Antiguan Creole
Encyclopedia
Leeward Caribbean Creole English, also known by the names of the various islands on which it is spoken (Antiguan Creole, Saint Kitts Creole, etc.) is an English-based creole language spoken in the Leeward Islands
of the Caribbean, namely the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
There are subtle differences in the language's usage by different speakers, and islanders often use it in combination with Standard English
. The tendency to switch back and forth from Creole to Standard English often seems to correlate with the class status of the speaker. Persons of higher social status
tend to switch between Standard English and Creole more readily, due to their more extensive formal education in the English-language school system. Creole usage is more common, and is less similar to Standard English, as speakers descend the socioeconomic ladder
.
In the years before Antigua and Barbuda's independence (in 1981), Standard English was widely spoken. However, after independence, Antiguans began to take a certain measure of pride in their language.
Many Creole words are derived from English
or African origins. The creole was formed when slaves owned by English planters imitated the English of their enslavers but pronounced it with their own inflections. This can be easily seen in phrases such as "Me nah go," meaning "I am not going," or in "Ent it?," presumably a cognate of "Ain't it?"
. Examples:
However, in other cases the American form prevails over the British one, due to the islands' close proximity to the United States:
Because of the influx of other Caribbean nationals to Antigua, due to natural migration and to the CSME, Antigua's everyday vocabulary is being influenced by Jamaican Creole
, bajan Creole, Guyanese Creole and Trinidadian Creole. This is even more common among the youth. Examples:
. This policy is especially exercised in private owned schools. Most media and mainstream communication is written and spoken in Standard English
, although Antiguan Creole is sometimes used humorously or as a way of identifying with the local public.
Use of Antiguan Creole varies depending on socio-economic class. In general, the higher and middle classes use it amongst friends and family but switch to Standard English in the public sphere. The lower class tend to use Antiguan Creole in almost every sector of life.
I, me = me;
you, you (thou, thee) = yu;
he, him = he;
she, her = she;
we, us = ah-we;
they, them = dem;
To form the possessive form of the pronoun add "fu-" to the above. However, the pronoun "our" is an exception where we add "ar-".
my, mine = fu-mi;
your, yours (thy, thine) = fu-yu;
his, his = fu-he;
her, hers = fu-she;
our, ours = ah-we;
you all = ah-yu;
their, theirs = fu-dem
e.g. a fu-yu daag dat, that is your dog.
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
of the Caribbean, namely the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
There are subtle differences in the language's usage by different speakers, and islanders often use it in combination with Standard English
Standard English
Standard English refers to whatever form of the English language is accepted as a national norm in an Anglophone country...
. The tendency to switch back and forth from Creole to Standard English often seems to correlate with the class status of the speaker. Persons of higher social status
Social status
In sociology or anthropology, social status is the honor or prestige attached to one's position in society . It may also refer to a rank or position that one holds in a group, for example son or daughter, playmate, pupil, etc....
tend to switch between Standard English and Creole more readily, due to their more extensive formal education in the English-language school system. Creole usage is more common, and is less similar to Standard English, as speakers descend the socioeconomic ladder
Social mobility
Social mobility refers to the movement of people in a population from one social class or economic level to another. It typically refers to vertical mobility -- movement of individuals or groups up from one socio-economic level to another, often by changing jobs or marrying; but can also refer to...
.
In the years before Antigua and Barbuda's independence (in 1981), Standard English was widely spoken. However, after independence, Antiguans began to take a certain measure of pride in their language.
Many Creole words are derived from English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
or African origins. The creole was formed when slaves owned by English planters imitated the English of their enslavers but pronounced it with their own inflections. This can be easily seen in phrases such as "Me nah go," meaning "I am not going," or in "Ent it?," presumably a cognate of "Ain't it?"
Vocabulary
Vocabulary is widely influenced by British vocabulary, due to centuries of association with Great BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. Examples:
- Bonnet refers to the hoodHood-Apparel:* Hood , type of head covering** Article of Academic dress** Animal hood, something used in costume play or part of an animal transformation fantasy** Bondage hood, sex toy-Anatomy:* Hood , flap of skin behind the head of a cobra...
of a car. - Chips refers to French FriesFrench friesFrench fries , chips, fries, or French-fried potatoes are strips of deep-fried potato. North Americans tend to refer to any pieces of deep-fried potatoes as fries or French fries, while in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, long, thinly cut slices of deep-fried potatoes are...
. However, fries is commonly used as well. - Form is used instead of the American grade.
- Car park instead of parking lot.
- PattyJamaican pattyA Jamaican patty is a pastry that contains various fillings and spices baked inside a flaky shell, often tinted golden yellow with an egg yolk mixture or turmeric. It is made like a turnover but is more savory. As its name suggests, it is commonly found in Jamaica, and is also eaten in other areas...
for flaky folded pastryPastryPastry is the name given to various kinds of baked products made from ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, butter, shortening, baking powder and/or eggs. Small cakes, tarts and other sweet baked products are called "pastries."...
