I&I

At first I found Kittitian accents difficult to understand. There was quite a few awkward communication break downs. Now, I more or less feel at ease with strong Kittitian accents and have even changed the way I talk to relate to the kids in the neighbourhood...

Where she be > Where is she?
How many years you have? > How old are you?
For True? > For real?
Come, let we go > Let’s go
You vexing me, boy! > You’re pissing me off!
Don’t study him > Don’t pay attention to him
You check? > You understand? (or, as Rastafarians say: “overstand”)
Jiggy > Cool
It tastes bang > It tastes awesome
Aint’ it so? > Isn’t it true?

Whenever Lamonkey thinks I’m saying something that “aint’” true, he’ll holler “Boo!” which means…well I guess it’s the equivalent of a sarcastic, “Yeah right!”

One of my favorite Kittitian expressions: “Oh me arm!” It’s hard to explain what this really means but anyone who’s ever been to St.Kitts will know what I’m talking about!

When people are visiting each other, they don’t politely knock on the door, as us Canadians do, they holler “INSIDE!” (while they are standing outside, or course) and someone will come out to see what’s what.

Finally, “mash it up” is one of those phrases that can be used for so many different things. Unfortunately, I’m use to hearing the boys in the neighbourhood talk about how they are going to mash each other up real good {at least a few times a week, kids comes by me and/or Eli looking for plasters to patch their scratches and bruises up after a street fight}.

Rastas also have specific greetings and phrases, like wishing someone “blessed love” in greeting or saying goodbye. As English is the language of the colonizer, they have inverted some English language phrases to better reflect Rasta reality. For example, “I and I” is a commonly used expression meaning I and those views I reflect and represent. The concept draws on The Universal and all other I’s (all others) and ties into the ideas/reality of Inity (unity) and “1Love”. It can also be taken to mean "I and God," "you and I," or "God in I." All are one - I and I.

Thanks for reading, Blessed Love.

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