Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

[Tropicana]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

Now for my answer to your original question. No, I don't think it is disresepctful to speak in patois on a discussion board. I was fluent in patois when I left Jamaica (apparently, I was so young I don't remember). Apparently I did have some difficulty mastering standard English. Now my patois is long gone. My spoken patois sounds ridiculous. The words are there but the accent and inflection are WAY off. My comprehension is about 98%. There have been times when I have not understood one or two things that have been posted and veterans like Suesumba have been very gracious as to help out with translation [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] This has been done with respect. I think that as long as we treat people with respect and don't ridicule them when they ask for translation, it is not disrespectful to speak patois on a Jamaican site. Of course, if some one is brand new and clearly doesn't understand patois, we may want to switch to English or help them out with sub titles as they do in Jamaican movies that go international.

That's just my 2 cents worth.

[Tropicana]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

Thank you for the clarification Nunya but since it is relevant to the topic at hand, I have included it.

[Vonnie]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

Dem na give up fi dem cultur fe suit mi, mi na give up fi mi cultur fi suit dem.

[sistactry]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

bwoy Trop dat sound nice and ting enuh.., but trust me, esee J'cans, dem is in a class by demself.., dem tek everyting fe joke, [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

if u have lisp tongue, dem a guh DWL, if u nuh understand dem, dem a guh DWL, if u bunn de rice, dem a guh DWL, if u crash u car, dem we find someting funny innna it fe laaf bout.., suh its not that we are ridiculing anyone, we juss like laaf and galang..,

if newcomers are having a hard time, WE apoligize, but its like Bandi says, if we go to Japan, u tink dem gween talk english when dem a relax round dem buds.., ***naaaaaa****

[Venn]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

Thanks for the forum info.

Well, mi noh tink respect have anyting to do wid it. Di fact di we as J'cans choose fi type inna patois is jus dat, a choice, an like oddas sey, if smaddy noh undastan, all dem haffi do is ask.

Now, di direction weh di man poas tun inna, das annedda story [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[Chef Donjuan]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

I don't think its disrespectful. I think it helps them to learn faster. And as mention, if there is a problem with understanding, they can always ask.

[Fern]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

Fus to begin wid, a doan tink di newcomers just happen fi log onto JA.com and sign een widout paroosing di board fus. so dem must notice say nuff a weh write pan yah is in patwa. now wen dem ask dem question, dem shood just ask fi response in henglish as dem daon andastan patwa, seen? and no, mi no feel it disrespectful, newcomers fi kip in mind di name a di website wen dem enta.

btw, if nobady no andastan weh mi say, doan even badda axe mi fi translate.

[neutral]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

Originally posted by Venn:


Now, di direction weh di man poas tun inna, das annedda story [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] [/QB]

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] some rhaatid breed a bakkle did a fling fe choo doant,its funny when yu look back pon dah poas deh dough,it should be archived, [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Nunya]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

'dido!!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Yuh miss mi doan? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Since I have posting on Ja.com, there've only been three members (who claimed to be Jamaican nationals) of which I am aware that have either alluded to or made outright statements that shows an inherent distaste of patois.

It comes back to the same ol same ol: If you know better, do better.

And isn't that what the poster is saying? That patois isn't better? That statement took me back to when I was constantly been chided to "Speak proper!" "Don't say this! Don't say that!"

There was a point where I couldn't speak to my elders using patois - I would hear that I have no manners. I was disrespectful. I had no home training. What was I learning at school?

Whattating...

[neutral]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

Originally posted by Nunya:


I

That statement took me back to when I was constantly been chided to "Speak proper!" "Don't say this! Don't say that!"

There was a point where I couldn't speak to my elders using patois - I would hear that I have no manners. I was disrespectful.

Whattating... [/QB]

same here nunya,older folks were always telling us kids to "talk good",when someone,like the poster who requested us to "speek" english [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] it took me right back to granny telling us off [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[halfwaytree]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

If we only respond in the "P" language as you call it we do not show respect for those who want to visit the island.

Imagine if you wanted to visit a place and those responding to your questions would not do so in a language that you could understand, even though they were able to do so.

I was the one who wrote the above quote.

There is nothing wrong with using patois on this site what so ever. However, I have a problem when we use it to answer someone’s (a non Jamaican) questions regarding planning a vacation to Jamaica.

If I were planning a holiday to Newfoundland and visited a site that offered information on planning my trip. I would not feel at ease if all the responses to my questions were written in the local dialect which was of no use to me.

This board is for everyone. However some areas (WW) being one, that we must realize are visited by many non Jamaicans. All I'm saying is that we should answer someone’s post in a language that they can understand. If not then start your own thread.

If this is wrong then I'm sorry. I just try to live by the old "do unto others..." motto. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Venn]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

Unfortunately Nunya, dere are some J'cans who have a disdain fi patwa. Mi have a fren who couldn talk patwa inna har madda house Wat mi doan like dowe is di assumption dat if yuh talk patwa, yuh is nat intelligent.

[Nunya]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

**INTERJECTION**

Before anyone else gets it wrong: THIS THREAD IS NOT ABOUT GEOCOX'S STATEMENT! He's a foreigner and well... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] And though he apologized for offending he hasn't withdrawn his statement...

THIS THREAD IS ABOUT A JAMAICAN EXPRESSING SUCH A SENTIMENT AND HOW MANY WOULD AGREE/DISAGREE.

[Fern]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

Originally posted by Nunya:
[qb]

There was a point where I couldn't speak to my elders using patois - I would hear that I have no manners. I was disrespectful. I had no home training.

[/qb]

in adda words, di poster a say di whole a wi ole?? mi his nat ole, mi just well ripe

growing up in JA I wasn't allowed to speak patois to my elders either. mi neva chat such bad breed a patwa til mi buckup pan message boards and meet up wid some a di members. mi say some a dem can chat bad yu si. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[mountaingal]

Re: Is speaking patois to newcommers disrespectful

i'm with Milo Man on this one. it's courtesy and a sign of hospitality. nuttn more dan dat.