, unlike the American patty, meaning hamburgerHamburgerA hamburger is a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground meat usually placed inside a sliced bread roll...
patty. - MongrelMongrelMongrel refers to mixed ancestry:* In botany, a mongrel may refer to the offspring of varieties of a species which was in contrast to a hybrid* Among pets, one whose parentage is of unknown or mixed breeds as opposed to purebred...
is used instead of the US muttMixed-breed dogA mixed-breed dog, also known as a mutt or mongrel, is a dog whose ancestry is generally unknown and that has characteristics of two or more types of breeds. A mixed-breed may be a cross-breed dog, a random-bred dog, or a descendant of feral or pariah dog populations...
. - BiscuitBiscuitA biscuit is a baked, edible, and commonly flour-based product. The term is used to apply to two distinctly different products in North America and the Commonwealth Nations....
is used instead of the US cookieCookieIn the United States and Canada, a cookie is a small, flat, baked treat, usually containing fat, flour, eggs and sugar. In most English-speaking countries outside North America, the most common word for this is biscuit; in many regions both terms are used, while in others the two words have...
.
However, in other cases the American form prevails over the British one, due to the islands' close proximity to the United States:
- Apartment is used instead of the British flat.
- Elevator instead of the British lift.
Because of the influx of other Caribbean nationals to Antigua, due to natural migration and to the CSME, Antigua's everyday vocabulary is being influenced by Jamaican Creole
Jamaican Creole
Jamaican Patois, known locally as Patois or Jamaican, and called Jamaican Creole by linguists, is an English-lexified creole language with West African influences spoken primarily in Jamaica and the Jamaican diaspora. It is not to be confused with Jamaican English nor with the Rastafarian use of...
, bajan Creole, Guyanese Creole and Trinidadian Creole. This is even more common among the youth. Examples:
- Yute and star meaning young man.
- Breda (derived from Brethren and Partner) meaning close friend.
- Sell off meaning excellent or very good.
Examples of un-derivated words and phrases
- pickney/pickanyegah-: children
- ah wah mek: why
- chupit: stupid
- smaddy: somebody
- likkle: little
- ooman: woman
- nyam: eat
- tall: no, not me, not at all
- ah wah dee/da joke yah tarl: what in the world is going on?
- leh me lone: leave me alone
- ah good/tek dat: that's good for you/take that
- tap lie: stop lying
- ah true/choo: it's the truth
- look yah: come here
- cu ya: look here
Pronunciation
Antiguan is pronounced very similarly to Jamaican. This has led some to surmise that the slaves of these countries came from the same place in Africa. Below are a few ways in which some language blends are fused or changed completely.- "TR" as in 'Truck' is pronounced "CH", thus: 'Chruck.'
- "DR" as in 'Dress' is pronounced" J", thus: 'Jess'
- "TH" as in 'Them' is pronounced "D", thus: 'Dem'
- "TH" as in 'Think' is pronounced "T", thus: 'Tink'
- "WN" as in 'Down' is pronounced "NG", thus: 'Dung'
- "V" as in 'Vex' is pronounced "B", thus: 'Bex'
- Sometimes an ending "T" is left off and words such as 'Best' sound like 'Bess'. Expect sounds like 'Expeck'; and 'Left' sounds like 'Leff'.
Language Use
Antiguan Creole is used in almost every aspect of life in Antigua. In all schools, during class hours, it is required of students to speak Standard EnglishStandard English
Standard English refers to whatever form of the English language is accepted as a national norm in an Anglophone country...
. This policy is especially exercised in private owned schools. Most media and mainstream communication is written and spoken in Standard English
Standard English
Standard English refers to whatever form of the English language is accepted as a national norm in an Anglophone country...
, although Antiguan Creole is sometimes used humorously or as a way of identifying with the local public.
Use of Antiguan Creole varies depending on socio-economic class. In general, the higher and middle classes use it amongst friends and family but switch to Standard English in the public sphere. The lower class tend to use Antiguan Creole in almost every sector of life.
The Pronominal System
The pronominal system of Standard English has a four-way distinction of person, singular/plural, gender and nominative/objective. Some varieties of Antiguan Creole do not have the gender or nominative/objective distinction, though most do; but usefully, it does distinguish between the second person singular and plural (you).I, me = me;
you, you (thou, thee) = yu;
he, him = he;
she, her = she;
we, us = ah-we;
they, them = dem;
To form the possessive form of the pronoun add "fu-" to the above. However, the pronoun "our" is an exception where we add "ar-".
my, mine = fu-mi;
your, yours (thy, thine) = fu-yu;
his, his = fu-he;
her, hers = fu-she;
our, ours = ah-we;
you all = ah-yu;
their, theirs = fu-dem
e.g. a fu-yu daag dat, that is your dog.