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 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 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 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.
PronounsOriginEnglish equivalentmeme (English)I or meyoyou (English)you (singular, as both object and subject)e/i (pronounced "ee")he (English)he/she/itahweall of we (incorrect grammatically, English)we or usaryo/alyoall of you (English)you (plural, as both object and subject)dem/demdeythem/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".
TenseExamplePresentMe does give / Me givin'PastMe give / Me did give / Me bin giveFutureMe gine give/ Me gwine give / Me go give
Vocabulary ExpressionOriginMeaningmaaninmorning (English)Good Morning!/morningmek?what made ____ (what caused _____) ?why?naygahequivalent to negro (English)peoplepikneypequenino (Portuguese)childbuhbut (English)butcaahcause 'because' (English)because or cannotparisohlparasol (Spanish)umbrelladohtish/chupitdoltish (English)stupidpaa/weypaawhere (English)where or whatnyamnyam (Wolof/Fula)eatcomesskonmès (Antillean Creole)gossipyah/yahsohere (English)heredey/deysothere (English)thereoutadoh/out deyoutdoors (English)outsidepyar pyarUnknownpoor chookjukka (Fula)pokehuunchHitto elbow or hit someoneAnnuhold southern Caribbean folkloreExpression similar to "you know"AryoFrom the English term “all of you”.Pronoun addressing listenerArwe From English "all of we"Pronoun referring to speaker and other individualsBabylonFrom Rastafarian culture comparing modern issues to the ancient city of BabylonThe police, or an unjust system or establishment.Bad-eyeA look of contempt.Possibly from English "evil eye"Cyar From English "can't"To be unable to do something FohFrom English "for"Same meaning and usage as English "for"GwineFrom English "going"Act of departure, progress or advancement TarkFrom English "talk"To converse using spoken wordsPreeJamaican CreoleTo be overly curious in other people's affairs
Expressions and Sayings ExpressionMeaningBack ah yardBack homeBad feelings Feeling ill or uncomfortable Bad talkSpeak about somebody negativity Behin God's back A remote or rural areaBless upSalutations (usually a closing mark in conversation)Dat nuffThat's enough Dat nuh business me That's not my business/problemDor ramp wid meDon't harass meI dor kno the guy/lady from AdamI don't know this man/womanLittle jackass ha big earsBe careful what you say and whereLook sharp Hurry up Me name stink ah roadI have a negative reputation Mudda wukOh my goodness Nah badda mehDo not bother me Pop downIn a poor or bad stateSeenI understand Shout me later nahTalk to me at a later timeShell downTo do exceptionally well at something Since me born/Since 1802/Since Soufriere eruptSince a long time agoStick break in yuh earsUnwilling to listen to adviceWah ah gwarnWhat's going onWalk good Take care
See also Antiguan Creole Belizean Creole Jamaican Patois Bajan Creole Bermudian English Trinidadian Creole Antillean Creole
References