| From time to time my friends and I are asked to | | | | is the patois version of the word rhythm, it is |
| do Jamaican Patois translations. Most of the time | | | | important to know the cultural significance of the |
| these translations stem from movies and music. | | | | "riddim" in dancehall music. You might hear the |
| Usually we say yes to doing a Jamaican | | | | words ackee, pickney or duppy used in a popular |
| translation, but we always explain that Patois is a | | | | Jamaican Proverb and be a bit confused because |
| free flowing language without the many rules of | | | | these words are not used in standard English. For |
| standard English or other languages, so you might | | | | example, here is a popular Jamaican Patois phrase |
| later hear something that contradicts what we | | | | "Disobedient pickeny nyam rockstone." The |
| said and it is still correct. | | | | expression says disobedient children will always be |
| The written form of Jamaican Patois is one of | | | | punished or have a bad ending. The pronunciation |
| main areas where people get confused. The | | | | of the phrase is one thing, but the familiarity of |
| confusion makes sense. One day you see the | | | | the words is another level of confusion. The |
| word patois written as "patois" and then the next | | | | solution is to practice, practice, practice and get |
| day you see the word written as "patwa". Both | | | | as familiar with the Jamaican vocabulary. Mastering |
| spellings are "correct" as far as Jamaican Patois is | | | | expressions and their translation comes over time |
| concerned because the rule is, there are no way | | | | when someone is put into different contexts. |
| proper ways of spelling particular words. Patois is | | | | The final demystifying point is, do not try to |
| a spoken language that is becoming a written | | | | translate everything word for word. This is a |
| language with some rules but not as many as | | | | mistake so many people make when learning any |
| standard English. For example, last week someone | | | | language, let alone Jamaican Patois. Languages are |
| on Twitter, the microblogging site, asked how do | | | | formed from different historical events, |
| you spell "Bumboclat" (one of several uniquely | | | | sometimes the fusion of different cultures and |
| Jamaican curse words). You could spell Bumboclat | | | | ideas. It is largely a waste of time and energy |
| at least three different ways. Here are a few: | | | | trying to translate expressions and phrases word |
| bumboclat, bumboclaat, bumboclot and even, | | | | for word because the meaning could be 100% |
| bumbaclaat. Which one is right? They all are. So | | | | different from the translation. For example, if |
| for the person learning to speak patois who | | | | someone said " Yuh know long time ago Jamaica |
| wants to write something in patois, the rule is | | | | run a red." Well, what does "run a red" really |
| write it how you pronounce it. This might result in | | | | mean? By translating the expression, word for |
| a deviation of you English grammar rules, but | | | | word, you would not be able to know, so it is vital |
| breaking the rules is what patois is about. | | | | that you spend just as much time listening to |
| Translating Jamaican proverbs and phrases is | | | | what other people are saying and when they are |
| another area of mystery for the non-Jamaican | | | | saying something as you spend studying |
| student of Jamaican Patois. Often times new | | | | expression out of a book. |
| words and realities appear when someone is | | | | Hopefully, this will clarify some of the Jamaican |
| learning to talk Jamaican. For example, a basic | | | | translation process. Similar to Patois, when |
| expression is "ride di riddim." For the person new | | | | translating the Jamaican language, remember it is |
| to Jamaican Patois, the word riddim might be | | | | more of an art than it is a science. |
| new, but even if the person deduces that riddim | | | | |