Grenada Languages

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Grenada

Languages

Description

English is the country's official language but the main spoken language is either of two creole languages: Grenadian Creole English and, less frequently, Grenadian Creole French or 'patois' which reflects the African, European, and native heritage of the nation. The creoles contain elements from a variety of African languages, French and English. Grenadian Creole French is mainly spoken in smaller rural area.

Some Hindi/Bhojpuri terms are still spoken amongst the Indo-Grenadian community descendants.

Grenadian Creole English - Grenadian Creole English is a Creole language spoken in Grenada. It is a member of the Southern branch of English-based Eastern Atlantic Creoles. It is the common vernacular and the native language of nearly all inhabitants of Grenada, or approximately 89,000 native speakers in 2001.

Grenadian Creole French or 'patois' - Grenadian Creole is a variety of Antillean Creole. In Grenada and among Grenadians, it is referred to as Patois.

Word List(s)

• Grenada Local Language Idiom Table at Reddit

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Francis, Claude W. Popular words and phrases in Grenada dialect. San Bernardo, CA: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016. Available at: WorldCat.

Language Aids and Dictionaries

• Chase, Thomas R, and Zarah A Chase. Abridged handbook of Grenadian Creole English and French names : a dictionary of Grenadian Creole English with grammar & syntax. St. George, Grenada: Academic Communications Linguistic and Integrated Media Services (ACLAIMS(R)), 2011. Available at: WorldCat.
• Ovide, Stephanie. Creole-English/English-Creole (Caribbean). New York: Hippocrene Books, 1996. Available at: WorldCat.
• Roberts, Peter A. The verb in Grenadian French creole. Mona, Jamaica: n.p., 1971. Available at: WorldCat.

Additional Resources

• Kephart, Ronald F. "Broken English" : the Creole language of Carriacou. New York: P. Lang, 2000. Available at: WorldCat.
• Kephart, Ronald F. "Dem Wod Mo Saf" : Materials for Reading Creole English. n.p.: n.p., 1992. Available at: WorldCat.
• La Grenade-Lashley, Marise. Mwen ka alé : the French-lexicon Creole of Grenada : history, language and culture. Chula Vista, CA: Aventine Press, 2016. Available at: WorldCat.
• Stark, James H. Stark's guide book and history of Trinidad : including Tobago, Granada, and St. Vincent : also a trip up the Orinoco and a description of the great Venezuelan pitch lake. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1991. Available at: WorldCat.
• Grenadian Creole English (Englishing Grenada)