Vincentian Creole
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (April 2025) |
| Vincentian Creole | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
Native speakers | 108,000 (2016)[1] |
English creole
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | svc |
| Glottolog | vinc1243 Vincentian Creole English |
Vincentian Creole is an English-based creole language spoken in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It contains elements of Spanish, Antillean Creole, and various Iberian Romance languages. It has also been influenced by the indigenous Kalinago/Garifuna elements and by African languages [clarification needed] brought over the Atlantic Ocean by way of the slave trade. Over the years the creole has changed to be a mix of all of those languages.
Pronunciation
[edit]- Hard sounds at the end of words are avoided. There are mainly two ways hard sounds are evaded:
- by changing the order of the sounds. Example: "ask" is rendered as "aks"
- by dropping the last sound. Example: "desk" pronounced as "dess" and "tourist" as "touriss"
- For words ending in "-er", the "-er" sound changes to an "ah" sound. Example: "never" is pronounced as "nevah" and clever as "clevah"
- For words ending in "-th", the soft "-th" sound is replaced by the hard "t" sound as if the "h" were dropped. Example: "with" is rendered as "wit" and "earth" as "eart"
- For words ending in "-own", the "-own" is rendered as "-ung". Examples: down is rendered "dung" and town is rendered "tung"
- Words beginning with "dr" change to " j". Examples: driver is rendered 'jiver' and "drop off" as "jop off"
Grammar
[edit]Generally, there is no need for concord. The verb in its plural form is simply placed after the subject of the sentence. The object of the sentence is then placed after the verb, as in English. If there are both a direct object and an indirect object, the indirect object is placed directly after the verb followed by the direct object.
The subject pronouns are as shown in the following table.
| Pronouns | Origin | English equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| me | me (English) | I or me |
| yo | you (English) | you (singular, as both object and subject) |
| e/i (pronounced "ee") | he (English) | he/she/it |
| ahwe | all of we (incorrect grammatically, English) | we or us |
| aryo/alyo | all of you (English) | you (plural, as both object and subject) |
| dem/demdey | them/them there (English) | they or them |
With regards to tense, the present tense is indicated by the use of the modal "does" (for habitual actions) or by the use of the present participle ending in "-ing" (for actions one is currently doing). The past tense is indicated by the use of either what is in English the plural form of the present tense of the verb, the modal "did", "been"/"bin" or the past participle of the verb. The future tense is indicated by the use of the present participle of the verb "to go", which is "going" (gine or gwine in the creole), or the plural form of the verb, "go".
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Present | Me does give / Me givin' |
| Past | Me give / Me did give / Me bin give |
| Future | Me gine give/ Me gwine give / Me go give |
Vocabulary
[edit]| Expression | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| maanin | morning (English) | Good Morning!/morning |
| mek? | what made ____ (what caused _____) ? | why? |
| naygah | equivalent to negro (English) | people |
| pikney | pequenino (Portuguese) | child |
| buh | but (English) | but |
| caah | cause 'because' (English) | because or cannot |
| parisohl | parasol (Spanish) | umbrella |
| dohtish/chupit | doltish (English) | stupid |
| paa/weypaa | where (English) | where or what |
| nyam | nyam (Wolof/Fula) | eat |
| comess | konmès (Antillean Creole) | gossip |
| yah/yahso | here (English) | here |
| dey/deyso | there (English) | there |
| outadoh/out dey | outdoors (English) | outside |
| pyar pyar | Unknown | poor |
| chook | jukka (Fula) | poke |
| huunch | Hit | to elbow or hit someone |
| Annuh | old southern Caribbean folklore | Expression similar to "you know" |
| Aryo | From the English term “all of you”. | Pronoun addressing listener |
| Arwe | From English "all of we" | Pronoun referring to speaker and other individuals |
| Babylon | From Rastafarian culture comparing modern issues to the ancient city of Babylon | The police, or an unjust system or establishment. |
| Bad-eye | A look of contempt. | Possibly from English "evil eye" |
| Cyar | From English "can't" | To be unable to do something |
| Foh | From English "for" | Same meaning and usage as English "for" |
| Gwine | From English "going" | Act of departure, progress or advancement |
| Tark | From English "talk" | To converse using spoken words |
| Pree | Jamaican Creole | To be overly curious in other people's affairs |
Expressions and Sayings
[edit]| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Back ah yard | Back home |
| Bad feelings | Feeling ill or uncomfortable |
| Bad talk | Speak about somebody negativity |
| Behin God's back | A remote or rural area |
| Bless up | Salutations (usually a closing mark in conversation) |
| Dat nuff | That's enough |
| Dat nuh business me | That's not my business/problem |
| Dor ramp wid me | Don't harass me |
| I dor kno the guy/lady from Adam | I don't know this man/woman |
| Little jackass ha big ears | Be careful what you say and where |
| Look sharp | Hurry up |
| Me name stink ah road | I have a negative reputation |
| Mudda wuk | Oh my goodness |
| Nah badda meh | Do not bother me |
| Pop down | In a poor or bad state |
| Seen | I understand |
| Shout me later nah | Talk to me at a later time |
| Shell down | To do exceptionally well at something |
| Since me born/Since 1802/Since Soufriere erupt | Since a long time ago |
| Stick break in yuh ears | Unwilling to listen to advice |
| Wah ah gwarn | What's going on |
| Walk good | Take care |
See also
[edit]- Antiguan Creole
- Belizean Creole
- Jamaican Patois
- Bajan Creole
- Bermudian English
- Trinidadian Creole
- Antillean Creole
References
[edit]- ^ Vincentian Creole at Ethnologue (24th ed., 2021)
- ^ a b Vincytalk Dictionary Of Vincentian Creole. Caribbean Students Association. April 2013.