Quote:
Originally Posted by Samba
There is an opinion that "Jamaican" is a language. Not because it has a dictionary, but because the basis underwhich it operates is not that of the English language. For example, the system to express plural (two man) is different from that of English (two men). Much simplier.
Note, Jamaican is actually in a process of development. The spoken is more advanced than the written. This is normal in the development process.
Part of the reason for the inconsistencies in English is that the language was being developed by three "factions". They could not agree on all issues so they settled for a compromise, thus we have stuff that seems to contradict itself in English. That did not stop the British from spreading it all over the globe.
|
SIDEBAR:
The argument for or against Patois being a language versus a dialect could be debated ad infinitum. My personal reason for "erring" on the side of a dialect is that traditionally, the depth and extent of patois usage in Jamaica was relative to the area (parish) one lived as well as (apparently) the relative distance one resided from the "corporate" areas.
Objectively, that could easily also be said of the variations in accent between Southerners and Northerners in the United States as well as the relative differences between individual States. For instance...A car in CT and Southern MA is usually pronounced "Kar" with the "r" emphasized. In NY and NJ, its a "Kaw". CT = "New Yurk" and "New Jursey", NY/NJ = "Nu Yoak" and Nu Joisie". (Right, HotTeach?
)
Even without a distionary, a language traditionally has standard words to describe an object and an established grammar; Patois does not, but seems to dynamically "borrow" words from the English language depending on the speakers, recipients and the types of conversation being interchanged.
I believe that the push to consider patois as a language is based less on established definitions and more on a need for cultural recogition and independence.
Still...it no mattah tu mi. Mi a chati same way.