Jamaican Patois (NOT English!)

This video is all about Jamaican Patois, aka Jamaican Creole, the English-based creole language of Jamaica.
►Learn a language with native speakers online using italki: go.italki.com/1Ojye8x --► My favorite way to practices languages!
Special thanks to Irina Bruce and Derrick Ricketts for their feedback and help with the Patois samples in this video!
Video examples of Patois: • Jamaican Farmer speaki...
• Two Jamaican Rasta Arg...
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Sources include:
“Jamaican Creole Syntax”. Author: Beryl Loftman Bailey.
Article: Tracing the Pidgin Element in Jamaican Creole. Author: Frederic G. Cassidy. Book: Pidginization and Creolization of Languages. Editor: Dell Hymes.
“The Architecture of the Clause in Jamaican Creole” by Stephanie Durrleman.
citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/...
An Historical Study of English: Function, Form and Change.
Author: Jeremy Smith. Page 145-146.
The Syntax of Jamaican Creole: A cartographic perspective.
Author: Stephanie Durrleman-Tame. Page 146-147.
Music:
Intro soundscape: “Bodele Depression Mega Chad Mix” by Jesse Gallagher
Main: “Omission” by Huma-Huma.
Outro: “In Case You Forgot” by Otis McDonald.
The following image is used under Creative Commons Sharealike license:
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi.... Original Source: Wellcome Images catalogue.wellcomelibrary.org/...
Still images which contain the above image are offered for use under CC Sharealike license.
00:00 Intro
0:44 History of Patwa
02:40 The continuum between Patwa and Standard Jamaican English
03:51 Patwa vocabulary
06:18 Patwa grammar
08:45 Patwa pronouns
10:01 Patwa verb tenses
11:45 Question formation
12:45 Sentence breakdown
15:04 Closing comments
15:33 Question of the Day

[@mauricemckenzie1022]

It is said we Jamaicans speak a language we don't write, and write a language we don't speak

[@rafaelstephen719]

maurice mckenzie Haitian Creole 🇭🇹 used to be like that till the 1960’s. Guess what, it used to be called Patois in the US 🇺🇸

[@opalfishsparklequasar8663]

@@rafaelstephen719 patois is just a term for any hybrid language.

[@LeoLeo-yi5yx]

@S C racist

[@alexanderson6578]

that is so true, I think that should change

[@kerryann8536]

@S C get away

[@dnvr9402]

I'm Jamaican and my mind is blown, never seen anyone break down patois like this. Well done

[@kenroywallace5256]

This is taught in communication studies in sixth form.

[@rashandamckenna4322]

Caribbean Studies at A Levels for 6th form Caribbean students breaks this down in this exact same way.

[@dnvr9402]

Rashanda Mc Kenna I migrated after 4th form so I missed that class

[@godlove5912]

DNVR me too! Mi go farin afta high school so mi neva know all a dis neither lol🤷🏾‍♀️

[@taylorrejour2646]

@TECHNICIAN ONE Ignorant for showing admiration to someone, who is not native to jamaica, but was able to gather all this info organize it and explain it to other people arent familiar with the dialect? Really?

[@dijabelle8348]

I’m part Senegalese and I Can’t believe how they were able to use wollof, Akan, Igbo etc to create something so unique even though they were purposely stripped away from their true identity!!! I even noticed some of the words were similar to wollof. Jamaican patois is such a beautiful language ❤️

[@buttergurls6401]

Ooh wow how beautiful

[@bashengatheblackmanta7003]

Wether its Jamaican patoi, Haitian créole or any other creole, African languages have a strong influence in them, there are alot of African words in creole but whenever people speak of the creole language they only talk about the European influences.

[@ZephaniahL]

What a highly politicized screed! You know exactly what their "true" identity is, huh, arrogant?

[@nastykash9557]

@@bashengatheblackmanta7003 because the majority of the Creole is European, ofcourse people only going to know European since that’s the most dominant part of it

[@bashengatheblackmanta7003]

@@nastykash9557 that's not true, the majority of creole are afro descent. In modern times the term creole is different, it is use to describe the population who speaks the creole language

[@chefadudennis]

Am an Akan, from the Ashanti tribe and what you said was 100 correct. Most Jamaicans have a strong connection with Ghana

[@annsam2111]

Definitely! 🇯🇲

[@lizokokon1411]

I was very interested to see Igbo (East Nigerian/Biafran culture) derivatives also in JA patois too. I knew about Akan/Ashanti links but I was taught that stolen Ghanians were enslaved in Jamaika, whilst Stolen Nigerians enslaved in Barbados. (Some plane tickets got mixed up I guess???) My Igbo Father & Bajan Mom had to go all the way to Birmingham, UK to re-unite their gene-pool in my 3 sibs as we are Igbo`2 by genetics!! Sankofa To Our Ancestors. Dr Enöböng (Liz) Bajan-Igbo Scientist

[@hcassells66]

@@lizokokon1411 no Jamaicans and all black people in the caribbean are a mixture of all over west and west central africa, to say that we're only Ghanaian is incorrect. There was no specific place for specific ethnic groups to go to really. Especially during the last decades of the slave trade millions of people were taken from the bight of biafra, while slaves from the gold coast were banned because of their tendency to rebel. This explains why our most commonly used words of African origin are igbo (unu, soso etc)

[@nastykash9557]

@@The_hidden-Life no it’s not, Most Jamaicans have both Nigerian and Ghanaian Mixture and the percentage of Ghanaian and Nigerian is almost identical, and only 30-31% of the slaves of Jamaica were Ghanaian and 30% percent was Nigerian I forgot what the remaining percentage was.

[@IlmiMulhid]

Shanti means peace and Ashanti is negative of peace in India 😂

[@TerrW]

This dude show's more respect to patois in 16 minutes than most of us Jamaicans ever do

[@jamtalawah2231]

That because growing up (I am now 64 years young) we were always chastised especially at school for speaking patwa. Thanks so much to people like Miss Louise Bennett and others, me no frade fi use patwa, wen mi feel fi use it.

[@noonebutmesmiley9797]

That is because you are uneducated.

[@johnnywolf9966]

@@noonebutmesmiley9797 if you aren't Jamaican, that comment is straight up racist. If you are, which i still highly doubt, then you're just an Asshole

[@Nezzie16]

I had the same thought

[@SH3LLHeAD]

@@johnnywolf9966 Telling someone they are uneducated is not racist. Though it is ignorant.

[@germanqr]

Jamaicans need to protect this National treasure of a language.

[@rqubed2603]

Sigh. The Government hates it. They wouldn't mind killing our language. Just like they hated Rasta Religion and Reggae music. Hopefully, our language will become huge like Rasta/locks and Reggae Music. We finally have a rebellious generation of kids who don't care. We now have Scienctists who are trying to write their findings in Patois and English.

[@nsn876]

Don't worry it's not going any where.

[@rqubed2603]

@Soraya How could the government hate Reggae or Bob Marley? If it were up to them Reggae wouldn't have been player on radio. They are a collective of idiots. I know it seems weird but it's true.

[@ladyclarke9903]

@@rqubed2603 Dem a jackazz!

[@ladyclarke9903]

@@rqubed2603 Factz! SelfHate!

[@pitoufo]

Loved every minute of this. I left Jamaica 40 years ago at 12. I spoke mostly standard English because my father's family were pretty well educated but I also spoke patois but were told unnu nuffi talk bad. It wasn't until I read Americanah by Chimananda Ngozi Achidie that I GOT that our Patois was real and not some bastardization of English. Nowadays I find myself just speaking patois without code switching in most settings. People know wha mi a seh an mi no try fi switch up. My sister who is older than me grew up when you never spoke patois lest people thought you were low class. Now I can see how when she speaks English she's literally translating from Patois and it's more stilted. When we jus a chat inna plain patois mi fiin' seh she express haarself much easier. The awareness of how the evil enterprise of slavery and its depredations made us Africans descendants feel bad bout who we were, mek mi noh fraid fi chat patwah no matta wheh mi deh. An di funny thing is people generally undastan wha mi a seh. I wish as kids we had know this and understood that grammar and syntax from our ancestors carried over into how we spoke English. It is so freeing to be able to embrace who we are without shame.

