Antiguan English is a dialect spoken on the small Caribbean island of Antigua and Barbuda although the Barbudan accent is slightly different.
Persons of higher social status find it easier to switch between Standard english and Antiguan English (dialect) mainly because of better education. The Dialect gets more raw the lower down the socio-economic ladder one moves.
In the years before Antigua and barbuda's independence (in 1981), Standard English was widely spoken, but after independence, perhaps as a avenue of defiance Antiguan's taught themselves that speaking dialect was a part of their culture and that nothing at all was wrong with it.
Many of the words used in the Antiguan dialect are derived from English and also African origins. The dialect was formed when slaves owned by English planters imitated the English of their masters but failed to pronounce it correctly. This can be easily seen in some phrases like: "Me nah go" meaning "I am not going." And also in: "Ent it?" meaning "Ain't it?" which is in itself dialect and means "isn't it?"
Vocabulary
The Antiguan dialect vocabulary is widely influenced by british vocabulary. This is because of hundreds of years of history with Great Britian. Words such as:
- Bonnet (for a car) is used. Chips is used when reffering to French Fries. However fries is used almost interchangeably.
- Form is used instead of 'Grade'. (eg. Form 3 = Grade 9)
- Cupboard is used instead of American 'Closet'.
- Car Park instead of Parking lot.
- Patty for flaky folded pastry, unlike the American patty (as in hamburger patty).
North America also has a lot of influence on the words used in every day talk in Antigua. This is because of Antigua's close proximity to North America.
- The word 'Apartment' is used instead of the british 'Flat'.
- The word 'Elevator' is used instead of the british ' Lift'.
- Police is used unlike Bobby and Cops.
Because of the influx of other Caribbean nationals to Antigua, due to natural migration and to the CSME, Antigua's every day vocabulary is majorly being influenced by Jamaican, Guyanese and Trinidadian culture. This is even more common among youth.
For Example words such as the following are being used.
- 'Youth' and 'Star' meaning young man.
- 'Bredgin' derivant of 'Bretheren' and 'Partner' meaning close friend.
- 'Catty' derogative word for an attractive female.
Pronounciation
Many non-Antiguans find that Antiguans drag their words. Which is probably true. Words are expressively and rawly pronounced. Antiguan Dialect is pronounced very similarly to Jamaican. This has lead some to surmise that the slaves of these countries came from the same place in Africa. Below are a few ways in which some language blends are fused or changed completely.
- TR as in 'Truck' is pronounced CH thus: 'Chuck.'
- DR as in 'Dress' is pronounced J thus: 'Jess'
- TH as in 'Them' is pronounced D thus: 'Dem'
- Th as in 'Think' is pronounced T thus: 'Tink'
- ...WN as in 'Down' is pronounced NG thus: 'Dong'
- Sometimes an ending T is left off and words such as 'Best' sound like 'Bess'. Expect sounds like 'Expeck'. And 'Left' sounds like 'Leff'.
Language Use
Dialect is used in almost every aspect of life in Antigua. Some schools, especially private owned schools, require students to speak the "Queen's English." In the city it is a common site to see to men or women talking loudly in something that seems to be a completely strange language. The way it is spoken is very agressive and can sometimes be interpreted as violent.
Most media and mainstream communication is written and spoken in Standard English however dialect is used humourously or as a way of identifying with the local public.
As stated earlier dialect is used depending on soco-economic class. In general the higher and middle classes use it amongst friends and family but know when it is appropriate to switch and they possess the ability to switch. The lower class use dialect in almost ever sector of life and some find it hard to speak proper English when neccesary. Some have even been known to have trouble understanding it being spoken. Some Antiguans even mix the dialect and english.
Example:
- English: "I'm going down by John tonight."
- Dialect: "Me ah go dung by John tonight."
- Mixed: "I'm going dung by John tonight."
Practical examples
1.
- English: "I'm going to work."
- Dialect: "Me a go a wuk."
2.
- English: "It tastes good."
- Dialect: "Eh bang good."
3.
- English: "I don't like it."
- Dialect: "Me nah lub um."
4.
- English: "Girl, where are you going?"
- Dialect: "Gal, weh you ah go?"
5.
- English: "I'll see you later."
- Dialect: "Me will check you lata."
6.
- English: "I didn't want to see her."
- Dialect: "Me nah min wah fu see she."
7.
- English: "It is my own."
- Dialect: "Ah fu me own."
8.
- English: "Don't tell us what to do."
- Dialect: "Nah tell arwe wah fu do."
9.
- English: "You were gone too long."
- Dialect: "You min gawn too lang."
10.
- English: "Good morning, how are things?"
- Dialect: "Marning, How tings?"
11.
- English: "I'm doing well."
- Dialect: "Me yah." (Literally "I am here" menaing i'm still alive so i'm good.)