The Multilingual Apple: Languages in New York City (Contributions to the Sociology of Language)

This book will be of special interest to the general reader concerned with the issue of language in the United States, as well as the language specialist and sociolinguist. It has been written to inform those wishing to learn more about the role that languages other than English have had, and continue to have, in the life of the most important United States city, New York. At the same time this volume makes an important contribution to the scholarly literature on urban multilingualism and the sociology of language. The book contains chapters on languages of ethnolinguistic groups who arrived early in New York and which have been somewhat silenced (Irish, German, Yiddish), the languages of groups who made early contributions and continue to be heard in the city (Italian, Greek , Spanish, Hebrew), and languages which are acquiring an important voice in the city today (Chinese, Indian languages, English creoles, Haitian Creole). This collection of papers tells the story of how languages other than English have contributed to making New York City a culturally vibrant and linguistically diverse city. Part 1, "Introduction to the Multilingual Apple," features "New York's Multilingualism: World Languages and Their Role in a U.S. City" (Ofelia Garcia). Part 2, "The Language of Early Arrivals: Still Encountered," features "Irish in Nineteenth Century New York" (Kenneth E. Nilsen); "German in New York" (John R. Costello); and "Yiddish in New York" (Hannah Kliger and Rakhmiel Peltz). Part 3, "The Languages with Vitality in the Past and the Present," includes "Italian in New York" (Hermann W. Haller); "Greek in New York (Chrysie M. Costantakos and John N. Spiridakis); Spanish in New York" (Ana Celia Zentalla); and "Hebrew in New York" (Alvin I. Schiff). Part 4, "The Languages with the Newest Sounds and of Newest Faces," includes "Chinese in New York" (Shiwen Pan); "The Languages of India in New York" (Kamal K. Sridhar); "Haitian Creole in New York" (Carole M. Nerotte Joseph); and "English Caribbean Creole in New York" (Lise Winer and Lona Jack). Part 5, "Concluding Observations to the Multilingual Apple," offers "Do Ethnics Have Culture? And What's So Special about New York Anyway?" (Joshua A. Fishman). (Individual papers contain references.) (SM)

Individual chapters devoted to Irish, German, Yiddish, Italian, Greek, Spanish, Hebrew, Chinese, Hindi and other Indian languages, Haitian Creole, and English Caribbean Creole explore the contributions of various languages to New York City culture. Each chapter explores linguistic and usage characteristics in countries of origin, demographic factors affecting varieties of language used, the evolution of languages in New York, the effect of the sociopolitical environment on the linguistic characteristics of the languages, and the use of the language in the city at large. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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Individual chapters devoted to Irish, German, Yiddish, Italian, Greek, Spanish, Hebrew, Chinese, Hindi and other Indian languages, Haitian Creole, and English Caribbean Creole explore the contributions of various languages to New York City culture. Each chapter explores linguistic and usage characteristics in countries of origin, demographic factors affecting varieties of language used, the evolution of languages in New York, the effect of the sociopolitical environment on the linguistic characteristics of the languages, and the use of the language in the city at large. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Foreword I. INTRODUCTION TO THE MULTILINGUAL APPLE New York's multilingualism: World languages and their role in a U. S. city II. THE LANGUAGE OF EARLY ARRIVALS: STILL ENCOUNTERED Irish in nineteenth century New York German in New York Yiddish in New York III. THE LANGUAGES WITH VITALITY IN THE PAST AND THE PRESENT Italian in New York Greek in New York Spanish in New York Hebrew in New York IV. THE LANGUAGES WITH THE NEWEST SOUNDS AND OF NEWEST FACES Chinese in New York The languages of India in New York Haitian Creole in New York English Caribbean Creole in New York V. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS TO THE MULTILINGUAL APPLE Do ethnics have culture? And what's so special about New York anyway? Contributors Index Aimed at the general reader as well as language specialists and sociolinguists, this text presents a dicussion on the role that languages other than English have had, and continue to have, in the life of New York. "On the island of Manhate, and in its environs, there may well be four or five hundred men of different sects and nations: The Director General told me that there were men of eighteen different languages."