[@zhaystyle]

Yes! "It is so freeing to be able to embrace who we are without shame." I couldn't have said it better myself! I wish we had known as kids as well. I grew up in the states and I recognize some of the words that called ebonics...now I know better that the words were actually from our languages. (We were told we were the only culture that didn't have a language.) Knowledge of ourselves is power.

[@Poppa_Badger]

It is a beautiful dialect that should be respected and not feel shame or that it is a lower class of language. It is an amazing language which I am presently trying to learn. But it isn't easy.lol❤️🙂👍🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@verreal]

Right. I hundred percent understand if it isn't too fast. Except: "I and I". Someone finally explained that to me. 😊

[@blasecorrea8350]

Jamaican patois flows so much smoother, I don’t speak it at all but I always was able to understand

[@Poppa_Badger]

Di funny ting, mi Brethren. 👍🏻I love the dialect and am doing my best to learn it. It's very unique and I have a very strong respect for the Jamaican/Rastafarian beliefs and traditions. And please don't be offended that I corrected the "thing to ting" part of your comment. I meant no harm, just a bit of a smile. Jah Bless bretta!!! One love!🙂👍🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@ayebalenicodemusalex6293]

I am even crying hearing all this history. May God grant our ancestors eternal peace. Much respect from Uganda 🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬🇺🇬

[@henningandersen9027]

I closed it after writing this. I can't stand MUZAK and talk together.

[@blairboyd1735]

It really pisses me off big time when you hear some Jamaican saying, that they does not speak potwa all their lives. Which I know, that is not true at all, because some of them does know the parts of speech. Plus their are not versatile in English language, because some of the words they pronounced incorrectly.I heard some of them is trying to speakie spokie, they does not know when to used present tense and past tense,or participle. So when you hear some of those braggadocious Jamaicans talking, you shouldn't even give a listening ears to them at all. Some of them who are living in the united states and, telling their children. That they does not want their children talk potwa, because it is not good for them, and the united states does not speak proper English language at all. According to my knowledge, you would hearing them slanging, because a lot of words they pronounced wrong. In life, you haveto leave some people in their darkness of folly.Just like how the people in the united states talked,it is the same way they write ✍️. Let me use a sentence,all the united states citizens. Would write ✍️ like this, how are y'all doing,which is not proper grammar at all. It should written like this, how are you doing, and that is a Y not a u at all. They called breakfast 🥞,breakfuss incorrect speech, also they called a school principal,a principle which is apart of disciplined.They does not understand standard English language at all and, you have some Jamaican is copying their slang.Some Jamaican is saying that they don't speak our foreparents language which, the white man called it potwa. But the right name for it is Akon, so I don't know where this guy got is information from. Trying to fooled people about his information, how some people is writing about a country and. They never lived there ,every minute you have a different writer,is trying to change the original information.Making it very complicated for the younger generation them to understand, the truth about the Jamaican history.As I said before ,that you have some cyber bullies out there, who does not understand the intricacies about the history of Jamaica at all.They are allowing all different kinds of people to write ✍️,all kinds of nonessentical arguments. Most of them is just speculating about Jamaica history, because they never lived or study there,ok.

[@SydneyGayleJr8]

@@blairboyd1735 please stop talking foolishness because your not even writing in proper grammar

[@SydneyGayleJr8]

@@blairboyd1735 please stop talking foolishness because your not even writing in proper grammar

[@SydneyGayleJr8]

@@blairboyd1735 please stop talking foolishness because your not even writing in proper grammar

[@edmund6392]

I am Igbo and I am blown away by how many Igbo words that are used in Jamaican Patois. One Love my Jamaican sisters and brothers!

[@paular3265]

Yes there is a lot of African retained words

[@edmund6392]

@@hawkeyes2814 they are clearly identified in the video. Why don’t you first watch the video.

[@edmund6392]

@@hawkeyes2814 you are confused...but that’s ok.

[@edmund6392]

@@hawkeyes2814 And that is the DUMBEST statement on the internet today. You win the idiot award 🥇. Congratulations! 🎈🎉

[@ShammyM.]

@@hawkeyes2814 🤣

[@manel1378]

I'm Jamaican and everything you've said is spot on!

[@L9velantes]

except spider

[@L9velantes]

nd buffoon was pronounce d wrong

[@PeterAuto1]

Is Patois only used in conversations or also in media?

[@manel1378]

Peter Auto - Patois is used among family members, friends and associates while Jamaican English is used in the media, schools and the courthouse.

[@manel1378]

Super Guppy - Anansi (spider) is correct. I’ve heard that word growing up.

[@rrahsheedardny]

My father is from Jamaica, and he never taught me any patois. I understand him very well. I can only speak some of it through experience and my friends. I love it and will always desire to learn it as much as possible

[@JonathanSinclair-zx]

same story for me. I was born and raised in Ohio and my father was from Jamaica. Until he slowed his speech enough I sometimes had to translate his English accent. But he never even spoke patois around the house other than a few sayings. I love patois.

[@Jaida829]

Africa Unite.

[@Protechyuhnek]

I’m from Trinidad and for some reason Jamaican Patois is so easy to comprehend, it’s like basic English to me. I’ve never looked at it from this context, kudos to this man, the breakdown was very informative, I’d love to hear him break down Trinidadian, language / patois.

[@jansajealisi2879]

The dialect of Trinidad works somewhat similar to patios right? Or at least it seems to sound quite close? Perhaps it’s harder for the Americans/British as the accent is not similar?

[@micayahritchie7158]

@@jansajealisi2879 Trini speech is also a creole. A closely related creole as well but everyone in the English Caribbean just sees their creole as being an English dialect

[@nastykash9557]

I would be worried if you couldn’t understand Jamaican patois😂😅

[@NativeNomads10]

@@micayahritchie7158 Its actually a French based Patois but over the years due to adoption of the Jamaican culture in Trinidad, and the ditching of Trinidad original French patois to speak English, Trinidad now speak a mixture of broken English, small amount of French patois, and words from Jamaican patois

[@Nabium]

"Because I don't know where my wife is, I have to go cook dinner for myself". The pain is real.

[@Matlalcueitl]

Also: the pan is real.

[@TillRapture]

Ah lie iim ah tell lol! Iim kno seh him have a matey(side chick) pon di side ah feed iim🤦🏾‍♀️

[@CanalSDR]

Saki pase fré@@TillRapture

[@jamrocklive6197]

@@TillRapture same suh it guh

[@TillRapture]

@@CanalSDR ah weh dat mean now sah?

[@aaro7822]

Nyam in my native language (fula) and in serer language means "to eat" . In Wolof it means "food" or " to test the food". From Senegal-Africa! Peace and love!

[@TrevorKhaba]

In Nguni languages like Zulu nyama means meat.

[@Dracopol]

Num-nums!

[@robertjleter]

Nyan in the language of Suriname means to eat

[@Nghilifa]

@@TrevorKhaba In Namibia & Angola (Oshiwambo language) meat is "onyama" . My people are called "Kwanyama" . We like to eat meat. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@zoria2718]

In East-Slavic languages, nyam (ням) is an interjection meaning eating or denoting enjoyment of eating like nom and yummy.

[@tobo7580]

I am here as a German, who learnt English from TV rather then in school (of course it was a subject in school, but I learnt English prior to that by watching TV from the Uk as they had an army base near by and thus we somehow had access to certain British TV and radio). I am very impressed by this essentialy 'self-made' language. Just shows how clever the Non-white Jamaican people truly were. This isn't broken English, this is simply its own language of equal value. I'm impressed, stunned. I find it to be a beautiful form of speech.

[@hwaansswaanh3511]

Richtig mein Bruder

[@ELFREDAWRIGHT2]

Exactly!

