English is the official language of Jamaica.Many Jamaicans also speak Jamaican Patois or Creole as an informal way of communicating.Standard English's rules of pronunciation and grammar are very similar to that of this language.Knowing Jamaican Patois can help you communicate with Jamaicans.Speak Jamaican Patois in a way that is respectful of the Jamaican people and their culture.
Step 1: Start with vowels.
There are vowels in any language.Jamaican Patois has the same vowels as English, a, e, i, o, and U.There is no sound in Jamaican Patois.A double-vowel is a representation of long vowels in the written form of the language.The long a sounds similar to the English word "car" or "last" using British pronunciation.The English word for meet is "ee" and the long i sounds like it.The "oo" in the English word "boot" is what the long U sounds like.
Step 2: Continue with vowels.
Jamaican Patois has a short vowels sound.Most of these sound the same as the short vowels in English.The short a is similar to the English word "at".The English word "egg" has a short e in it.The short is similar to the English word "Give."The English word for done is the short o.The English word "put" has a short "u" in it.
Step 3: Practice pronouncing Jamaican vowels.
When two vowels next to each other are combined to create a new sound, Jamaican Patois includes 4 diphthongs.Many of these are different from English.The English word "uy" sounds like an ai.Similar to the French word "pied," an ie makes a yeh sound.The English word for round is ou.The English word "duo" has the same sound as a uo.
Step 4: Learn Jamaican vowels that are different from English.
Most of the same vowels have been used since Jamaican Patois evolved from English.They have the same sounds in Patois as they do in English.There are some that are different.The English word for church is "ch".Jamaican Patois only uses the letter "c" with a "ch"It is replaced with "k" the rest of the time.The vowels "qu" and "kw" are replaced with the words "quick" in the English language.The Jamaican Patois alphabet does not include the letter "q".The letter h is used as an aspirate, meaning you exhale a small amount of air as you say it.When the previous word ended with a vowels, it is used before words that begin with vowels.It is optional and not used in some Patois dialects.The vowels in the preceding sound should be nasalized.
Step 5: Jamaicans with "waa gwaan?
The most common way to great people in Jamaica is "Waa gwaan".The phrase is more accurately translated to mean "how's it going" or "How are you doing", but it is also used as a general "hello.""hello" can be said in a number of ways, including "ello," "hail up," or "gud day."It's a good idea to say this if the other person says it first.Say the same back if they say "hello" or "hi" to you.If you are a foreigner, it might seem condescending to use this greeting.
Step 6: Your greeting can be different depending on the time of day.
In English, you can use different greetings in the morning, evening, and night.The greetings are similar to what you would say in English.Good morning, good evening and good night.
Step 7: Try not to ask how someone is doing.
You can say "hello" and ask the person how they're doing, but you can also say something else."Weh yuh ah seh" is a phrase.It is possible to translate this phrase as "what are you saying," but it is also used to mean how you are doing.Wat aguh dung is one of the alternatives."What's going down?"How do you stay?"How's your status?"Howdeedo?How do you do that?It's more common among older people.
Step 8: When someone asks how you're doing, respond.
If someone asked you how you were doing in English, you would probably say "okay" or "I'm well."There are many ways to say you're doing well in Jamaican Patois.If someone speaks to you in Patois, you might use one of these responses." Everyting cook an curry" and "All fruits ripe" are examples.
Step 9: Discuss where you're from.
They may say "Wah Yuh name?" after you great someone."What's your name?"Say "Mi name" followed by your name.You can either say "yuh?" or turn the question around.Say "Frah wha pawt" if you want to ask where the person is from.The name of the place where you're from is what you should respond to the other person's question with.
Step 10: Adding in polite words and phrases will show respect.
Jamaican is a casual language.Being polite isn't much of a priority.If you mind your manners, native speakers will appreciate you.Jus a word is "excuse me", when you need to get through or past someone, as in a crowd.
Step 11: Say "mi gaan" when you have to part ways.
In Jamaican Patois, the phrase "mi gaan" means "I'm gone" and is a common way to say goodbye.You can say "likkle more den" and that means you'll see the person later."walk good" is a common expression when leaving Jamaica.This is more or less English and used to mean "take care."Someone who is traveling a longer distance is most likely to say this expression.
