| People often ask 'how do you say so and so in | | | | necessary learning material for that particular |
| Jamaican Patois.' They would be surprised to find | | | | language. As an aside note: one of the best ways |
| out that although they may consider Jamaicans to | | | | to learn any language or dialect is to live in the |
| be walking Jamaican dictionaries, even they | | | | country that speaks that language. Another good |
| sometimes don't know what some terms and | | | | way to learn a language or dialect is to take |
| expressions mean. They too can be stumped | | | | courses. Other ways would include listening to |
| when trying to give the Jamaican to English | | | | music, watching movies and as mentioned |
| translation for certain Jamaican words. This should | | | | previously, reading books written about the |
| be of no surprise because for some (not all) | | | | subject. |
| expressions and words the meanings are elusive. | | | | Whatever method is used to study Jamaican, it all |
| It should also be noted that because Jamaican | | | | boils down to the same things: time and |
| Patois has many of English words, many words | | | | dedication. Putting in the time and dedicating some |
| and expressions are either very similar or exactly | | | | time to uninterrupted study are necessary once |
| the same in Jamaican as they are in Standard | | | | you have the appropriate study material. Living in |
| English. | | | | a foreign country where another language is |
| People often ask how would you say 'I love you' | | | | spoken, automatically means that you'll have to |
| in Jamaican or 'How do you count in Jamaican.' | | | | the spend time. You'll also hear the language being |
| Well the answer is you say it exactly the same in | | | | spoken every day and if you interact with others |
| the Jamaican dialect as you would in Standard | | | | then you'll begin learning picking words and |
| English. The differences are in the pronunciation | | | | vocabulary. However, when your only means of |
| and some of the vocabulary. Similarly, there are | | | | studying is through music or books then it is |
| different words for terms of endearment | | | | imperative that you set aside the time and make |
| (expressing closeness or relation), in Jamaican | | | | the effort to study. Experts might suggest that |
| Patois which differ from those in Standard English. | | | | repeating out loud and using audio material are the |
| There are not many dictionaries specializing in | | | | best ways of learning and reinforcing what you've |
| translating Standard English to its Jamaican | | | | learned. |
| equivalent. The dictionaries that do exist can | | | | People often ask 'how do you say certain things in |
| usually be found online but you have to spend | | | | Jamaican Patois.' The answer is not always clear |
| some time searching to find those. Likewise, there | | | | cut. However, there are thousands of Jamaican |
| are books written specifically about translating | | | | words and phrases worth learning. Another |
| Jamaican to Standard English and vice versa but | | | | important aspect of learning Jamaican would be |
| they too are far and few in between. Therefore, | | | | learning the syntax of the dialect. Syntax, like so |
| learning 'how to say things in Jamaica' is usually | | | | many other things, is best learned through |
| left up to the individual. Furthermore, when trying | | | | exposure to the language and by continual |
| to learn to speak a language for which there is | | | | practice and speaking. By practicing and |
| not much source material the individual is more | | | | incorporating some or all of these learning |
| often than not left up to his or her own | | | | techniques you might be well on your way |
| creativity, or resourcefulness, to acquire the | | | | learning how to say things in Jamaican patois. |