Juneteenth video

1. Intro
2. Linguistic, historical background
3. Features of Jamaican Patois
4. Jamaican patois and identity
5. VS modern English
6. Global influence
7. Modern Jamaican accent
8. Conclusion

Accent

JAMAICAN

It's historical background and uses

• Official language : English
• Patois : independent language not only a English dialect

Example English : This is my house Jamaican patois : Dis a mi house

INTRO

• Colonial Era: British rule (17th century) shaped language; African slaves combined their native languages with English, creating Patois. • African Slave Trade: A pidgin blending African languages and English evolved into Jamaican Patois. • Language Mixing: Patois incorporates English, African languages, Spanish, and French influences. • Diglossia • Standard English: Formal use (education, politics). • Patois: Informal use (home, culture, music).

2. Linguistic and Historical Background of Jamaica

3. ITS FEATURES

• Grammatical Features: • Simplified verbs (e.g., “I am going” → “Mi a go”). • pronouns (e.g., “mi” = “I”, “yuh” = “you” im=he/she, wi= we, unu= you, dem=they ). • Vocaburary （e.g., Nuf = many or much , Han miggle = palm of your hand, Eat = nyam, Ghost = duppy）

• Phonological Features: • “Th” pronounced as “t” or “d” (e.g., “this” → “dis”). • Omission of sound (clause) (e.g., Boat/boht/bout（about） 　　 Febry（＜February） 　　 Braa/bra/brer（＜brother） • Rhythmic, musical intonation with pitch variations.

How does it sounds ?

4. Jamaican Patois and Identity

Cultural Pride: • A symbol of Jamaica’s history, resilience, and independence. • helps connect with their roots Connection with Music: • Reggae: Globalized Patois through icons like Bob Marley, with themes of resistance and hope. • Dancehall: Uses Patois to address social issues, emotions, and foster community.

5. Jamaican Patois vs. Standard English

Social Perceptions: • Patois is often viewed as “inferior” or “uneducated,” while Standard English is seen as formal and prestigious, affecting attitudes toward education and social status. Symbol of Rebellion Jamaicans who immigrated to the UK actively use patois in their daily lives. In addition, the use of patois is often a symbol of rebellion against pressure and unfair treatment from mainstream culture.

6. Global Influence of Jamaican Accent

Medias • Films like The Harder They come and music videos spread Patois internationally. • YouTube / instagram spread : younger generation ccreate / share slangs/content.

Education and Policy: • Growing recognition of Patois as a cultural asset. • Movements to include Patois in schools and media to promote diversity and preserve heritage.

7. Modern Jamaican Accent

Youth Culture: • Social media platforms amplify Patois, enabling new slang and expressions to emerge and spread globally.

“Tanks fi listenin’.”

Conclusion

• Patois reflects Jamaica’s history and identity. • Distinct from Standard English, it’s a cultural symbol. • Gaining recognition in education and media. • Social media helps preserve and spread it globally.

• https://jamaicanpatwah.com/b/the-history-of-jamaican-patois

• https://www.queensu.ca/strathy/history-jamaican-patwa

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_English

Sources