[@ChavezMcKenzie]

"non-white"?!?.. racist b*tch!

[@shanatian1]

Big up yuhself.

[@leejnrful]

I'm 100% Jamaican. I usually speak standard English at home, work and when I am around foreigners. I generally speak Patwa around my friends or when I get excited. I really appreciate this video. Very well put and explain stuff I didn't know about my own native language! I will definitely share this with my non-Jamaican friends.

[@meenki347]

Share with your Jamaican friends too. Paul's langfocus channel is incredible. Hey, the comments are always great too. And give me hope for the world.

[@tresanapearson6508]

I am Jamaican, i use patois as needed. I used it when conversing with friends and family and for business i will speak standard English. I ususally tell jokes in patois because it gives a extra punch to the joke.

[@trdja]

The fun part is being able to turn it on and off when you want. I was in Golden Coral ordering steak from the chef speaking english, he looked on me and said "My youte cut de chat and order like a yard man", mi jus buss out a laff and say "wah it caan hide a raaaaa."

[@trdja]

@Xero yardman is another way of saying Yardie or Gangster

[@frayneek]

@Xero Almost, it’s basically saying shut up and order it like a Jamaican. A yard man is someone who is from Jamaica. And youth shouldn’t really be translated the same, like it’s used to refer to friend in this case. But in other cases it can mean someone’s kid or to talk down to someone who is disrespecting you based on what follows

[@jackiedelvalle]

@@trdja Nope. Yard is home, ie Jamaica.

[@aanyamallick7747]

@@trdja No dear. Yardman/Yardie is Jamaican, if you were born here. Not gangster, dwl

[@Wakeupgrandowl]

I don't know why, but this made me feel emotional? Like someone was finally noticing and considering the cultural features of Caribbean people.

[@ruganzureggie385]

Did you notice how it’s all african influenced ? Black man is african

[@superduperstapler]

🙏🙏🙏

[@dkg4500]

💯💯💯

[@miguelaperezjrrr]

The creation of Jamaican Patois is rather emotional and depressing to me. It started when enslaved Africans literally overheard and copied what basic words white slave masters would say. Then the Africans started speaking to other Africans by throwing in words from their native languages then those who understood would talk even more to each other. Then it developed into what it is now. So sad. I couldn’t begin to wonder how they felt on the ships:(( My heart breaks for their ancestors to this day. I do my best and donate to who i can.

[@miguelaperezjrrr]

Jodian Harris it’s such a sad and nasty world man. What have Black people ever done to just get so much hate.

[@sharonh.4722]

I appreciate the lesson. All my life as American Black woman. I always heard patois is broken English. Look at this it's a language dialect so much culture. When you realize your own ignorance your more acceptive of change. So I'm glad to watch this video. I love Jamaica. I love my Jamaican Handsome Man. I learned alot about his culture . I love his family as he loves mine.

[@manwhoismissingtwotoenails4811]

Similar to English but they've made a full on language and culture. I wish Duolingo taught this.

[@jeremywhite7654]

I used to think Jamaican Patois was a heavy slang, but now I think it's actually it's own language -- possibly the closest language to English, but still it's own language.

[@noxnc]

I’m a Jamaican living in the USA since childhood. This was awesome, a very professional and courteous treatment of this wonderful language. When I was a kid I thought it was just bad English, it wasn’t until I got older I realized how rich and complex it is. I can still understand Patois but my ability to speak it is very diminished, I’m sorry about that. Myself and all my siblings and cousins, even the ones who were born in the USA, still try to break into it at times, we can kind of do it but it sounds less authentic than our parents speak it. I hope the next generation of our family continues to keep it alive. One funny thing is that even homegrown Jamaicans usually can’t read it because the spelling is so non-standard. I remember my mother having a book by Louise Bennet, “Mama Louise”, that was written in all Patois; it was so hard to read, even though we all spoke Patois on a daily basis. Anyway this was fantastic, I really enjoyed this analysis of the language. I’m very impressed that someone who doesn’t speak this language natively took the time to understand it in such detail. Everything in the video rang true and I even learned one or two things I didn’t know before. I also heard some words that I haven’t heard used since I was a kid, which was a lot of fun for me. Thanks for a great video. Edit: corrected Mama Louise’s name. 2nd edit: I meant Miss Lou, no disrespect was intended, it’s been a long time.

[@marshapple]

Yea. After watching this video I have noticed that my patois is not as "pure" as it used to be

[@dbrice71]

My experience to a tee. Nice post.

[@marlonbryson988]

I agree with you 100%. This guy taught me something new about my own language.

[@gordontinderholt1726]

Kinda like Hawaiian pidgin

[@SylverQrow]

Omg i hated those books back in Primary school lol i could read them but i never liked reading them because Standard English is taught, Patios is just spoken. Books that were only in patois were more annoying because you can sound it out but everyone has variants for how they spell certain words in patois. Looking back now i kinda would like to have some of them now as keepsakes xD still wouldn’t like reading them though lol.

[@maijennasis]

Wow, I won’t even lie I wasn’t expecting this man to know what he was talking about but I’m so proud of how accurate this is, new subscriber! BIG UP MI PEOPLE DEM🇯🇲

[@mellochello77]

Curls On Mai girl anyone can be taught this info lol.

[@XHobbiesPrime]

This was really well done.

[@princelycanthrope5688]

Curls On Mai big up yourself

[@withastone]

Why wouldn't he? His videos always follow the standard findings of linguistics.

[@XHobbiesPrime]

@@withastone Because I know I'm not used to the patois being given a serious and scholarly treatment. I'm more used to Jamaican culture and identity being played for joke like say Jar Jar Binks. If you are familiar with the patois but new to this channel you wouldn't expect it and might be pleasantly surprised.

[@shellyannlewis2595]

😆 I love it ❤️ I'm proud to be a Jamaican.

[@BrandonEssue]

I'm a grade 5 and 6 teacher. I have to speak Standard English everyday when teaching. But in other aspects where we meet away from the school compound, we speak freely. Anything comes comes. Patois and English mixed heavily because when speaking patois you can show more expressions and emotions with the phrases.

[@gunpolygamist]

I'M IMPRESSED AS A JAMAICAN I NEVER HEARD PATOIS BROKEN DOWN LIKE THIS BEFORE

[@ScorpioNy6]

White ppl studied and Mastered you well.

[@SR77736]

@@ScorpioNy6 they like our culture.

[@ScorpioNy6]

@@SR77736 They use your Culture.

[@bryanlugg3934]

@@ScorpioNy6 yow yuh cud Neva bi more carect

[@user-jk6tz7ix9b]

They our Jamaican culture

[@NoLefTurnUnStoned.]

I was raised in London from Scottish and Italian descent. At age 10 I went to an experimental government boarding school and shared a dormitory for 5 years with mostly Jamaican youths. (Some of them born there) I remember being totally blown away by the dialect. It just sounded so rich and expressive. We listened to a lot of Roots and Dub music (especially Scientist) and also what was known then as DJing or Toasting or Chatting from Sound System Tapes of Coxone, King Tubby’s etc... the dna of modern rap and dancehall. By the time I was 12 i was pretty much fluent with patois and could converse easily, much to the amusement of my family at home. Around 14 my friends encouraged me to start Chatting on the mic at the local Caribbean club in Ipswich. It used to cause a riot when “dis lickle white bwoy” would get on the mic and chat, “Me white me no black, me slim me no fat, me DJ fe balhead an dreadlock” lol! I was just an impressionable kid, it wasn’t contrived or appropriation. I just absorbed what was around me. When I was 18 I spent a year in Green Island near Negril with relatives of one of my closest friends. They had a little sound system and I would go with them in the truck around the island and they would give me a spot on the mic. Some of the locals looked at me like an alien had landed, but I got blessed vibes. Out in the country is where I first heard “deep patois”, very hard to decipher. Best times of my life, what memories. I met Burning Spear, went to see Lees Unlimited in Montego Bay, saw Eek a Mouse Daddy Toyan, Papa Buro, Yellowman, Clint Eastwood, General Saint, Barrington Levi and many others. Spent a lot of time in the hills with Rastas and on Negril beach where Miss Cool the matriarch of the family had a shack selling Salt fish patties, rice and peas and magic mushroom tea to American tourists lol. I’m 53 now, and to this day when I am around Jamaicans i don’t know, I have to resist slipping into dialect in case they think I’m making fun of the accent. God bless Jamaica and it’s people, in my heart forever...

