For comparison

[Henry M]

What do we make of this, and why?:

The Encino, California School Board has declared Jewish English, or
"Hebonics," a second language.

Backers of the move say the district is the first in the nation to
recognize Hebonics as the language of many of America's Jews.  Here
are some descriptions of the characteristics of the language, and
samples of phrases in standard English and Jewish English.


SAMPLES OF PRONUNCIATION CHARACTERISTICS

 1.  "Hebonics" hardens consonants at the ends of words. Thus, "hand"
becomes "handt."

 2.  The letter "W" is always pronounced as if it were a "V".  Thus
"walking" becomes "valking".

 3.  "R" sounds are transformed to a guttural utterance that is  
virtually impossible to spell in English.  It's "ghraining 
alghready".


SAMPLES OF IDIOMATIC CHARACTERISTICS

 1.  Questions are always answered with questions.

      Question:      "How do you feel?"
Hebonics response:  "How should I feel?"

 2.  The subject is often placed at the end of a sentence after a 
pronoun has been used at the beginning:  "She dances beautifully, 
that girl."

 3.  The sarcastic repetition of words by adding "sh" to the front is
 used for emphasis: mountains becomes "shmountains"; turtle becomes
"shmurtle".


SAMPLE USAGE COMPARISONS:

 Standard English Phrase                    Hebonics Phrase

 "He walks slow"                       "Like a fly in the ointment 
                                                     he walks"

 "Sorry, I do not know the time"       "What do I look like,a clock?"

 "I hope things turn out for the best" "You should BE so lucky"

 "Anything can happen"                 "It is never so bad, it can't
                                                          get worse"

 You're sexy"                             (unknown concept)

AsB4
Keep cool, but care. -- TRP
Moderation in moderation. -- Husky Mariner
m1,ru12? - HDM, d1