Learning the language

[FATRAT]

drink overproof and listen real good.........maybe play poker and pay attention will help, it did me!

LMAO. Planned to do all of that anyway.

[Rambo]

the words and tempo vary from area to area, sometime easy to understand sometimes hard..in anger it gets very hard...then toss in words that even if you understand what they said completely, you still dont know what "that" word means?.....and the patois even changes with the year..as does our slang.....some mean "hip" to be cool....some say it for a "large" woman.....

just ask them first to slow down, you will be saying it in a day..of course you must spend time with them, not talking to other tourists all the time

some...... after our years of going we still dont get it all.....maybe 'cause we aint supose to?

its fun really...

[monk]

I have always been interested in patois. Any good books on the subject and how to learn it?

just making sure you saw this, since the thread flipped to a new page.

IF you are serious, and would like to sign up with a local who can coach you in a very natural organic sort of way, shoot me a PM. Sessions with the person who offers this service occur over lunch (which you buy) and are pretty cheap and educational as you learn also about certain cultural no-no's and things to do. I think she charges about 15 or 20 bucks, plus lunch, and you have to do 3 sessions minimum.

Books are fine but there is a cadence and rhythm to patwa which needs to be heard. There are also dialects within patwa as well, but I don't think the casual learner needs to worry to much about that. To me it's just awesome to hear people move beyond "likkle" and "bokkle."

[doctoro]

If you seriously want to learn, strike up a conversation with a Jamaican, and get to know them.

[ackee]

I found this on You Tube. it may help you to learn a few phrases .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=LV0rKGIcw_4

good luck ; )

[CherryNorth49]

Another YouTube link - I found this during the worst of my P.N.S. as I was trying to find ways to alleviate the symptions. This is a whole series of lessons on the basics of patois.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/wb3o9BxFSFo

[goldilocks]

I learned through listening to the music, reggae radio stations, spending time in Jamaica and we now have a pretty large population of Jamaicans where I live. I rarely speak it unless with close friends, but I sing it well (kind of like a British person will pick up Elvis' twang after many years of singing his tunes).

[Accompong]

Patois is a dialect and not a language. Kind of like I live in Florida part of the year and people are coming with the "Shure nuff" and "Ya'all" stuff but it is still English (though not what someone from England would call GOOD English!)

Like Goldilocks, i have picked it up mostly listening to the music and Kingstonian Patois is much different than St. Elizabeth Patois and so on. My best friend, Marshall, once said.... "If you can't understand what someone is saying then it might be best to just smile; excuse yourself and walk away as Jamaicans speak English."

The Patois in Accompong Town is not only different but it is riddled with African words and dialect. I seem to have very little trouble in understanding what is being said to me but for me to chat it back in a less than efficient manner is fruitless. I think the Maroons get a kick out of me trying though!

All someone has to do is look at you and know you are not a Jamaican so why would it be so important to try to talk like one??

Peace and Guidance

[ackee]

Most ppl of a contry find it endearing when a visitor tries/makes an effort to learn their language. Nuttn wrong with trying to learn a language. How can the effort be seen as negative? Most ppl trying to learn a language feel silly ...but there is no shame in it.

[Rambo]

when in Rome........