multiculturaladj.
/ˌmʌltɪˈkʌltʃ(ə)rəl/, U.S. /ˌməltiˈkəl(t)ʃ(ə)r(ə)l/, /ˌməltaɪˈkəl(t)ʃ(ə)r(ə)l/; see also multi- comb. form and cultural adj. Of or relating to a society consisting of a number of cultural groups, esp. in which the distinctive cultural identity of each group is maintained.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > customs, values, and civilization > [adjective] > having two or more cultures
international1824
multicultural1935
bicultural1940
polycultural1942
integrated1948
pluricultural1960
multicult1980
multiculti1989
1935 Amer. Jrnl. Sociol. 41 1 The marginal man arises in a bi-cultural or multi-cultural situation.
1941 N.Y. Herald-Tribune 27 July (Books) 3 A fervent sermon against nationalism, national prejudice and behavior in favor of a ‘multicultural’ way of life.
1959 Times 18 June (Suppl.) p. iv/4 This multi-cultural, multi-lingual society [of Montreal]..is one of the most cosmopolitan in the world.
1966 Economist 22 Jan. 273/2 For the provision of troops and police [to Rhodesia], consideration should be given to states which are multi-cultural (e.g., Canada) or multiracial (e.g., Trinidad, Jamaica, and New Zealand).
1970 P. K. C. Millins (title) Education in a multicultural society.
1975 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 21 May 5/1 Trustee Daniel Leckie, chairman of the work group, puts it this way: ‘Morally, legally and pragmatically we are bound to adopt a thoroughly multicultural approach toward public education in Toronto.’
1990 Marxism Today Feb. 19/1 The United States..in spite of everything really is multicultural.
Compounds
Multicultural London English n. Linguistics a variety of English spoken mainly by young people in the multicultural neighbourhoods of inner-city London; abbreviated MLE.Though various linguistic influences are evident, that of Jamaican Creole is commonly highlighted, hence the popular name Jafaican (cf. Jafaican n. 2). Features of this variety of English have been noted in cities outside London.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > languages of the world > Indo-Hittite > [noun] > Indo-European > Germanic > English > British English > English English
north country1698
west country1711
Yorkshire1717
Kenticism1735
English English1783
cockney1812
Cockneyese1823
East Angliana1825
Somersetian1825
Northumbrian1845
Norfolk1863
Kentish1866
Doric1870
Kensingtonian1911
Mummerset1915
Geordie1928
Hoxtoniana1935
scouse1963
mockney1967
Kensington1968
Liverpudlian1985
Jafaican2006
MLE2006
Multicultural London English2006
2006 Evening Standard 10 Apr. 21/4 The playgrounds and housing estates of London are alive with the sound of an accent that sounds Jamaican as much as anything, with added flavours from West Africa and India... Teachers have dubbed the phenomenon Jafaican... Based on their preliminary findings, the academics are calling it ‘multicultural London English’.
2018 T. McArthur et al. Oxf. Compan. Eng. Lang. (ed. 2) 386/1 The number of speakers of Multicultural London English is now greater than the number of Cockney speakers.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1935