Step 12: You can use 3 singular and 3 plural pronouns.
If a Jamaican Patois pronoun is used as the subject or object of a sentence, it will not change.You don't change the pronoun to show possession.The appropriate pronoun is used.There are three pronouns for first, second, and third person.First person: "mi" (singular) or "wi"
Step 13: No matter what number or case you should leave the same verbs.
Unlike English and many other languages, verbs don't change form.From the context of the sentence and anything else said, what is meant is figured out.If you wanted to say "I run," it would be "mi run."If you want to say "he runs" in English, the form changes.You would simply say "im run" in Jamaican Patois.
Step 14: To express past tense, add "ben"
Past tense can be picked up from the context of the sentence, but Patois speakers add a verb before the main verbs to mark it.You can hear variations of "Ben" depending on the part of Jamaica and the age of the speaker.Older, urban, or highly educated speakers of Jamaican Patois may use "did" instead of "ben" to indicate past tense."Wa di inglish stuor did niem agen?" would be put before it.The English store was called again.
Step 15: Add "dem" or "nuff" to form a plural.
In standard English, you would usually add an "s" or "es" to the end of a word.In Jamaican Patois, an "s" or "es" at the end of a word doesn't necessarily mean the word is more than one.If you want to indicate a singular, add either the word "nuff" or "dem" before it.The singular form of the word is retained.In this context, "nuff" means "many" or "a lot."If you had a lot of bananas, you might say "nuff banana."
Step 16: A state of being with "a" or "de".
"To be" is a single word used for all instances of being.Like Spanish, Jamaican Patois has two infinitives that express states of being.Unlike Spanish, these verbs are not conjugates.Being in a state is referred to as a A.You would say "mi a bwai" if you said "I am a boy".The place where you're located is referred to as de.You would say "mi de a Kingston" if you said "I am in Kingston".The particle used to mean "in."
Step 17: Emphasize that there is a double negative.
In Jamaican Patois, double negatives are allowed, even though they're frowned upon in English.The double negative is used when the speaker wants to emphasize something."mi naa du notn" means "I'm not doing anything."
Step 18: Double words increase their effect.
The meaning is more intense if you repeat a word twice.It's similar to adding "very" or "extremely" before the word.A doubled word means that the action is continuous."Priti" means pretty."Priti-Priti" means the thing described was pretty.The words are doubled the same way."linga" means "linger."It would imply that someone had been dawdling or hanging around for a long time.
Step 19: Speak Patois if the other person speaks it to you.
If you start speaking to Jamaicans in Patois, they may think you are making fun of their culture.English is the official language of Jamaican, so you don't have to worry about people not being able to speak English.Patois is considered bad English by some Jamaicans, particularly upper- and middle-class native islanders.If you start speaking to them in Patois, they may be offended because you inferred they are lower class or not well educated.
Step 20: Ask for permission to practice Patois.
If you know someone who speaks Jamaican Patois, or if you're in Jamaica, you should ask them about it.If you want to learn the language, ask if you can practice with them.If you acknowledge that Jamaican Patois is a language, they'll be happy to help you with your pronunciation.They won't be offended if you want to learn more about their culture and language.
Step 21: Native speakers can give you pointers.
Unlike many other languages, there are relatively few online resources to speak Jamaican Patois.You can still find a conversation partner to help you with your speaking and writing skills.Start there if there is a Jamaican community near you.They might know someone who is willing to work with you.If you want to speak Jamaican Patois, you should travel away from the more popular areas.People who speak Patois are more likely to practice with you in rural areas.
Step 22: The accent is different from the language.
If you want to learn how to speak Jamaican Patois, you should learn the same as you would any other language.Don't confuse speaking in a Jamaican accent with talking in Patois.It's a bad idea to fake a Jamaican accent.Explain that you are learning the language when someone calls you out for practicing Jamaican Patois.It might be helpful to explain your passion for or interest in the language or talk about the fine points of pronunciation that you've learned if they remain skeptical.