[@wlorraine84]

Hi, i am a Jamaican and many times white people ask us to speak our dialect and teach them. We're happy when we hear you guys trying to talk like us. Yes it's funny but it means that you respect us enough to try and learn our language. So while u know it spot on, don't be afraid to use it when talking to us. Makes it easier for us to have a conversation knowing you understand us pretty well.. uzimi. Big up yuhself 💪

[@NoLefTurnUnStoned.]

wlorraine84 ❤️🙏🏽 Love and blessings!

[@jam-trousers]

What a great story. Thanks for sharing that

[@wlorraine84]

@@NoLefTurnUnStoned. same to u🤗

[@1Flyingfist]

@@wlorraine84 Do they ask you, "what's a ratid?" 😂🙈 Or try to kiss their teeth and say bloodclaart? 😳🙄

[@Samm876]

I use Jamaican Patois daily, whether I'm speaking to family members, friends or vendors on the street; However, if I'm in a professional setting like my workplace, or any other formal setting, or even a nice store, I'll use standard English. I think this is because historically we were taught to 'speak properly' in these types of settings, as Patois was frowned upon as a language of the illiterate. I am extremely proud of my Patois language and often times mix it in with standard English, regardless of where I am! 😊 Thank you for breaking down our language in this format - I've never thought of it as such a complex language - I think Jamaicans take Patois for granted.

[@RealAndreGlegg]

Thank you so much for this video - I’m sharing it with all my fellow Jamaicans. Unfortunately some of us don’t even understand what our language is. I especially hate it when people call it broken English.

[@greydungeon2384]

I was born in Jamaica and raised in the USA so I can understand patios perfectly but if I try to speak it I sound like a fool XD

[@developer101]

Texas_is_a_Nation I was born in England to Jamaican parents I also understand the patios but I don’t try to speak it either, however when I’m in JA I will use one or two words, but not to much because the Jamaicans can tell who come from foreign...

[@aliliv9384]

😂🤣🤣🤣

[@madmaxxxx876]

😂😂

[@gstepht8561]

OMG same, but I’m in Canada instead. I can understand Patois like it’s perfect English but I sound like an idiot while trying to learn it.

[@dakistle]

Born in the US and lived in JA and have Jamaican family by marriage. I'm in the same boat.

[@inevitablyaberrant]

This is so bizarre... I grew up in Hawai'i and the pidgin is almost identical in sentence structure however the accent is different. It's like knowing a different language without ever learning it...

[@Wanderer25]

I lived and worked with Hawaiians and a few other Polynesians on Oahu. It took me only a few days to learn Hawaiian pidgin. It was like I already understood them.

[@timomastosalo]

Both build from English on the same principles. Lot of it likely merges, has gone the same road. And I'm not saying they are broken English - just that they derive from English, with a few other languages as spices.

[@kcfrancis94]

My 5 y/o only spoke pidgin when we left Oahu (non military). I had to translate for him with my family lol..."I like go shi shi"..."rubbish can"..."I pau". After a few months in Atlanta neither of my kids would answer me if I spoke any pidgin 😥

[@inevitablyaberrant]

@@kcfrancis94 aww... I only speak pidgin with my family. As a child I was taught to speak proper English in public and with most teachers because (in the future) it would be easier to get (better paying) jobs. "If you sound uneducated (pidgin being "lower class" than "whitebred american") then no one will hire you". Luckily today, pidgin is recognized as an actual language still not as prized as Hawaiian, but still at least recognized.

[@kcfrancis94]

@@inevitablyaberrant agreed. The same as black people needing to speak standard English instead of soley ebonics. Unfortunately, our ebonics will never receive any respect other than being considered ignorant, broken English. It's funny because I literally never noticed that my oldest was only speaking pidgin until we left. So when I was translating everything he was saying... I was really surprised. Every culture has their... "Get a job accent and language" LOL.

[@jasonkowens6820]

As an Akan (Ashanti-Akyem) this is mind blowing... Not just the mixed in words but the sentence structure and verb repeating like chati chati is literally the same... In Twi (the name of the Akan language) to talk or chat is "kasa" and when someone or some people talk too much we say him/they "kasa kasa" and we do that for a bunch of other verbs. Fascinating.

[@Anonymous_Anon882]

Some people finish some sentences here and there with a bit of patois, Akan (if they’re from a certain part of Ghana) or sometimes Nigerian English just to be funny but it’s interesting and has linguistic substance in its own right.

[@foxylee58]

We use "kas kas" similarly as in "nuh badda wid di kas kas!", which in this context means to quarrel, or to fuss.

[@jodi-annbrown418]

Oh we say nuh badda wid di passa passa

[@albertafoster628]

Nuff respect! That was very interesting. Excellent research. From a British born Jamaican, who depending on my who I am communicating with, move between Jamaican patois, current street talk, cockney and of course standard English.

[@randiebobb6459]

I have spoken patios my whole life and never thought about it in-depth. I hope schools in Jamaica will at some part give respect to the past and educate us on the language. We can continue to speak and learn English. However, it’s about time we honor the past.

[@ussuperprints]

What they need to do is realize Christianity was forced on them ..and push that sh*t off the island . You can never move forward with respect worshiping someone who looks like someone else

[@ljtheone]

@@ussuperprints dude fuck off people are allowed to believe what they want to so take of your fedora

[@frafraplanner9277]

@@ussuperprints God doesn't "look like" any ethnicity. He is subsistent reality. Please get off of Reddit

[@Breanna1823]

@@ussuperprints dude Jamaicans aren't one colour and even then we don't know what race Jesus was, he came from Bethlehem not Europe

[@rari2xx]

@@ussuperprints yo what?

[@flutterv]

This was so beautifully done. I think as Jamaicans, we are able to appreciate the language a little more after seeing this video. Our use of Patois vs. English really just depends on the situation. English is used in more formal settings, while Patois is more casual. Many of us speak Patois when we're among family and friends. That being said, some of us weren't allowed to speak Patois in our homes as children. In some spaces, it is viewed as the language of the uneducated.

[@treshawnataycampbell2389]

I stop telling my kids to not speak our Creole. I had to learn everything about our language. I cried when i learn that even tho we didn't grow up in Africa our language never came out of us. I had to learn to relove myself all over again. Including that am not from a European standard

[@doc7000]

This falls under cultural genocide, where acting out certain cultural traditions or in this case speaking a certain language or way cuts you off from a higher standard of living resulting in "poor" people acting Jamaican. With enough pressure and long enough time your old language and culture no longer exist as eventually no living person speaks or observes that culture anymore.

[@smr6141]

This saddens me so much. I think this language is fascinating, interesting, beautiful and to read about how it’s considered for the uneducated and not allowed in some spaces it’s truly horrible. And even if it was language of the uneducated, it’s history and richness got nothing on English and romance languages and whatever else, your language is warm I’m not sure if that makes sense but it is.

[@ye23.]

Jamaican patois is the coolest language. Wish I could speak it 😆

[@carmencampbell9304]

YOU NEED TO TELL YOUR OWN STORY.

[@JxninGxld]

Anyone who’s really Jamaican can appreciate this because most Jamaican people don’t even think about it. As you grow up you just sort of figure it out through repeatedly hearing it. Things click before you even know you’re understanding something different from English. I always found it interesting that non Jamaican people can’t understand Patois. This video really shows how intricate it actually is. Props.

