My friend is belisian or whatever, and she talks like that too and I asked her why and she said it had something to do with white people and some other stuff like her people or whatever didn't want white people to know what they were talking about and so they started talking like that, you know, like with the words all switched around....., and that's when I started zoning out because I was tired and fell asleep and I woke up like 10 minutes later and she was just saying do you get it now? and I was like yeah.,......., but I am just wondering what she was saying?? Does anybody know the history?
2007-07-20 15:56:09 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
"The official language of Jamaica is English. Informally patois pronounced (potwah), or Jamaican creole, is more commonly spoken by a majority of the population. British English or "The Queen's English" is the most obvious influence on patois, but it includes words and syntax from various African languages, Spanish, Arawak, French, Chinese, Portuguese, and East Indian languages which is evidence of the long standing mixing of the people. In general, patois differs from English in pronunciation, grammar, nominal orthography and syntax, having many intonations to indicate meaning and mood. The language's characteristics include pronouncing /θ/ as [t] and /ð/ as [d], and omitting some initial consonant sounds, principally /h/. For example, the word "there" is pronounced [dɪɹ]. A number of linguists classify Jamaican Creole as a separate language, while others consider it to be a dialect of English."
2007-07-20 16:08:12 · answer #1 · answered by **** 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry, but what in the world do you think you sound like to others?
You may think you don't have an accent, but travel, even within the USA and they will tell you they like, or don't like your accent!
Too bad there isn't a way for us to hear how we speak to others, just so we know we have an accent.
Some inventor needs to get on this!
2007-07-20 23:36:21 · answer #2 · answered by ♥ ♥Be Happi♥ ♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a pidgen form of English, a strange blend of African and English that leaves everyone except the locals scratching their collective heads.
I don't hate on them though, I think it sounds cool. Hard to understand but cool.
2007-07-20 23:00:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
i'm not jamaican or jamicans or whatever, but you got a problem with that?, it's just a special way of talking ,which makes them unique and different....
2007-07-20 23:05:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
who cares why... it makes them HOT HOT HOT!!!!!
2007-07-20 23:00:28 · answer #5 · answered by bugsie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