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Creole Case Study - Bahamas
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BAHAMIAN CREOLE
Kele Reid & Luna Botes
Introduction
Introduction
INTRODUCTION
- Bahamian creole is spoken by roughly 250 000 people
- There are 700 islands and 2400 cays, but only 30 islands are inhabited
- Ethnic Groups: 85% of the Bahamian population are black, 12% are white and 3% are Asians and people of Spanish and Portuguese origin
- Bahamian Creole is still used to this day and has been considered a 'symbol of national identity' since independence in 1973, however standard English is the current official language
Map of where Bahamian Creole is spoken
Where Bahamian Creole is Spoken
Bahamian Creole Development
1783- Present day
History
History of Bahamian Creole in Depth
The Evolution of Bahamian Creole:
- Bahamian Creole began to establish itself in the 18th century.
- Free blacks and Loyalists, who were American Patriots that remained in favour of the British Monarchy after the American Revolution in the late 1700s, immigrated to the Caribbean Islands and other British territory.
- 7 300 of the 100 000 people who emigrated from the US moved to the Bahamas
- Bahamian creole is spoken mostly by black Bahamians, who, as of 2010, make up a 90% of the total population
- Bahamian creole can be can be traced back to the Gullah, who are an African-American population found namely in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
- Many black Bahamian immigrants came from Gullah-speaking areas, showing close similarities between Bahamian Creole and the Gullah language.
- Following the abolition of slavery in the 1800s, the black Bahamian population began to develop their own identity, built on the many hardships they shared, thus the Bahamian Creole evolved
- Bahamian creole is considered a Dialectal Creole Variety rather than a Deep Creole Variety
Interesting Bahamian Words
'SPILLIGATE'
To go on a trip outside of town
'SWITCHA'
Lemonade
'SIP SIP'
To gossip/gossiping
'LOW FENCE'
A pushover
INTERESTING CREOLE WORDS
'DEM'
To indicate more than one
'STENCH'
Someone who pretends to be your friend/is a bad friend
'BIG UP'
To be pregnant
'SKYLARKING'
To behave recklessly
'BEY'
A person
'OGLY'
Ugly
References
APiCS Online - Survey chapter: Bahamian Creole (2021). Available at: https://apics-online.info/surveys/12 (Accessed: 30 July 2021).
The Lesser-Known Varieties of English (2021). Available at: https://books.google.co.za/books?hl=en&lr=&id=-TGSgT2SyH0C&oi=fnd&pg=PA158&dq=interesting+words+bahamian+creole+&ots=B11VmmCPSj&sig=aegJxLM9gXqqYZ0aQg-iYBiEFCo&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=interesting%20words%20bahamian%20creole&f=false (Accessed: 30 July 2021).
McLeod, S. (2021) 15 Phrases to Know Before Visiting The Bahamas, Culture Trip. Available at: https://theculturetrip.com/caribbean/the-bahamas/articles/15-phrases-to-know-before-visiting-the-bahamas/ (Accessed: 30 July 2021).
https://www.followingtherivera.com/2018/06/30/15-fun-bahamas-words-and-phrases/ (Accessed: 30 July 2021).
Loyalist (American Revolution) - Wikipedia (2021). Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyalist_(American_Revolution) (Accessed: 2 August 2021).
Historic Map : The Island of the Bahamas, 1951, George Annand, Vintage Wall Art (2021). Available at: https://www.historicpictoric.com/products/historic-map-island-bahamas-1951-george-annand-vintage?variant=35743043190947&epik=dj0yJnU9VlBfN0dLYWxfN3N3WFQ2alNhUUhpTzZfRXBsd2FUc0UmcD0wJm49djVGYzlnazd0SjRFZDRSb0xTZGF2USZ0PUFBQUFBR0VKWnJZ (Accessed: 2 August 2021).
(2021) D-nb.info. Available at: https://d-nb.info/1151818429/34 (Accessed: 2 August 2021).
eWAVE - Bahamian Creole (2021). Available at: https://ewave-atlas.org/languages/24 (Accessed: 2 August 2021).