[@ikongchin3088]

We a de BESS

[@richiimiyakii3720]

That's true, mi always a seh den if e easi fi learn spanish and supmn wah suh haad fi ova stan fimi language, if a neva dis a swear to jah mi deven did a pree suh deep.

[@buttergurls6401]

@@richiimiyakii3720 dude, I don't know what your saying but your language is absolutely gorgeous

[@richiimiyakii3720]

@@buttergurls6401 I will teach you a thing or two... it's funny how i listen to a whole lot of drill music from the Uk and they too have alot of Jamaican slangs and words in them.

[@nastykash9557]

@@richiimiyakii3720 bruh common bro the foundation of British black culture is Caribbean.

[@danielmoore1232]

This is really fascinating! My ancestry is from western Europe (England, Ireland, and Germany) according to DNA testing. But listening to this makes me wish I was Jamaican. Lol!!! Awesome language for sure. This is the first time I've ever heard about it.

[@KamisKisses]

We "code switch" depending on the situation and the location. Patois for friends and when doing certain transactions and English for work and "professional" environments. To be fair though, persons who are from deep rural areas have a heavier accent, even when they speak English it sounds more like patois.

[@Aboriginal_American_Hebrew]

Hiii 😍

[@theindiegameenthusiast1315]

I've only been to Jamaica twice but I noticed this too!

[@jaelzion]

Very similar for African Americans (black folks, LOL). We code switch between "Ebonics" for casual or social situations, standard English for professional or school settings and something in-between for some situations (like church).

[@ofthecaribbean]

What I find funny is that white Jamaicans speak better patois than black jamaicans. We hardly ever switch

[@aanyamallick7747]

@@ofthecaribbean I believe it is because of the standard English they are surrounded by. I was born and am still living in the ghetto, and I speak fluent patois. However, when I go to school answer questions or asking them I speak standard English but patois when speaking to my friends, especially when I have theatre arts class I speak patois. I remember when i was asking a question in literature class and my teacher said "English please" lol, patois is English but she wanted me to speak standard English. It is weird hearing a white Jamaican because I am from the ghetto, but their are white people living in trench town right now but I am unaware if some are Jamaican or of Jamaican descent.

[@shellone27]

I use standard English when speaking to none Jamaicans. When I’m mad or upset English goes through the door an a jus straight patwa! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@evaready900]

Loool same suh!

[@kcfrancis94]

When I could no long understand a word my Grenadian husband was saying... that could finish the argument; I sent him to DEEP patois lol.

[@XHobbiesPrime]

I remember being a kid and I would get into an argument with my mom or my sister and they would slip deep into the patois and all my American friends were totally lost. :D

[@Peridium]

Omg same. It comes out when I’m vexed, otherwise, I speak standard English.

[@bradmalcolm3285]

Mate imma put my family to the test with this video 😂😂

[@privateauditor562]

Wow! I had no idea it was a whole language, I thought it was simply a dialect with a lot of slang. I'm so glad the internet exists so I can learn things like this

[@nekozombie]

you're great :)

[@jackrose5077]

Man the quality of these videos is unparalleled in my opinion. Incredible work on each one.

[@ddoyle11]

Just hearing someone speak with a Jamaican accent automatically makes me smile.

[@jman4668]

Why?

[@ShanteRoxxane]

ddoyle11 Awesome! 🇯🇲

[@DaydreamingTrack]

Bcuz patios is funny once yuh understand it, Tek it from a jamaican.

[@Mrs.T305]

Thank you

[@jabulanizabumafu2674]

Its soo funny

[@tyhannahibbert6909]

Immaculate presentation! I am a Jamaican living and studying in America. I’ve done linguistic research on Patois and I Approve this video! Yuh know weh yah talk boh yute

[@Deco_2k]

Tyhanna Hibbert them still Nah go get it, patwah foreign to the man dem, the thing with patwah is that it complex and constantly changing with slang!

[@cmooreHD]

Deco Lard agree. But same time all languages all over the world change over time. Language is a living breathing thing. No pun intended.

[@tradingandtechitemsproviews]

what is use in patois

[@joshuaatkins9246]

Yes him kno

[@thepsalms2806]

What languagedo you write in school

[@kimberlypatton9634]

I absolutely love this! I've had many friends from Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas(being a native of S.Florida).I have always been in love with just the simple "lyrical" sound of the speaking of it...It is very beautiful and unique,as are are languages.They (and varying "accents " that evolve in specific regions all over the world) seem to deeply reflect the physical natural areas and natural surroundings they are at ..it is a "vibe " that exists.Dont forget how much the Caribbean was a major area of change,trade and pirate activities in the past centuries of exploration and countries with their Navies grabbing ownerships of them for the wealth they could provide in goods and riches..that contributed to the humanixtures and influences.If you are a "normal" speaker of English,it's not difficult to listen to Jamaican being spoken and being able to understand pretty much all of what is being said.Thanks for a wonderful And incredibly interesting and informative video! Great work! ..going to sub right now..fascinating!

[@scootabean]

Almost a year later I still come back to this video for the comments. And I appreciate how quickly you got right into it.

[@jonistan9268]

"since I'm tired of people reading books" me on Duolingo

[@ghenulo]

Duolingo is full of ridiculous sentences like "It's very sad to go home from school every day". Who on Earth isn't ecstatic about being able to come home after another hellish day at school?

[@1224chrisng]

Neniu duopo! Ne turnu mian kadavron al sapo!

[@jonistan9268]

@@ghenulo I just had 'The cat eats the bird'

[@verdakorako4599]

@@1224chrisng mi sapigos vian kadavron

[@nootics]

Bruh jonistan

[@davehall8649]

I am of Jamaican descent. It's so humbling to know that the patois we speak has Kromanti, Igbo and various other African languages included! We haffi taak di taak deh fi keep it goin!

[@chrisbennett606]

Dave Hall most probably Tanio most likely as well

[@xxeep_bluexx314]

I can't read my own language!!!!

[@shivampurohit1331]

@justha vingfun Isn't there a large Bhojpuri( Indian ) community in Surinam?

[@nanakgee]

@justha vingfun the Akan people of Ghana is where the kromanti is. Kromanti is a very small village in Ghana today in the central region of Ghana. They are Akans.

[@nanakgee]

@justha vingfun the Akan tribes are Asantes(Ashantis),Fantis, Akuapem,Akyem,Bono,Nzema,etc

[@guitarguru.3572]

My wife and I are in Montego Bay right now. We’ve never met such kind, welcoming, friendly, and hard-working folks. This truly is paradise.

[@wobwobwubwub]

your channel is awesome, I keep randomly stumbling upon your videos when looking up anything interesting language wise. thanks for doing what you do!

[@Langfocus]

Thanks, Dylan!

[@angelrobb3261]

Sees thumbnail: aah boi🤦,here we go again some third generation foreign born Jamaican gave him all the information. Watches video: Well damn I did not expect that. Research was spot on and I wasn't pissed. I was impressed. I didn't hear any "no problem mon"🤮 or "Jamaican me crazy"😡😡🤮.

[@qwoc]

I actually couldn’t give more of a fuck about this comment

[@qwoc]

oH sHiTMeOw MeOw i ThOuGHt YoU WaS dEAD I hate people like u ur not funny

[@MsVakong]

I thought the same thing. I really enjoyed this video.

[@lordenel9715]

Winston Black mah dead 😂😂

[@holysex1052]

@@qwoc 👀

[@Sparklezmusic89]

See if linguistics class presented it in this way, I probably would have done better in that class. Very interesting

[@anonymousMist]

Sparklezmusic89 Mine was. I had some awesome tutors.

[@mizenglish]

Where did you study? I did this in UWI over 15 years ago...nothing mind blowing here.

[@rashandamckenna4322]

CAPE Caribbean Studies does

[@Sparklezmusic89]

@@mizenglish In Toronto. The instructor that I had wasn't very good and taught it from a theoretical focus.

[@JamCountryGirl]

I got it exactly like this and more in-depth by my final year. Try UWI, Mona Campus.

