Jafaican

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jafaican, also called Tikkiny, is a fairly recent dialect (and/or sociolect) of English spoken mainly in inner city London. According to research by Queen Mary, University of London, Jafaican is gaining territory from Cockney/Estuary English.

The word (also written Jafaikan) is a neologism which became prominent in 2006, coined as a portmanteau of the three words "Jamaican", "African" and possibly, "fake".

It is said to contain many elements from the languages of Jamaica, West Africa and the Indian subcontinent. It was popularized by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen as the gangster-wannabe Ali G. Although the name "Jafaican" implies that it is "fake" Jamaican, researchers indicate that it is not the language of white kids trying to "play cool" but rather that "[it is] more likely that young people have been growing up in London exposed to a mixture of second-language English and local London English and that this new variety has emerged from that mix".[1]. It is also possible that it is a blend of the aforementioned dialects with some Americanisms often used within Rap and Hip Hop culture.

The Jafaican accent is used completely by the majority of young, inner city working class people. Others (mainly young) use it to varying degrees mixed with cockney, Received Pronounciation, or their own ethnic accent. [2].