Siculish
Encyclopedia
Siculish is the "Sicilianization" of English language
words and phrases by immigrants from Sicily
to the United States
in the early 20th century, usually for humorous effect, or out of necessity. Many times, Siculish was used to Sicilianize the names of American places among immigrant communities, such as Bensonhurst, New York
becoming nicknamed "Bensinosti". Indeed New York itself became known as Nu Jorca.
Forms of Siculish are also to be found in other Sicilian immigrant communities of English-speaking countries, namely Canada and Australia. A surprising similarity can often be found between these forms, through either coincidence, trans-national movements of Sicilian immigrants, or more likely, through the logical adaptation of English
using linguistic norms from the Sicilian language
.
Some common Siculish terms and an explanation of their derivation (not necessarily common to all anglo-speaking countries):
Many children of Sicilian immigrants will often confuse actual Sicilian words for Siculish. This will especially occur where both the Sicilian and English languages have basically the same word derived from Norman
. For example the following are Sicilian words that could be mistaken for being Siculish: anciòva means "anchovy", trubbulu means "trouble", damaggiu means "damage", raggia means "rage", tastari means "to taste" and truppicari means "to trip" - but they are examples of Sicilian and English words with the same Norman derivation.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
words and phrases by immigrants from Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the early 20th century, usually for humorous effect, or out of necessity. Many times, Siculish was used to Sicilianize the names of American places among immigrant communities, such as Bensonhurst, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
becoming nicknamed "Bensinosti". Indeed New York itself became known as Nu Jorca.
Forms of Siculish are also to be found in other Sicilian immigrant communities of English-speaking countries, namely Canada and Australia. A surprising similarity can often be found between these forms, through either coincidence, trans-national movements of Sicilian immigrants, or more likely, through the logical adaptation of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
using linguistic norms from the Sicilian language
Sicilian language
Sicilian is a Romance language. Its dialects make up the Extreme-Southern Italian language group, which are spoken on the island of Sicily and its satellite islands; in southern and central Calabria ; in the southern parts of Apulia, the Salento ; and Campania, on the Italian mainland, where it is...
.
Some common Siculish terms and an explanation of their derivation (not necessarily common to all anglo-speaking countries):
- baccausa - Sicilianisation of English words "back" and "house", as in "out house"; referring to the original location of toilet facilities, usually located in the backyard or rear of the home, at the turn of the century before the advent of indoor plumbing; even used today to refer to any functioning bathroom.
- bissinissa - Sicilianisation of English word "business", either referring to a commercial enterprise or family-run shop, or to the personal affairs of an individual, sometimes used jokingly (also found as bissinissi in both singular and plural forms).
- bossu - addition of masculine u ending to English word "boss"
- carru - marriage of English "car" with Sicilian carru meaning "cart", modern use of existing Sicilian word to suit new environment
- brucculinu - Sicilianisation of the New York City borough of "Brooklyn"; can also refer to any Sicilian (or Italian) who has made it across the ocean to New York, or any of the other surrounding areas heavily populated by Italian immigrants in the northeastern United States.
- frenza - sicilianisation of English word "fence", as in the backyard fence; marriage with Sicilian frinza meaning "fringe" or "border"
- giobbu - addition of masculine u ending to English word "job", gi- being the sicilian form of English "j", with the doubling of the "b" a common Sicilian linguistic trait (may also be found as giobba, i.e. feminine ending)
- jarda - sicilianisation of English "yard", as in "backyard" or "garden", but also Sicilian jardinu means "garden"
- shtritta - Sicilianisation of English word "street" - pronounced sh-treeh-tah" (its pronunciation is the same of the word that in Sicilian language means "narrow")
- tupicu - sicilianisation of English word "toothpick" - pronounced too-pee-koo"
Many children of Sicilian immigrants will often confuse actual Sicilian words for Siculish. This will especially occur where both the Sicilian and English languages have basically the same word derived from Norman
Norman language
Norman is a Romance language and one of the Oïl languages. Norman can be classified as one of the northern Oïl languages along with Picard and Walloon...
. For example the following are Sicilian words that could be mistaken for being Siculish: anciòva means "anchovy", trubbulu means "trouble", damaggiu means "damage", raggia means "rage", tastari means "to taste" and truppicari means "to trip" - but they are examples of Sicilian and English words with the same Norman derivation.