[@2bsure]

Came back to watch it again as it came up on my feed. Again an absolute gem for breaking this down so perfectly.

[@Blues9]

I’m an Akan from Ghana and I’m quite impressed Jamaican Patois has some of our words and sometimes literal transitions. Eg. “ani” meaning eye “bere” literally meaning riped. I get why they use red instead

[@vindaloo1993]

For a long time, my next door neighbours were from Jamaica and they were the nicest people. Every summer they would throw a big backyard barbecue and invite us over to hang out, eat jerk chicken and goat, and enjoy some good music. And I loved hanging out there with all them nice people, listening to them speak patois; I never understood much but to my ears it is such a fun sounding language. Later I had the chance to spend 1 week in Jamaica (St. Mary's Parish) and absolutely loved it there, the people are so nice and the food is just awesome. This video was very informative and made me miss my jamaican friends. Peace, one love.

[@adrienbeeatingpeaches9916]

My family is from a small town in St.Mary. Miss it so much.

[@Lifewithgoldbridge121]

I'm from St Mary.

[@carolinesamuels31]

Mi love you David. Mi a Jamaican. One love brada 🇯🇲💕❤️🇯🇲💕❤️🇱🇷

[@zumo4206]

Me too !!! REID family from Mae Pen.

[@jamrock9925]

@@zumo4206 Mae Pen Clarendon? I'm from the Pedro Plains St Elizabeth, I love Mae Pen, you guys are funny as fck, nuff Respect.

[@vejaemclean2361]

I'm a Jamaican living in the US and I speak English in most of my interactions, but I do speak Patois with my family or other Jamaicans. When I talk to myself or think, it's normally a combination of both, depending on my mood. This was spot on!!

[@jamalnasir5648]

you would have to speak English. No one in USA will understand Patois

[@pitoufo]

@@jamalnasir5648 nope I speak both SE and JP intermingled and my friends here all understand me easily and infer a lot from context. Plus Jamaica is a global brand so lot of people are to some extend familiar with Patois. Bob Marley mostly spoke in Patwa!. Plenty time non Jamaicans claim to me to be Jamaican and I always know dem a tell lie by how them talk. But it's all good caaz ppl always waahn fi be pa'aat a sinting awesome!

[@jamalnasir5648]

@@pitoufo I went to Turks and Caicos recently. Native Turks you could understand but there were two Jamaicans I met talking to each other in patwa and I could not understand anything besides some words. Native Turks don't have that

[@lifebydesign9435]

Are all Jamaicans that beautiful?

[@billgreenidge6740]

@@jamalnasir5648 There are plenty places in the US with sizable Jamaican communities where the culture and language are experienced daily, as with other ethnic groups here. Are you actually unaware of this?

[@van-hieuvo8208]

I had no idea "anansi" meant "spider", and there was even an entire Wikipedia article about it. Now the novel "Anansi Boys" makes perfect sense.

[@julianaansah6367]

Anansi is from Ghana we Akans

[@shaunhutchinson6063]

Wow! Am so impressed with your research. I've never seen or heard it put across like this before. Great job man. I'm a proud Jamaican who embrace my language

[@sad1k1e]

This sound like this guy did a doctorate on jamaican language. I'm jamaican and he is on point. His explanation with the part of speech and time of use is so good

[@vanetiawellington1302]

He is a linguist. That's why.

[@andrethomas2513]

Let’s be honest here, while I agree that it has a lot of content, the spelling of some of the patois is not 100% correct. Like for instance he highlighted we spelt ‘old’ like ‘ould’ which is incorrect we spell and pronounce it as ‘ole’

[@dahliaduhaney8707]

@@andrethomas2513 the way many of us spell in Jamaican Creole is incorrect. If a linguist should spell some of these words (guided by the IPA chart) you would be surprised.

[@andrethomas2513]

@@dahliaduhaney8707 you have missed the point. Wow!

[@LoveMusicBad]

@@dahliaduhaney8707 quite so. UWI has had a unit for years which has been trying to standardize the Creole. They do have a chart and other materials to help in that regard. There has been a Jamaican New Testament, JNT, (I have a copy) and they're now working on the OT to get the full Bible. Even Bible app, YouVersion has the JNT as one of its translations. Big op! Patois a get di rispek it diserv.

[@jorhop4005]

Also "-ing" doesn't really exist in patwa, instead we repeat the word twice. Ex: "Drive mi a drive" means "I'm driving"

[@carlandroberts2358]

I did exactly as you said before even finishing your sentence lol. I said to my self "A dwiit mi a dwiit"- "I'm doing it"

[@chamachuchi]

omg, it can be the same with filipino/bisaya. i mean if i would use "driving" in my bisaya sentence. it would be. "Ga drive-drive ko." which means "I'm driving."

[@chamachuchi]

but it would specifically mean i do it as leisure. it can also be said as "ga drive ko" which is more of a declarative and serious statement

[@Aminah6623]

"ah/a" before the verb indicates 'ing' not the repetition. 'Mi ah drive' means the same thing as 'Drive mi ah drive.' Repetition is not needed to indicate the present.

[@jorhop4005]

@@Aminah6623 you're right, never even realized that.

[@zandaroos553]

So I’m Jamaican-American, while I’m able to understand Patois easily and speak it to an extent it doesn’t come naturally. Not only because I was raised in the US but my mother came from Mandeville, where British influence was strongest and thus despite coming from a poorer rural family she was was raised as a devout Anglican and spoke a mixture of JSE and RP at home. Her native accent is basically a Jamaican equivalent of the Transatlantic accent and she’s frequently mistaken for Kenyan due to how she enunciates certain words. She spoke English to me at home though, and Patois phrases would only come out when she was frustrated. I learned Patois instead from my extended family who spoke it at home.

[@Chezzalicious]

Loved this video. My family are from Trinidad and Grenada obviously they have their own island patois but in Birmingham UK where I grew up most our other Caribbean friends were Jamaican so I know and understand it well. Listening to this Explanation about Jamaican patois was absolutely fascinating!

[@trinibagowaynecaribbean1611]

Wow my parents are from Trinidad and Grenada too.

[@FMSuvorov]

Native Jamaican who has lived in the US for most of my life here. Fantastic video! A fun grammar pattern: “waak mi a waak” or “taak mi a taak” (“I am currently walking” and “I am currently talking”) “Seh” as in “say” for emphasis “yuh neva realize seh di people dem a chat nuff foolishness” (you didn’t realize/ you must understand that those people gossip a lot/ say stupid things) Code switching is the norm for my family. Patois is spoken at home and standard English professionally. That being said, we don’t really draw a line between patois and standard English. The patois comes out the hardest the more Jamaicans are in a room or when we are upset and lose the filters.

[@CoryMck]

Patios really is the best language to speak when you're angry or complaining though , English just can't compete.

[@MockeryManor]

John Marley Hahahahha....American born here, but you’re spot on about the patois intensifying when more Jamaicans gather ‘round.

[@NoName-zi9st]

The first one doesn't have to be currently. I could be walking to town later or I could have walked yesterday and when I get asked *how yuh ah reach* I could still answer *walk mi ah walk*

[@orp8428]

Lovely!

[@zonzore]

IT's, I'm walking and I'm talking. the word "currently" in those phrases are unnecessary because you are describing what you are doing at the moment with a continuous verb.

[@eme.261]

My ex-husband learned the hard way just how NOT English Jamaican patois is. Poor thing. He was completely at a loss when we visited. I tried to warn him that the Jamaicans he spoke with in the U.S. never spoke Jamaican patois to him-- just standard English with a very thick Jamaican accent and some of the more accessible patois grammatical rules. He was only on the island for about 10 minutes before he gave up and had to wait for me to act as an interpreter. LOL.

[@Belihoney]

@wonda preach Jamaicans from country are a different kettle of fish. My grandparents speaks patios to me and I was brought up with it but in jamaican countryside I still barely understand what dem people a say. If you can understand them... all power to you.

