Patois, patwah, patwa or whichever other way it is spelt, is a dialect, a mixture of a least four different languages, mainly English, French, Spanish and Dutch. It is the(de facto) national language of Jamaica, sometimes referred to as Jamaican English. Most of the words are not pure from any of these languages, but they are easily understood particularly by people and/or their descendants of Caribbean islands. Patwa originated in the early days of slavery in the region and served as the principal way of communication between the slaves. This communication was very essential as the islands had many small plantations, and the slaves were from different parts of Africa with multiple tribal languages. However, even before the Africans were brought to the islands, there were English, Irish, Spanish and Dutch slaves who became slave-drivers of the Africans and taught them enough of their respective languages to enable some form of communication.

The Heart of Jamaica: Language! Every culture has its own unique language that evolves in ways reflecting the people who speak it-their minds, hearts, and souls. The Original Jamaican Patois is a fascinating guide to the Jamaican people and their dialect, all the way from A to zed (Z)! You'll meet the real Jamaicans and become enchanted by the song-like quality of the Patois. This book is for every Jamaican, for everyone who loves Jamaica, and for everyone who has even heard of Jamaica and wanted to learn more. Get to know the people in their own candid words, learn about stories of their distant past, and experience the vitality and laughter that are ingrained in the Jamaican culture.

After it was known that Jamaican natives failed interviews that were conducted in patois, the writer decided that it was time to awaken Patois. This book was written to inform readers that Patois is a written language which can be learned and spoken like any other language. The words and phrases in this book, originated from English, African, and Creole, and can be heard wherever Jamaican natives reside.

It's been said that Jamaica is the heartbeat of the world. How can such a tiny island in the Caribbean give the world some of the best music, the best food, amazing beaches and some of the fastest athletes humanity has ever seen? Not to mention our accent and the way we talk, that everyone loves, but few understand. In this book lies the key to learning the language of Jamaica in easy to understand stories and instruction for the average lay person. Here's the best part, if you're fluent in the English language, you're more than halfway there. The experienced author brings a different spin on learning Jamaican Patois that gets you understanding the language extremely fast without the need for memorization and repetitious drills. Inside you'll find all the tools to have you speaking Jamaican Patois in record speed. Unlock the entire experience that is the Jamaican Culture.

What's the fastest way to learn the ins and outs of Jamaican Patois? Achieving fluency in Patwa (Jamaican Patois) requires a strategic approach, one that shows why -- and where -- what we hear seems to run together. "Instant Patwa" brings you that demystifying approach. English speakers are understood in Jamaica. Locals understand English. However, if you know only English without a grasp of the day-to-day language, you'll understand the local people way less than they understand you! The desired dynamic is equal understanding. With this in mind, "Instant Patwa" is written with a focus on what you'll hear (how native speakers speak), to show you how we say what we say. That's how "Instant Patwa" hones your listening skills and helps you to master spoken Patwa. Jamaican Patwa is relatively simple -- when you've learnt its secret patterns. After learning those patterns in this book, you should have a great grasp of Patwa. With Jamaica so near to Florida, and Kingston-culture so close to New York slang, Patwa is evolving. This book, therefore, is also a snapshot of authentic spoken Patwa as it now stands (and as it has stood for a few centuries). It's an easy read, with all you need for every Patwa conversation. Idiom, pronunciation and comprehension are at your fingertips in this simple guide. If you're an expatriate in Jamaica, this gives you an edge. If you're purely a fan of Jamaican Patwa anywhere in the world, what a great party skill you'll have after reading this book!

The method and plan of this dictionary of Jamaican English are basically the same as those of the Oxford English Dictionary, but oral sources have been extensively tapped in addition to detailed coverage of literature published in or about Jamaica since 1655. It contains information about the Caribbean and its dialects, and about Creole languages and general linguistic processes. Entries give the pronounciation, part-of-speach and usage of labels, spelling variants, etymologies and dated citations, as well as definitions. Systematic indexing indicates the extent to which the lexis is shared with other Caribbean countries.