Not even in Bermuda did the newspapers use local lingo that made up a news article headline (unelss it was in quote). But Cayman did. Take a look here at one such article, where such is the evidence of how local lingo makes the headline. 'Soon Come'! Only in Cayman!
I think it's endearing.
My local friend Piglet would often poke fun at when when I first got here, at my inability to speak Patois or understand Patois. Cayman has a significant Jamaican population, with many Jamaicans that are now status holders, so of course, Patois has been integrated into the everyday dialogue. Oh fine, whatever Piglet, I'd say. Not that I'd really care. Ironic considering some of the words that Piglet pronounces are hard to understand (not by me). Like with friends one evening, during conversation, she inadvertently kept saying scrimp. A couple of friends had a hard time figuring out what that word meant. I leaned back and watched because mere moments earlier Piglet had just completed making fun of me and my non Patois speaking abilities. After a few repeats, no one was getting anywhere so I stepped in and said: She means shrimp. I then looked over to Piglet and was all like: I may not understand Patois and don't need to yo, cause I understand Piglet! HA! It's a very popular inside joke among us now. So, care to take a guess as to how many times she has since even 'attempted' to lay the Patois joke on me?
Just last night I realised I said WEST BAY like a Caymanian would. Three times! Until I caught myself and Hubby laughed at me saying I was now truly and fully integrated. This sort of thing NEVER happened in Bermuda. Ever. Not that it's a bad thing, I'm just saying. The Bermudian accent is a little harder to have sneak up on you without your knowledge and for that matter not all Caymanian pronounced words are easy to do so either.
My very good local friend's grandmother passed away last week. Here in Cayman, funeral programmes are quite elaborate, with the entire service outlined, including tributes from loved ones. So, of course Piglet being the oldest grandchild, and who was also quite close to her grandmother has penned a tribute that will also be read out, most probably by her. As we were going over it a couple of nights ago, she happened to drop the bomb of: I may become very emotional and may not be able to read out the tribute. Will you then step in and read it on my behalf?
My reaction: ME? Read it out in front of the entire congregation?
Piglet: Yes. You will have to walk up there with me and in case I can't read it you'll have to step in. Will you do it?
Me: Um ok... (how could I say no). There's just one thing. Do I have to read out Mummy with a Caymanian accent?
Because Piglet called her grandmother, Mummy; the tribute is entitled Mummy. Mummy with the Caymanian accent is pronounced Mummay. Most words are...like money is monay, fidelity is fidelitae, etc.
Piglet: Yes, you will have read it out Mummy with a Caymanian accent, where ever it says so in the tribute. Like you know, Mummy is Mummay.
Me: WHAT? (This is not so much of a problem because one of my cousins used to call out to her mom in exactly this way, except the ending syllable was stretched even further. We still poke fun at her for this, to this day).
Piglet: You know how to say it.
Me: Yeah, I know how to say it but I don't know. That's a lot of pressure. What if I get nervous and switch back to saying Mummy instead of Mummay. You know cause that's a lot of people and I've never really done this before. What then?
Piglet: Well, then you'll have to practice, won't you?
Yeah, easy for her to say. However, I am honoured that she asked me to be her back up.
Some days I find myself racking my brains to think of something to post. Bermuda, Cayman, Toronto, Dubai, Bombay and a way to make it all relateable to the two islands. But I get nothing, nada, babkus, zilch! You get the idea. Well, this week is NOT one of those times my friends. I got just as many ideas this week coming out of my ears as I do smoke when I'm hopping mad. Why, just off the previous post I've got two, count 'em, not one, but TWO topics to blog about. But I'm only going to do one today and I shall leave the rest for another day. I've got to keep you coming back for more, right?
Ok so here goes...
I've blogged about the Queen's English before, specifically the pronunciations of words that are so very different from North American English. The Queen's English is not really limited to England but anywhere that England was a major force back in the colonial days (Canada does not count here). So, we're talking about India (and all them Indians of course, specifically my parents), the West Indies...et al.
So, how would you pronounce this: SPECIALITY (as in Speciality Inn).
If you're North American you're probably pronounced it speshulty BUT if you're of the Queen's English you're probably pronouncing it speci-a-lity. Am I right? Just another thing of Bermuda that reminded me of my days in India where everyone (including me) would pronounce it the latter. Somewhere along the way (in Canada) I lost it, but my parents (especially my Dad) and their friends haven't. And it makes me smile when I hear those variances.
So, I'm taking a head count...how did you pronounce it? SPESHULTY or SPECI-A-LITY?
