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excerpt from an online article........Into the fray steps Jamaican language scholar and musician, John McAnuff, 72, who has put together this CD, which also includes vocabulary and tips on pronunciation. The CD, now available at ⤢www.cdbaby.com, is titled the “Jumiekan Langwij Song and Project” and will be launched in Tokyo on June 21.
Good to know Ackee. Thanks!
The "fray" has been going on as long as I can remember. Is patois a true language or not?Quote:
Originally Posted by ackee
Pickney are taught in patios in "all age school" up to a point but sooner or later must learn the "Queen's English" to continue to sound and be educated. The argument is at what point do you discard patois?
It's almost as if proper English is a second language. The problem is that the kids will learn better in the native language instead of one language at home and different language at school. But that won't cut it for the real world
I remember the first time I encountered someone speaking deep patois to another Jamaican and then turning to me and speaking in perfect queens English. Mind just a little blown. That was 15 years ago on my first trip. Now it just seems natural. But I love it when they are speaking patois and I comment or respond with obvious understanding much to their amazement or amusement and occasionally embarrassment. It helps being married to a Jamaican!
I love patois and all of the innovative phrases that are added almost daily. I don't think it should ever be discarded, just included as part of one's reportoire.
All Jamaicans are bilingual. When I attend meetings at the Lodge proper English is spoken during the meeting.
But at the fellowship table afterwards it's a mixture with patois used for emphasis or a joke.
I love to listen as well, and the more you hear, the more you understand.......surprises the Jamaicans lol!! There are so many phrases and words that fit so much better than English. A very descriptive language
ditto!Quote:
Originally Posted by goldilocks
I love listening to Rob & friends....his friends will speak deep Patois to him (they're usually still a little gentler with me :) ) & he speaks right back in full English to them...none of them miss a beat!
My patios is thirty years old and very antique. When I returned I'd never heard the words "nyam " or "respect" before.
Who can understand kids these days? :confused:
In polite society in my day one never used a bad word in mixed company. There were euphemisms for the ****clots and such.
"mi back foot" "to rhaaatit". Some times I talk like a Jamaican geezer!
First time I met Lembert I was saying I'd just had a nice plate of "Afoo" yam at the yard. He looks at me and says" last time I heard afoo yam was from my grandfather" BTW...you call it white yam.
So now I'm AKA "afoo"