The Washington Post

'It's super Miami': Linguists identify new Floridian dialect

In Miami, people don’t “get” in line, they “make” the line (from the Spanish “hacer la fila”). They are not “very” tired, they are “super” tired (“Estar súper cansado”). And they don’t “get out” of their cars, they “get down” from their cars (“Bajarse del carro”). It’s a form of what experts call Miami English — and yes, to quote the source featured in this video, it’s “super Miami.”

Thanks to a study published in 2023, Miami — known for its beaches, basketball team, and stormy weather and politics — is finally getting recognition, and validation, for its unique use of the English language.

“There are many, many, many ways of speaking American English and many regional, ethnic and social dialects,” said Phillip M. Carter, a Florida International University professor and lead author of a paper published on the Miami dialect in the journal English World Wide. “[Miami English] is just another one being added to the tapestry.”

Role: Director, co-cinematographer, producer and editor.

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'It's super Miami': Linguists identify new Floridian dialect

In Miami, people don’t “get” in line, they “make” the line (from the Spanish “hacer la fila”). They are not “very” tired, they are “super” tired (“Estar súper cansado”). And they don’t “get out” of their cars, they “get down” from their cars (“Bajarse del carro”). It’s a form of what experts call Miami English — and yes, to quote the source featured in this video, it’s “super Miami.”

Thanks to a study published in 2023, Miami — known for its beaches, basketball team, and stormy weather and politics — is finally getting recognition, and validation, for its unique use of the English language.

“There are many, many, many ways of speaking American English and many regional, ethnic and social dialects,” said Phillip M. Carter, a Florida International University professor and lead author of a paper published on the Miami dialect in the journal English World Wide. “[Miami English] is just another one being added to the tapestry.”

Role: Director, cinematographer, producer and editor.