Americans across the country are known for telling someone to “get out of the car,” but in South Florida, a slightly different version is commonly heard: “Get down from the car.” Linguists argue that this distinctive slang is evidence of a new American dialect that can be referred to as Miami English. According to sociolinguist Phillip Carter of Florida International University, this dialect has emerged due to the blending of Spanish and English over several decades, primarily starting with the Cuban Revolution in 1959. The influx of hundreds of thousands of Spanish speakers in South Florida has resulted in what Carter describes as “one of the most significant linguistic convergences in the Americas.”
The phrase “get down from the car” is a prime example of this Miami English construction. It is based on the Spanish phrase “bajar del carro,” which translates to “get out of the car” for non-Miami speakers. However, “bajar” actually means “to get down,” so it makes sense that many Miami residents conceptualize leaving a car as “getting down” rather than “getting out.” In a study conducted by Carter and published in the journal English World-Wide, phrases were presented to South Florida residents and individuals from other parts of the US, revealing that certain expressions sounded correct to Miami locals but unusual to others. These included phrases like “made the line” instead of “waited in line,” “made a party” instead of “threw a party,” and “married ‘with’ somebody” instead of “married ‘to’ somebody.”
Another distinct phrase used by Miami residents is “eating s—” to convey that they are “doing nothing.” Additionally, the word “super” is more widely used in the region compared to elsewhere, such as “super big” instead of “really big.” All these examples trace back to the original Cuban immigrants or subsequent generations translating English from Spanish. Carter emphasizes that these linguistic disparities demonstrate how Miamians perceive certain phrases differently and do not view them as “ungrammatical.” Consequently, these unique expressions are passed down, giving rise to dialects. As Carter concludes, “Minor things add up. This is how dialects are born.”
In conclusion, the emergence of Miami English as a unique American dialect is a result of the historical blending of Spanish and English in South Florida, primarily influenced by the influx of Spanish speakers from Cuba. These linguistic differences are evident in phrases like “get down from the car” and other expressions that sound correct to Miami residents but unusual to speakers from outside the region. The preservation and propagation of these distinct phrases contribute to the formation of dialects, embodying the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of Miami.
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