Jamaican Patwa {or Patois) is a so-called creole language. A "creole" is a language that has been influenced by others. In the case of Jamaican patois, the influences have come from French, Spanish, Arawak, Twi and many others.
Up until today, speaking creole has been widely regarded as "inferior", which is why Jamaican Patois has no convention for spelling and grammar. Thus you can spell it anyway you want it. For instance "brother" can be spelled "bradda", "breda" or "bretha", which only adds to the confusion. Modern dub poets like Linton Kwesi Johnson have taken it as far as spelling nearly every single word alternatively, even when the pronunciation is the same. E.g.: "one another" he spells "wananada".
There are many other varieties of patois, like Haitian patois, Santa Lucia patois, Louisiana patois etc.
Up until today, speaking creole has been widely regarded as "inferior", which is why Jamaican Patois has no convention for spelling and grammar. Thus you can spell it anyway you want it. For instance "brother" can be spelled "bradda", "breda" or "bretha", which only adds to the confusion. Modern dub poets like Linton Kwesi Johnson have taken it as far as spelling nearly every single word alternatively, even when the pronunciation is the same. E.g.: "one another" he spells "wananada".
There are many other varieties of patois, like Haitian patois, Santa Lucia patois, Louisiana patois etc.
Example of Shakira's Un Poco de Amor
lyrics Jamaican Patois verses:
Roots and creation com'again! / So mi guardian, mi guardian mi liff up di plana / Now everybody ago do dis one / Like in down di Caribbean / San Andrés, Providence Island / Liffit up, Mekit nuff affliction / Say goodbye to di worse segregation / Dis a di cage of di new generation / Liffit up to di high revelation
lyrics Jamaican Patois verses:
Roots and creation com'again! / So mi guardian, mi guardian mi liff up di plana / Now everybody ago do dis one / Like in down di Caribbean / San Andrés, Providence Island / Liffit up, Mekit nuff affliction / Say goodbye to di worse segregation / Dis a di cage of di new generation / Liffit up to di high revelation
by Dino March 13, 2005
Term used to describe countries in North, South and Central Americas where Spanish, Portuguese and French are spoken as official languages. (NB: don't mix up the terms "latin countries" with "underdevelopment countries", which are completely different in meaning.)
Although Guyana, Jamaica and Suriname are in South America and Caribbean region they are not latin contries as English and Dutch are their official languages.
by Dino March 11, 2005
by dino September 10, 2004
The king of Ngola (modern day Angola) had a sister named N’Zinga N’Bandi (1582–1663), or Mistress Ana de Souza, name of baptism in the Catholic church), who served as the negotiator of treaties with the Portuguese. She became queen in 1624 when her brother died, and assigned women important government offices. The Portuguese broke the peace agreement, so she led her largely female army against the invaders and built a strong confederation with neighbor kingdoms to eradicate the Portuguese. She ruled until she died at the age of 81.
The restless warrior Queen Zinga fought fiercely for over 40 years against the colonisation and slavery in Congo and Angola.
by Dino March 13, 2005
The same as eunuch. In Pakistan and India this expression is broadly used to describe those classified as neither male nor female. Born male, the hijras adopt women's names, behaviour and clothing. This word means "impotent ones" in Urdu.
by Dino March 11, 2005
Portuguese
European Latin language spoken officially for about 200 millions people in eight countries worldwide, mainly in South America, Africa and Europe. It's also unofficially spoken in parts of India, Southern Asia and Africa.
Although Portuguese and Spanish are different languages, they have the same root in ancient Latin and therefore are mutually intelligible.
European Latin language spoken officially for about 200 millions people in eight countries worldwide, mainly in South America, Africa and Europe. It's also unofficially spoken in parts of India, Southern Asia and Africa.
Although Portuguese and Spanish are different languages, they have the same root in ancient Latin and therefore are mutually intelligible.
john Kerry's wife, Teresa, and popstar Nelly Furtado speak Portuguese fluently.
After independence, East Timor decided that Portuguese, along with Tetum, would be its official languages.
After independence, East Timor decided that Portuguese, along with Tetum, would be its official languages.
by Dino March 11, 2005