New Mexican English

New Mexican English is a term for the dialect, and sub-dialects of, American English spoken in New Mexico. When written is follows the rules established in American English, it can be colloquially represented in writing as well, see the numerous Western films and novels set in New Mexico.

Differences

Pronunciations

• Unlike a majority of Southern English dialects cot and caught do share the same pronunciation. Card and cord, as well as pin and pen, have the same pronunciation as a vast majority of other varieties of American English. However, father and bother have merged in pronunciation.
• New Mexican English do not have the non-rhotic glide of Southern English. It does however have a sing-song pattern of speech, this is due to communications with speakers of Spanish, Tiwa, Tewa, Navajo and Apache. The sing-song intonation is not dependent on bilingualism or multilingualism, and displays itself with native English speakers in the area as well.
• A monophthongal /a/ in "skillet" frying-pan, "poke" paper sack, "green beans" string beans, and nice time.
• ñ and ll, are pronounced as they are in Spanish.

Spelling

• 'Chile, only used in reference to the New Mexico chile pepper, chili is equated in Texas style chili con carne.

Shortenings

• 'member, of "remember".

Various

• Spanish loanwords, that mean the same thing as they do in Spanish are as follows; acequia (irrigation ditch), canales (rain gutters), vigas (house rafters), and coyote.
• Spanish loanwords, that do not mean the same thing as they do in Spanish are as follows; corazón (heart, but implies sweetheart, courage, and strength), hui (pronounced ooey, which is used as a scared or startled expression), and ombers (similar to tsk tsk).
• Native American loanwords are as follows; kachina (spirits from the Pueblo religion) and kiva (a place of worship in the Pueblo religion, used for numerous place names).

References

• New Mexican English in the New Mexico Cultural Encyclopedia, Lexicon, and News