[@eme.261]

@wonda preach -- Languages are understandable, as they're being spoken as a form of communication between humans. Your being able to understand it makes sense, as you spent a lot of time with Jamaicans who adopted you as their own, so they didn't speak English to you. They spoke patois. My ex didn't have that experience.

[@sleep_peace007]

Lool.

[@nicolepasalagua9779]

This is a great video! I heard somebody speaking on TickTock. I was half asleep and I was confused why I couldn’t understand half of what this person was saying so I asked them what language they were speaking and then I looked it up on here. Fascinating!

[@AmyDq0]

Your explanation is amazing! your examples were so clear and easy to understand, very good job! thank you for creating this content

[@oceanlopez4739]

The phrase "dem chati chati" makes me incredibly happy.

[@joaoboss6344]

It sounds powerful

[@GAZAMAN93X]

Lol thanks :)

[@suppiluiiuma5769]

Me too. Idk why.

[@TheSMCSS1234]

ocean lopez please explain what this means in English for non Jamaican person

[@K.YouTube2]

@@TheSMCSS1234 They talk too much

[@Julesamon]

Wow I didn't realise that African languages make up part of patois. Much love from an African who loves and values the African kinship with Jamaicans.🇺🇬

[@bevshuckie3650]

Had to, Jamaica is 98% African including the "out of many one people"

[@sladecodm7117]

I’m Jamaican and we don’t sound like that Jamaican is more like a drunk Irish vibe🤣

[@a1keni2k]

@@sladecodm7117 bro thats cap😂

[@elijahsmall5873]

and French too and maybe a little bit of Chinese

[@markiec8914]

@@bevshuckie3650 it's less than 98% ( Wikipedia is not a reliable source). It's more like 75% Africans and Afro-European/Afro-East Indians/Afro-Chinese etc...

[@kloutonly]

This video was fantastic. As a native Jamaican who moved abroad as a child, I learned so much about my homelands history, culture, and language. Thank you.

[@FineNaturalHairROCKS]

This is really interesting. I love this video and the time you took to educate yourself before speaking on it. Great job!

[@whereiswaldo5872]

You my friend is a honorary Jamaican and you have a lifetime pass to dancehall

[@marleyofficialmedia]

🤣

[@nazliuz]

😂

[@shakrosemusiq9301]

😱

[@nonfiction88]

I can't even 😂

[@sha8921]

Right! 🇯🇲🙌🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾❤

[@Diane1Teresa]

I use to speak patois only with my friends at school, as my mother need me to practice " proper English". When I moved to England I only spoke patois with people who spoke it with me. I live in Taiwan now and I really missing speaking it. I miss the fun happy energy that comes from speaking it.

[@Jonadawong]

My mother was the same way about speaking "proper English".

[@RyuKaze]

I'd give up all the fun happy energy that comes from speaking patois to live in Taiwan 😂

[@kangtrisk]

I speak proper english whenever I’m talking to myself😂

[@doanwatch_me7721]

So den yuh need fi fine ways fi keep connected. Mi inna a similar situation so some Jamaican youtubers are some a mi bes frens. Wen mi comment unda dem video mi hardly ever do it inna English Goodie. Rotfl.

[@waynejackson1426]

Yeah, it can be a challenge even though you read, write and speak english fluently. I've been living in NY for the past 28 years, working at the airport for the past 16 and there are times when I spend the whole day speaking english and crave the time to just let loose in my native tongue.

[@linagg2806]

The way I’ve loved everything Jamaican for as long as I can remember and to meet a yard man abit later on in life too I can listen to him speak all day😭❤️ Very good and informative video!

[@thebritfix]

I'm Jamaican and this is impressive!! I've never seen a video so well made and articulated correctly.

[@audielamayaestrada3083]

Wow this comment is soooo original.

[@steago8769]

Come yah

[@boondockbwoy14]

Fi tru!

[@gibboranks]

Nuh true 😁

[@yaaobenewaah1697]

He butchered Ani bere from Akan

[@starlordjae2577]

Big up yu self 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲 As per your question, I usually code switch between standard English and Patois especially when I’m around others who speak it and sometimes for dramatic affect. And I find that when I’m around non Jamaicans a lot they begin to understand much more, and even attempt to, hilariously I might add, speak it. I really Enjoyed the video, respek ✌🏾

[@dg-hughes]

I'm going to guess that a lot of people will be attempting to show off speaking Patois after watching this video.

[@absalomdraconis]

Honestly, as someone that only speaks English, it really is half just an English dialect anyways. Get a lot of Jamaicans moving into some country town, and most of the locals will be using it in ten or twenty years. A lot of places' local dialect is maybe half-way there already.

[@Eo_Tunun]

Me, I'm German. I kind of instantly tried to figure out a comment to this video that would immitate Patois. ^^) Patois has a very sympathic sound to it, kind fo inviting and strangely familiar. The word "wen" is used in a similar way as the German word "Gewesen", at least in the exaples given in this video. Strangely inviting for imitation, really. :oD

[@jjkjc]

I'm curious - Paul makes a good linguistic case for Patois being a separate language from English - but as a native speaker, do you think of it that way? As you code switch, do you think, "now I am speaking patois ... now I am speaking standard english ... now I am somewhere in between" - or is does it just come naturally, depending on the situation?

[@starlordjae2577]

@@Eo_Tunun me too I always like how German reminded of patois a little that's why I'm trying to learn German right now

[@meka-leerowe6949]

Sir you deserve a medal for that… it was so informative…. I feel so warm inside as a Jamaican 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@audreymiller6468]

I am from Jamaica living in Canada for many years. I speak patios to friend and family and English to others. My patios might not be a strong as before. My kids born in Canada they understand patios but they do not speak mush of it. I like speaking patios it is like comfort food to me.

[@markowusu6511]

As a Ghanaian and an Akan living abroad, this explained why I love Jamaicans naturally.

[@cjohnson5437]

Thats because most of our descendants were taken from Ghana

[@876mostvaluabletreasure2]

@@cjohnson5437 not true, there was a port in Ghana where our ancestors were taken from all over West Africa.

[@TheDutchMaster76]

Not true broo all over west africa not jus ghana broo… and east indians was mixed throughout time … bruh

[@snowwhite4545]

Cos of the slavery

[@nlysbSo]

@@TheDutchMaster76 a majority were actually Ghanaians. Not saying just them

[@jamaicansole1]

As a yaadman living stateside, I’ve never seen my language broken down so accurately.. this was amazing, and very well done..

[@stephen-cf9lo]

Absolutely amazing though we as Jamaicans understand how to speak it (patios) but i dont think we ever spent this amount of energy and time to explain to anyone how it works. You are sir have done an amazing job... Yuh fi get yaad paypaz and gu learn di yutes. Any jamaican hear how you break it down will appreciate the complexity and importance of their native language.

[@amrayabaptiste2933]

What a comprehensive video! I live in Grenada, also in the Caribbean. Each island speak a Creole specific them so I really appreciate this video.

[@The9Horses]

I'm from Jamaica and you have taught me so much about my 1st language. I ignorantly did not know that some of these words I was using as a child stemmed straight from African tribal words. Wow. It actually touches my heart to know this.

[@honeypott01]

That's only because we don't fling up slavery like Patti. It happened, it was horrible, Port Royal (big sign), and no slavery mentality. Language itself originated from Africa, the motherland. Most people from Africa are multilingual. Remember that God confused the languages so that the people couldn't understand each other in the city of Babel before separating them and sending to the four corners of the Earth? Always go back to the bible because a deh so black people history deh.

[@midge_gender_solek3314]

Saying Patois is broken English is like saying English is broken German.

[@neko_aple]

Almost every European language is just broken Latin

[@Zeewman]

Nope. Only a few European langwijs are broken Latin.

[@TheDarkLasombra]

At one point in it's development, English was just broken German. It is possible that's where the development of Patois is comparatively.

