Vincentian Creole

Last updated
Vincentian Creole
Native to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Native speakers
108,000 (2016) [1]
English creole
  • Atlantic
    • Eastern
      • Vincentian 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 language 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.

Contents

Pronunciation

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 Equivalent
meme (English)I or me
yoyou (English)you (singular, as both object and subject)
e/i (pronounced "ee")he (English)he/she/it
ahweall of we (incorrect grammatically, English)we or us
aryo/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".

TenseExample
PresentMe does give / Me givin'
PastMe give / Me did give / Me bin give
FutureMe gine give/ Me gwine give / Me go give


Vocabulary

ExpressionOriginMeaning
maaninmorning (English)Good Morning!/morning
mek?what made ____ (what caused _____) ?why?
naygahequivalent to negro (English)people
pikneypequenino (Portuguese)child
buhbut (English)but
caahcause 'because' (English)because or cannot
parisohlparasol (Spanish)umbrella
dohtish/chupitdoltish (English)stupid
paa/weypaawhere (English)where or what
nyamnyam (Wolof/Fula)eat
comesskonmès (Antillean Creole)gossip
yah/yahsohere (English)here
dey/deysothere (English)there
outadoh/out deyoutdoors (English)outside
pyar pyarUnknownpoor
chookjukka (Fula)poke
huunchHitto elbow or hit someone

See also

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References

  1. Vincentian Creole at Ethnologue (24th ed., 2021) Closed Access logo transparent.svg