Jamaica
Official Languages
The official language in Jamaica is English. There are some immigrant languages spoken here including North Levantine Spoken Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish and Chinese. There are 31,000 Chinese speakers. The different British population groups coming to Jamaica influence how the Jamaicans speak today. These different groups include Irish, Scottish and British speakers. Most Jamaicans speak Patois which is an English dialect. This was originally from French but is now in the category of Creole languages. Most of these words in this language have English roots. The structure of grammar and the sounds are strongly influenced by Africans. Because of the people coming to Jamaica who couldn’t speak English there was a language created called Pidgin. When there is no common language between people in Jamaica, they speak Pidgin. This would be categorized as a Creole language. English and African languages were found being mixed from the slave trade through early slave period. This included different things like words and grammar. Amerindian and Spanish also influenced this.
Official Languages
The official language in Jamaica is English. There are some immigrant languages spoken here including North Levantine Spoken Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish and Chinese. There are 31,000 Chinese speakers. The different British population groups coming to Jamaica influence how the Jamaicans speak today. These different groups include Irish, Scottish and British speakers. Most Jamaicans speak Patois which is an English dialect. This was originally from French but is now in the category of Creole languages. Most of these words in this language have English roots. The structure of grammar and the sounds are strongly influenced by Africans. Because of the people coming to Jamaica who couldn’t speak English there was a language created called Pidgin. When there is no common language between people in Jamaica, they speak Pidgin. This would be categorized as a Creole language. English and African languages were found being mixed from the slave trade through early slave period. This included different things like words and grammar. Amerindian and Spanish also influenced this.
History
The Arawak Indians were the first to settle in Jamaica in the 8th century. This included around 60,000 Indians. The Spanish arrived in 1509. Most Arawak Indians died because of diseases 100 years later. In 1655, the English displaced the Spanish and then the English language was established the official language of Jamaica. Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1494 and claimed the island for the king and queen of Spain. The Spaniards brought the first Africans to Jamaica in 1517. The British arrived and won in a war over the Spaniards and then claimed the land for the king and queen of England in 1655. Jamaica won independence on August 6th, 1962. They also became a member of the British Commonwealth of nations.
The Arawak Indians were the first to settle in Jamaica in the 8th century. This included around 60,000 Indians. The Spanish arrived in 1509. Most Arawak Indians died because of diseases 100 years later. In 1655, the English displaced the Spanish and then the English language was established the official language of Jamaica. Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1494 and claimed the island for the king and queen of Spain. The Spaniards brought the first Africans to Jamaica in 1517. The British arrived and won in a war over the Spaniards and then claimed the land for the king and queen of England in 1655. Jamaica won independence on August 6th, 1962. They also became a member of the British Commonwealth of nations.
Interesting Facts
The population of Jamaica is around 2.5 million people. The literacy rate is between 82 and 89 percent. The ethnic make-up of Jamaica includes about 91 percent of black and the rest includes East Indian, white, Chinese, mixed and other. The language that is used in education and throughout the country in media is English. In Jamaica, there are issues concerning class when you talk about English speakers. There are some people who believe that they are Rastafarians, which they believe to be a lost tribe of Israel. There is a wide blend of cultures in Jamaica. This includes many different races as well. The French meaning of “patois” is that the language is a common tongue formed for people to communicate when they don’t have a common language. Jamaican Standard English is similar to British Standard English but since Jamaica is close to the United States, American English has been a great influence. The sound made by English speakers to say “th” becomes “d.” For example, “that” becomes “dat.” The language of Patois is now written in novels and songs.
The population of Jamaica is around 2.5 million people. The literacy rate is between 82 and 89 percent. The ethnic make-up of Jamaica includes about 91 percent of black and the rest includes East Indian, white, Chinese, mixed and other. The language that is used in education and throughout the country in media is English. In Jamaica, there are issues concerning class when you talk about English speakers. There are some people who believe that they are Rastafarians, which they believe to be a lost tribe of Israel. There is a wide blend of cultures in Jamaica. This includes many different races as well. The French meaning of “patois” is that the language is a common tongue formed for people to communicate when they don’t have a common language. Jamaican Standard English is similar to British Standard English but since Jamaica is close to the United States, American English has been a great influence. The sound made by English speakers to say “th” becomes “d.” For example, “that” becomes “dat.” The language of Patois is now written in novels and songs.
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