic phenomenon in the 1980s. Rinkeby in Stockholm is one such suburb, but the term Rinkeby Swedish may sometimes be used for similar varieties in other Swedish cities as well. A similar term is Rosengårdssvenska after the district Rosengård in Malmö. The one magazine in Sweden published in these varieties, Gringo, proposes 'miljonsvenska' based on the Million Programme.
Indonesian slang vernacular, or Jakarta colloquial speech is a term that subsumes various urban vernacular and non-standard styles of expression used throughout Indonesia that are not necessarily mutually intelligible. Regional slang from the capital of Jakarta, based on Betawi language, is however heavily exposed and promoted in national media, and considered the de facto Indonesian slang. Despite its direct origins, Indonesian slang often differs quite significantly in both vocabulary and grammatical structure from the most standard form of Indonesia's national language. These expressions are neither standardized nor taught in any formal establishments, but rather function in daily discourse, usually in informal settings. Several dictionaries of bahasa gaul has been published. Indonesian speakers regularly mix several regional slangs in their conversations regardless of origin, but depending on the audience and the familiarity level with the listeners.
Philadelphia English or Delaware Valley English is a variety or dialect of American English native to Philadelphia and extending into Philadelphia's metropolitan area throughout the Delaware Valley, including southeastern Pennsylvania, all of South Jersey, counties of northern Delaware, and the northern Eastern Shore of Maryland. Aside from Philadelphia and the surrounding counties and arguably Baltimore, the dialect is spoken in places such as Reading, Camden, Atlantic City, Wilmington, Vineland, and Dover. Philadelphia English is one of the best-studied types of English, as Philadelphia's University of Pennsylvania is the home institution of pioneering sociolinguist William Labov. Philadelphia English shares certain features with New York City English and Midland American English, although it remains a distinct dialect of its own. Philadelphia and Baltimore accents together fall under what Labov describes as a single Mid-Atlantic regional dialect.
Multicultural London English is a sociolect of English that emerged in the late 20th century. It is spoken mainly by young, working-class people in multicultural parts of London.
12 Inches of Snow is the debut album by Canadian reggae musician Snow, released in 1993. Edmond Leary and MC Shan produced the entire album, apart from one track which was produced by John Ficarrotta. The album was produced shortly before Snow was imprisoned for a year on an assault charge. Upon his release from prison, his first single "Informer" became a chart topping hit.
The Miami accent is an evolving American English accent or sociolect spoken in South Florida, particularly in Miami-Dade county, originating from central Miami. The Miami accent is most prevalent in American-born Hispanic youth who live in the Greater Miami area.
Dancehall pop is a sub-genre of the Jamaican genre dancehall that originated in the early 2000s. Developing from the sounds of reggae, dancehall pop is characteristically different in its fusion with western pop music and digital music production. Dancehall pop is also different from dancehall in that most songs use lesser Jamaican Patois in lyrics––allowing it to be globally understood and consumed. It also incorporates the key pop music elements of having melodies, hooks, and the verse-chorus format. Additionally, the genre moves away from the reggae and roots reggae music origins in social and political protest, now lyrically centering on partying, dancing, and sexuality.
Zimbabwean English is a regional variety of English found in Zimbabwe. While the majority of Zimbabweans speak Shona (75%) and Ndebele (18%) as a first language, standard English is the primary language used in education, government, commerce and media in Zimbabwe, giving it an important role in society. Just under 5 percent of Zimbabweans are native English speakers and 89 percent of the population can speak English fluently or at a high level, second only to the Seychelles amongst African nations.
In Rastafari, "Ites, gold and green", refers to the colours associated with the Rastafari movement. The colours ites (red), gold (yellow) and green hold symbolic significance for Rastafarians and represent different aspects of their beliefs and identity.