Patois is any language that is considered nonstandard, although the term is not formally defined in linguistics. It can refer to pidgins, creoles, dialects, and other forms of native or local speech, but not commonly to jargon or slang, which are vocabulary-based forms of cant. Class distinctions are embedded in the term, drawn between those who speak patois and those who speak the standard or dominant language used in literature and public speaking, i.e., the "acrolect".
Jamaican Patois language is comprised words of the native languages of the many races within the Caribbean including Latin, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Amerindian, and English along with several African dialects.
==Jamaican Patois, known locally as Patois (Patwa) or simply Jamaican, is an EnglishAfrican creole language spoken primarily in Jamaica and the Jamaican diaspora. It is not to be confused with Jamaican English nor with the Rastafarian use of English.
When 2 or more languages come into contact to form a new language a Creole language is born.Some type of human "upheaval" tht forces people to find a way to communicate, without using their own languages, stimulates the creation of a Creole language(patois) in this case a broken english.
But creole languages tend to be fairly grammatically and syntactically consistent with the speakers' ancestral languages. The "incorrect" or "broken" English grammar and syntax that one hears in thick Jamaican speech is actually correct and consistent West African grammar and syntax, so I think calling it "broken English" neglects the fact that it's really hybrid African English, not just simplified or broken English.
@ericjungleboy Essentially Jamaican Patois is English infused with West African syntax amongst other things. Referring 2Patois in terms of being 'broken' isn't necessarily neglectful of the nature of the hybridity of patois cuz dat wud be a poppyshow don't it. I disagree with u, nothing about patois is 'correct' &I love that.
'Broken' describes how it was forced in2 being as opposed 2 being a natural amalgamation of languages. But through pain beautiful new things can be birthed
@Applebaum Yeah, it's an informal way of talking, so it resists being 'correct'. Jamaicans don't want to be correct according to the standards of English when they're talking Patois, and some of the grammar of Patois came from intentional breaking of English rules. Some of it came from not knowing the English rules. But you end up with a language that's viable and consistent, and it's really different from English after all is said and done (I'm talking about broad Patois, the thick stuff).
this vid is sweet
kevshu781 2 years ago
Patois is not a language
its more than an accent kind of a dialect but not a language
in Jamaica's case patois is a type of Broken English
Applebaum 2 years ago
Patois is any language that is considered nonstandard, although the term is not formally defined in linguistics. It can refer to pidgins, creoles, dialects, and other forms of native or local speech, but not commonly to jargon or slang, which are vocabulary-based forms of cant. Class distinctions are embedded in the term, drawn between those who speak patois and those who speak the standard or dominant language used in literature and public speaking, i.e., the "acrolect".
devronp 2 years ago
Jamaican Patois language is comprised words of the native languages of the many races within the Caribbean including Latin, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Amerindian, and English along with several African dialects.
==Jamaican Patois, known locally as Patois (Patwa) or simply Jamaican, is an EnglishAfrican creole language spoken primarily in Jamaica and the Jamaican diaspora. It is not to be confused with Jamaican English nor with the Rastafarian use of English.
devronp 2 years ago
@Applebaum What do you mean by "broken English"?
ericjungleboy 1 day ago
@ericjungleboy
When 2 or more languages come into contact to form a new language a Creole language is born.Some type of human "upheaval" tht forces people to find a way to communicate, without using their own languages, stimulates the creation of a Creole language(patois) in this case a broken english.
with many influences such as Spain owned jamaica
left words like 'uno' eg 'uno better watch out'
West africans added words like 'nyam'.
Patois is spoken in a mixed w.african accent
Applebaum 1 day ago
But creole languages tend to be fairly grammatically and syntactically consistent with the speakers' ancestral languages. The "incorrect" or "broken" English grammar and syntax that one hears in thick Jamaican speech is actually correct and consistent West African grammar and syntax, so I think calling it "broken English" neglects the fact that it's really hybrid African English, not just simplified or broken English.
ericjungleboy 18 hours ago
@ericjungleboy Essentially Jamaican Patois is English infused with West African syntax amongst other things. Referring 2Patois in terms of being 'broken' isn't necessarily neglectful of the nature of the hybridity of patois cuz dat wud be a poppyshow don't it. I disagree with u, nothing about patois is 'correct' &I love that.
'Broken' describes how it was forced in2 being as opposed 2 being a natural amalgamation of languages. But through pain beautiful new things can be birthed
Applebaum 16 hours ago
@Applebaum Yeah, it's an informal way of talking, so it resists being 'correct'. Jamaicans don't want to be correct according to the standards of English when they're talking Patois, and some of the grammar of Patois came from intentional breaking of English rules. Some of it came from not knowing the English rules. But you end up with a language that's viable and consistent, and it's really different from English after all is said and done (I'm talking about broad Patois, the thick stuff).
ericjungleboy 12 hours ago
[ this is too funny]
devronp 2 years ago