On the linguistics of Michael Jackson

[librariangirl:)]

English is not my mother tongue, but I always assumed that MJ pronounced some words "wrong" on purpose (like kid: "shed", come on: "shamon" etc) - is this slang or did he make it up? I also noticed that he sometimes says "e/i" instead of "a" (any: "eny", many: "meny") - I guess that's some kind of an accent?

 

[Agonum]

@Agonum Thanks, right It was strange to me too because i never heard M ever say that. Clearly the article was written by some young journalist i'm sure. (there's loads i could say on that )
However , I think it's certainly a newer phrase ? I have a fantastic thesaurus of slang from that time period... and nope it is not in there as reference haha and as i said i have never heard him use that. and if i can recall not even in the 2005 interview with Geraldo did he say any phrase like that? "the album is coming out / will be coming out " he would always say otherwise?
Anyhow Thanks for getting it.

“The album will drop” is not Michael’s jargon, no. It’s Teddy Riley’s! Or even MC Hammer’s!

“Come out” or “release” is what he’d say, you are absolutely right.

I get worked up, too, when I realize people are putting words in his mouth!

 

[Agonum]

English is not my mother tongue, but I always assumed that MJ pronounced some words "wrong" on purpose (like kid: "shed", come on: "shamon" etc) - is this slang or did he make it up? I also noticed that he sometimes says "i" instead of "e" or "a" and "e" (any: "eny") - I guess that's some kind of an accent?

“Chid” and “shamone” are palatalizations. See the first post!

The second thing you’re mentioning is a feature found in many English accents called the pin/pen merger, where “pen” is pronunced “pin” and vice versa.

 

[librariangirl:)]

“Chid” and “shamone” are palatalizations. See the first post!

The second thing you’re mentioning is a feature found in many English accents called the pin/pen merger, where “pen” is pronunced “pin” and vice vers

Thank you for the explanation! Just read on quora: ‘SHAMONE.’ It is really… ‘CHUM ON.’ It is a black/southern,’ dialect/colloquialism for: ‘come on,’ or ‘c'mon.’

 

[wendijane]

“The album will drop” is not Michael’s jargon, no. It’s Teddy Riley’s! Or even MC Hammer’s!

“Come out” or “release” is what he’d say, you are absolutely right.

I get worked up, too, when I realize people are putting words in his mouth!

Yeah thanks @Agonum. Was pretty happy when you noticed my post there , And with your knowledge on this subject.. Ah,
well, that is a true compliment and i have to say i was thrilled.
Yessss 'release'... that's it ! That is the other word i was hunting for. Exactly

“Chid” and “shamone” are palatalizations. See the first post!

The second thing you’re mentioning is a feature found in many English accents called the pin/pen merger, where “pen” is pronunced “pin” and vice versa.

The pin/pen merger melts me every time. I find it the most alluring ...I love this thread.

 

[Agonum]

The pin/pen merger melts me every time. I find it the most alluring ...I love this thread.

I have a weakness for it, too! Although my favourite has to be the monophthongization (ungliding) of /aj/.

 

[wendijane]

I have a weakness for it, too! Although my favourite has to be the monophthongization (ungliding) of /aj/.

The vowel shift

 

[Agonum]

Double negatives ⁽ᵂᵏᵖ·⁾ resolving to a simple negative is a common feature of African American English (in the US, it is also commonly observed in Southern American English; in the UK, it is observed in various regional dialects), whereas in Standard English it is understood to resolve to a positive. With Michael, you will see it perhaps most prominently in the title of A Place with No Name.

More examples from Michael are welcome.

 

[wendijane]

Double negatives ⁽ᵂᵏᵖ·⁾ resolving to a simple negative is a common feature of African American English (in the US, it is also commonly observed in Southern American English; in the UK, it is observed in various regional dialects), whereas in Standard English it is understood to resolve to a positive. With Michael, you will see it perhaps most prominently in the title of A Place with No Name.

More examples from Michael are welcome.

heres an example.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/743868063476522441/

I ...ME! meaning .... it's for me. I win babe

 

[wendijane]

I love this thread @Agonum

 

[Agonum]

Double negatives ⁽ᵂᵏᵖ·⁾ […]

A few more examples (italicized), from the albums Bad (1987), and Dangerous (1991):

Ain’t nobody’s business
Ain’t nobody’s business
Ain’t nobody’s business but mine and my baby

The Way You Make Me Feel (1987)​

Ain’t nothin’ gonna stop me
Ain’t no stop and go
I’m speedin’ on the midway
I gotta really burn this road

Speed Demon (1987)​

Time after time, I gave you all of my money
No excuses to make
Ain’t no mountain that I can’t climb, baby
All is goin’ my way

Leave Me Alone (1987)​

I told my brothers, ‘don’t you ask me for no favors
I’m conditioned by the system, don’t you talk to me, don’t scream and shout’

Jam (1991)​

They print my message in the Saturday Sun
I had to tell ’em I ain’t second to none
[…]
I ain’t scared of your brother
I ain’t scared of no sheets
I ain’t scared of nobody
Girl, when the goin’ gets mean

Black or White (1991)​

Who is it?
Is it a friend of mine?
Who is it?
Is it my brother?
Who is it?
Somebody hurt my soul now
Who is it?
I can’t take this stuff no more

Who Is It? (1991)​

 

[librariangirl:)]

A few more examples (italicized), from the albums Bad (1987), and Dangerous (1991):

The Way You Make Me Feel (1987)


Speed Demon (1987)


Leave Me Alone (1987)


Jam (1991)


Black or White (1991)


Who Is It? (1991)​

Wow -you're so good at this. Are you a linguist?

 

[Agonum]

Wow -you're so good at this. Are you a linguist?

Thank you, you’re too kind! Linguistics is merely a passionate hobby of mine. My field of profession is musicology.