Torres Strait English facts for kids

Torres Strait English, often called T.I. English by the people who speak it, is a special way of speaking English. It's used by people born and raised on Thursday Island and nearby islands in the Torres Strait, which is in North Queensland, Australia. These speakers come from many different backgrounds, including Indigenous Torres Strait Islanders, Malay, Filipino, European, and Japanese people.

It's important to know that Torres Strait English is different from Torres Strait Creole, even though many local people speak both. Some people in the Torres Strait also speak General Australian English.

What Makes T.I. English Special?

Torres Strait English has some unique features that make it stand out.

Sounds and Pronunciation

One main difference is how certain sounds are pronounced. For example, in T.I. English, words like "wheel" and "fool" keep their long 'ee' and 'oo' sounds. In contrast, in Australian English, these words might sound a bit different, like "w-eye-l" or "f-ow-l."

Grammar and Phrases

T.I. English also has special grammar rules and phrases.

• "You for [adjective]": This phrase is used to say "You look really [adjective]" or "You are a real show-off!" For example, "You for style!" means "You are really cool!"
• Commands: When giving commands, speakers often use words like "you." For example, instead of just "Go!" they might say "You go!"
• Verb Forms: T.I. English often uses a simpler system for verbs. For example, instead of "did," they might say "done." Instead of "ran," they might say "run." And instead of "came," they might say "come." This means many verbs have a similar form for the past and present.
• "Oncet": You might hear "oncet" instead of "once."

Rhotic or Non-Rhotic?

Like Australian and New Zealand English, Torres Strait English is a non-rhotic accent. This means that the 'r' sound at the end of words (like in "car") or before other consonants (like in "park") is usually not pronounced.

Where Did T.I. English Come From?

Torres Strait English didn't just come from one place. It developed on its own from the English spoken by the first European settlers in the area. These settlers came from many different parts of the world. Not many of them were native-born White Australians.

The English they spoke included different types of British English, Irish English, and even Jamaican English. Over time, other languages also influenced T.I. English. These influencing languages are called substratum languages. They include Malay, Japanese, Chinese, Jamaican Creole, Samoan, and Brokan. This mix of languages helped shape the unique way Torres Strait English is spoken today.