Llanito
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Llanito (IPA: [jɑˈnito]) or Yanito is an Andalusian Spanish based creole spoken in the British dependent territory of Gibraltar. It is heavily influenced by English and it also has other influences such as Haketia (Judeo-Spanish). Gibraltarians may also call themselves Llanitos (female Llanitas). The colloquial term los Llanis is also used in La Línea, Algeciras and other surrounding Andalusian towns as well as in Gibraltar itself.
Llanito and its plural form Llanitos literally means a person or people of the flats. It is thought that the inhabitants of La Línea de la Concepción, a neighboring village with important social and economic ties with Gibraltar, were actually referred to as llanitos since la linea lies in the plain and marsh land surrounding the rock.
To many outsiders, Llanito sounds incomprehensible, as speakers appear to switch languages in mid-sentence, but to people who can understand both English and Spanish, it sounds surprising and unique. One feature of the language is the pronunciation of English words with an Andalusian flavour. For example, bacon is pronounced beki; cake, quequi; battery, batteria; and a policeman is known as un bobi, (from "bobby"), porridge is called cuecaro (a Spanish-sounding version of the brand Quaker Oats). However, this is more common with the older population as the younger generation have a different vernacular, for example la palma for 'the police'. Gibraltarians, especially those with higher education, speak standard Spanish of both Andalusian and Castilian dialects and standard English of the British English variety.
[edit] Etymology
In contention. Some attribute it to llano ('plain'), a reference to the isthmus between Gibraltar and Spain, or to Gianni + -ito or equivalently John + -ito.
[edit] See also
British Isles
British •
East Anglian •
English English •
Estuary •
Hiberno-English (Ireland) •
Highland •
Manx •
Mid Ulster •
Midlands •
Northern •
Received Pronunciation •
Scottish •
Welsh •
West Country dialects
United States
American •
African American Vernacular •
Appalachian •
Baltimorese •
Boston •
California •
Chicano •
Cajun•
General American •
Hawaiian Pidgin •
Maine-New Hampshire •
New York-New Jersey English •
North Central American •
Inland Northern American •
Pacific Northwest •
Pittsburgh •
Southern American •
Utah •
Yooper
Canada
Canadian •
West/Central Canadian •
Maritimer •
Newfoundland •
Quebec
Oceania
Australian •
New Zealand •
Australian Aboriginal
Asia
Burmese •
Hong Kong •
Indian •
Manglish •
Philippine •
Singlish •
Sri Lankan
Other countries
Bermudian •
Caribbean •
Jamaican •
Liberian •
Malawian •
South African
Miscellaneous
Basic •
Commonwealth •
Euro-English •
Globish •
International •
Llanito (Gibraltar) •
Mid-Atlantic •
North American •
Plain •
Simplified •
Special •
Standard
| Pseudo-dialects: |
Engrish | Globish | Greeklish | Franglais | Internet slang | Leet | Valspeak |
| Mixed languages: | Chinglish | Denglisch | Finglish |Hinglish | Inglés de escalerilla | Konglish | Llanito | Namlish | Poglish | Runglish | Spanglish | Swenglish | Tinglish | Yeshivish | Yinglish |
