The Encino School Board has declared Jewish English a second language. Backers of the move say the district is the first in the nation to recognize Hebonics as the language of many American Jews.

In Hebonics: Questions are always answered with questions:

Question: "How do you feel?"
Hebonics response: "How should I feel?"

The subject is often placed at the end of a sentence after a pronoun has been used at the beginning: "She dances beautifully, that girl."

The sarcastic repetition of words by adding "sh" to the front is used for emphasis: mountains becomes "shmountains"; turtle becomes "shmurtle."

Sample Usage Comparisons:
Standard English Phrase: He walks slowly.
Hebonics Phrase: Like a fly in the ointment he walks.

English: Sorry, I don't know the time.
Hebonics: What do I look like, a clock?

English: I hope things turn out okay.
Hebonics: You should BE so lucky!

English: I see you're wearing one of the ties I gave you.
Hebonics: What's the matter, the other tie you didn't like?

English: Anything can happen.
Hebonics: Things are never so bad that they can't get worse.

English: May I take your plate sir?
Hebonics: You've hardly touched your food. What's the matter, something's wrong with it?

English: It's been so long since you've called.
Hebonics: You didn't wonder if I'm dead yet?

English: Let's not go skiing, lets go to the beach.
Hebonics: Mountains, shmountains! Do I look like a sled to you?

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