[@michaelmargono]

Most of my german friends say that english is just an easier german

[@midge_gender_solek3314]

@@TheDarkLasombra I mean these languages are related, but they spread apart from similar roots. English has been developing separately from ancient germanic languages long before united German language appeared as we know it. Italian is not broken French or vice versa, they both developed from local Latin dialects under different influence.

[@rissykup]

This was in my recommended! This was really interesting! Loved it

[@itzjohnnyy3185]

It's crazy to think that English moulded Jamaican Patois, but in today's society Jamaican patois has a big impact on how English people speak now in areas such as London etc

[@ProdbyNKA]

I'm jamaican. And I never hear someone here, explain patois so deeply and informative

[@megashani91]

when i was 15 i was going throuh miami international airport and a white man walked up to me telling me what i'm speaking wasnt a language and that my english was broken. so of course being petty 15yr old me went "eh ya talk to me? wats di definition of a language" he answered means of communication between people" and i said "and ya undastand me doe" he went "yeah" i said "case closed" wasn't gonna argue with stupid people. dem drag u dung tuh dem level and beat u wid experience

[@giegiesams7105]

Nastascia Brown the fact that he even came up to tell you that is crazy. Sorry you had to deal with that 😕

[@user-xp1mh2yc4t]

Yow dis kill mi😂😂

[@heidiw3615]

how ignorant that guy must be!!!

[@ernestiechevalierchildprod1586]

Yes. This video actually caused me investigate the origins of Ebonics. As I began watching the vid I started to think hmmm.. Anyway sorry you had to deal with that ass

[@Declan_dice]

Yoo it's spoken alot hear in the Britain

[@everydayenglishwithdrea]

I love everything about this video, you gave us a little history and then examples from an authentic Jamaica. Awesome😍😍

[@christiandior926]

As a Filipino, I understand how Jamaicans have used and assimilated english where it evolved in time. I could see similar things here in our country, Philippines. In Bisaya (one of the Filipino dialects) for example: "Manutbrush sa ko" - "I will brush my teeth". Appreciate your videos, very educational!

[@jovanoconnor1871]

This had me in knots. I’ve always told people that I could speak two languages and this video is proof that I can.

[@ilil-_-ilil9858]

Patwah isnt a language. Its a dialect

[@ssickhead1]

@@ilil-_-ilil9858 it has all the requirements to be officially considered it's own language

[@momojoint3262]

@@ilil-_-ilil9858 b quiet..l=yuh live ya?yuh know wa we a chat seh..go chuck afa wa bridge and dip up dung a bog walk....translate dat..

[@ssickhead1]

@Fol A and who are you to say it isn't?

[@ssickhead1]

@Fol A did you listen to a word said in the video at all? it is not the same as that other language you speak of. patois has roots from many other languages...and some african ones are merely just parts of it

[@HIMMBelljuvo]

Yow, yu get dis perfect, mi boss. Nuff respect. Research on point. Great job, man!

[@raza838]

Mi Neva kno seh summuch Jamaican watch dem language video yer. You a learn any other language?

[@alannac.7392]

C Speaks No sah. Mi caan chat nut’n but patwa an english

[@Dizastermaster.]

Lissen mi a sekand genaration, baan a fareign, mi cyaan chat patois propa propa but mi still try

[@ferryv6740]

@@Dizastermaster. Lissen mi a sekand xD

[@TheChungCarlos]

Di bwoi wicked pon di lingo, fi choo

[@nap-fash-n-makeup500]

So my entire family is from jamaica and when at home their patois is a lot stronger than when we go out and based on how long they’ve been in American or England, their patois will change from strong to very widely mixed in. My family also varies on location of upbringing and my dads side has a stronger accent than my mom due to her family being raised mostly within the section of the county with more infrastructure

[@helenlintrepide1034]

This language is the blue print of painful events....and it's taken me back 100's of years back...l can feel the necessity to survive and preserve identity of kings and queens....l love this language...it sounds just like any ordinary African language.....it simplifies English ....and sounds are most powerful with intense feelings....long live my people....thanku for this research....respect

[@salomiecampbell6583]

Show them this video the next time you hear someone say patois isn't a language but broken English. I learned so much from this video I had to keep reminding myself we were talking about a language I spoke lol! This man got into the root of it all and explained beautifully what I have been trying to explain for years. It was so fun to learn the origin of some of our words. Great job!

[@kayp4447]

JSE: I’m a Jamaican living and teaching English abroad. I usually speak English in formal or professional settings and speak Patois in more relaxed social settings (i.e with family and close friends). I have no problems going from Patois to Standard English and vice versa. Also, I have no problems reading patois although the spelling is not standardized. JP: Mi a one yaadi weh teech Inglish a faarin. Mi chat Inglish wen mi deh inna farmal ar professional setting an mi chat patois wid mi fambily and fren dem basically. Mi can go bak and fort wid mi Patois and Inglish easy easy. An mi can reed Patois easy easy even tho di spelling dem nuh too propa. Hats off to you good sir on this brilliant video. Big up an nuff respec pan di video boss man.

[@madewhole-ev4uy]

Isn't it famli/y

[@jaydonlemmon4257]

Keke Kay we say both fambily and family. I think it depends on your generation cause the older people will say fambily and the youngers would say family.

[@joshuaatkins9246]

Exakly tell dem

[@evaready900]

Precisely!!! That's exactly how I do it

[@big2711]

@@jaydonlemmon4257 I think it's regional because I say famili

[@claudiascarlett1127]

I have spoken Patios my whole life and never realized the complexities until this video’s in-depth analysis. Well done.

[@passaniabarnes1608]

I love the fact that he didn’t try to speak creole as a Jamaican I really appreciate this

[@min_nari]

fun fact: red-eye also means jealousy in various chinese languages, probably a coincidence, but fun nonetheless.

[@DerringtonJ]

Not a coincidence. Asians were brought to Jamaica as indentured servants. Some fled the country in a very dark time of xenophobic attacks towards them but many stayed and a lot of culture was passed along indirectly.

[@geggun2843]

I'm Arab and we say "he/she has a hot eye" for someone who is always envious of others!

[@shantae9865]

@SoRaya no i He could be right the Chinese were brought here.

[@Lilly-ud6qs]

Interesting,my Mothers side of the family are mixed with Chinese.

[@no.5179]

@SoRaya why do you say so?

[@aja749]

Imagine a conversation between a Jamaican and Scottish person.

[@jermeysanderson4251]

W understand English

[@ricardoburke4889]

I'm jamaican, and i had a scottish roommate. We'd cuss each other out in our respective native languages as soon as our eyes meet just for fun (he sounded like he was speaking gibberish to me wish i imagine is what i sounded like to him lol.)

[@aja749]

@@ricardoburke4889 that sounds fun

[@Gkg__sfgh__-fghf]

Or how about Irish and Jamaican😂🤣

[@mcnoface8000]

They sound similar because most plantation owners were Scottish . That doesn’t mean they owned the slaves the slaves worked for a company the owner was usually in Britain the plantation owners aka the whip were usually just care takers

[@lou-annburton5343]

A well put together break down of our language, also each region spells words different like de- deh or gu -go-guh, yu-yuh, wat-wah, gwaan-gahland-go on. As trends change so does our language the most beautiful and unique of dem all

[@cegowechwotbreplays4354]

yessss thissss!!!! the new generation with trends is making the language more bigger and beautiful and make it sounds cool

[@NatoyaRealTalk]

This was very detailed of my language. I appreciate the information shared. I have an assessment and this will certainly be of great help to me. Thanks again for sharing this!

[@mayjeganmogan4514]

as a huge linguistic nerd i have to say: this is the best video i have ever seen on any language/creole/pidgin i think patois is so interesting esp the history! i am second gen immigrant from sri lanka so the broken english lots of my family use tends to be somewhat similar, ie the broken and fluid grammar

[@lemueldavy.musicthatmatters]

Same here!

[@wokedream9837]

🙌 🇯🇲🇯🇲