English is Jamaica’s Official Language

Why can’t I understand the locals in Jamaica?

Interesting Facts in Easy English

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

• Western Hemisphere: the half of the globe that lies west of the prime meridian
• colony: a region that is partly controlled by another nation
• patois: any non-standard language
• Creole: mixed European and African ancestry; often refers to people or food in the Caribbean

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English is Jamaica’s Official Language

Jamaica is the third-largest English-speaking country in the Western Hemisphere. Jamaica uses English because it was a British colony. Like Canadians, however, Jamaicans have adopted many American words, phrases and spellings . English is Jamaica’s official language and is taught in schools, but Jamaica also has own informal language called Jamaican Patois (also spelled Patwa or Patwah). This is an English-based Creole language with West African influences. In Jamaica, Patois is mainly a language. The structure is different from English in many ways. For example, there is no agreement.

Comprehension Questions

1. What is the official language of Jamaica?
2. What is Jamaican Patois?
3. What grammatical structure does Jamaican Patois not have that English does have?

Discussion Questions: There is a long-standing debate about whether or not Jamaican Patois is “broken English” or a unique language worth preserving. What is your opinion about non-standard languages?

English is Jamaica’s Official Language
Jamaica is the third-largest English-speaking country in the Western Hemisphere. Jamaica uses British English because it was a British colony. Like Canadians, however, Jamaicans have adopted many American words, phrases and spellings in recent years. English is Jamaica’s official language and is taught in schools, but Jamaica also has its own informal language called Jamaican Patois (also spelled Patwa or Patwah). This is an English-based Creole language with West African influences. In Jamaica, Patois is mainly a spoken language. The structure is different from English in many ways. For example, there is no subject-verb agreement.

1. The official language of Jamaica is English.
2. Jamaican Patois is an informal language spoken in Jamaica. It is English-based with West African influences.
3. Jamaican Patois does not use the rule of subject-verb agreement.

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7 comments

• Chiok says:
  

  My opinion Jamaica English language is part of British language so alike it’s Almont should have never been in Africa
  Thanks

• English Club Indonesia says:
  

  English is the official language of Jamaica. Jamaican Patois is Jamaica’s original spoken language. Jamaican Patois doesn’t have subject-verb agreement like English. Non-standard languages should be preserved when they are used by many in one or more regions.

• Sangar Fitrat says:
  

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• T.M says:
  

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• João says:
  

  1-What is the official language of Jamaica?
  R:An official language of Jamaica is British English.
  2-What is Jamaican Patois?
  R:The Jamaican Patois is your own informal language.
  3-What grammatical structure does Jamaican Patois not have
  that English does have?
  R:Because there is no subject-verb agreement.