Want to learn Creole?

Creole can refer to a number of distinct ethnic groups in various countries; with a mix of culture as well as a variety of dialects that may combine two or more languages.

Creole is believed to arise when a pidgin (a simplified language), which was developed by adults for use as a second language, becomes the native and primary language of their children — a process known as nativization

The specific sense of the term was coined in the 16th and 17th century, during the great expansion in European maritime power and trade that led to the establishment of European colonies in other continents.

Currently, Haitian Creole (Kreyol) is the most widely used form of Creole and Cape Verdean Creole (Crioulo) is the oldest form of Creole

Haitian H i s t o r y (Istwa

Ayiti)

Ayiti, which means "mountainous land", is a name used by the Taíno-Arawak people. Today, the original Taino population no longer exist due to their decimation by European diseases. Haitians derive their ancestry not only from the indigenous Arawaks, but also from the French, Sub Saharan Africans,and Spanish.

Christopher Columbus landed on Hispaniola on December 5, 1492 and claimed the island for Spain. When France later arrived on the island, it brought unrest among the two colonizers. France and Spain settled hostilities by the Treaty of Ryswick of 1697, which divided Hispaniola between them. France named its third Saint Domingue. The native leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines, along with Toussaint Louverture, defeated the French troops led by Donatien-Marie-Joseph de Vimeur, vicomte de Rochambeau at the Battle of Vertières. Former slaves proclaimed the independence of Saint-Domingue on 1 January 1804, declaring the new nation as Haiti, honoring the original indigenous Taíno name for the island

• Spoken in Haiti by about 8 million people

• Notable for being the most widely spoken creole language in the world

• One of Haiti's two official languages, along with French.

• Based primarily on 18th Century French, but it also contains various influences, notably West African and Central African languages, Taino, Portuguese, Spanish, and some English.

• Via emigration, it is spoken by about 1 million people who live in the Bahamas, Cuba, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, and United States.

• In part because of the efforts of Félix Morisseau-Leroy, since 1961 Haitian Creole has been recognized as an official language along with French, which had been the sole literary language of the country since its independence in 1804.

• There is even an online dictionary :http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/translation/Haitian+Creole/

Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen)

KREYOL PT 1GREETINGS/BEGINNINGERS

Bonjou! - Good morning! Bonswa! - Good afternoon!/Evening! (used after 11 AM)

Komon ou ye? - How are you? N'ap boule! - Good! (lit. I’m burning on)

Wi - Yes Non - No Mesi - ThanksOu konprann? - You understand? Kij an yo rele sa an kreyol -What do they call that in Creole?Kij an yo di...an kreyol? - How do they say... in Creole?Kounye-a - Now Jodia - Today Demen - Tomorrow Maten an - This morning Apremidi a - This afternoon Aswe a - This evening

KREYOL PT 2FOOD/WEATHER/EXPRESSIONS

I'm hungry - Mwen grangou. I'm thirsty - Mwen swèf. It's hot - Li fè chò. It's cold - Li fè frètI wan’t to eat - Mwen vle manjeI’m full! - Vant mwen plen!Do you have any water? - Ou gen dlo?

WOY! – expression, say it when you are shocked, surprise!

Anmwe! - Help! Anyen - Nothing Atansyon! - Attention!/Watch out! Dife! - Fire! Rete! - Stop! Ou byen? - You OK? Where is the bathroom? - Kote twal let la? Mwen anvi vonmi - I feel nauseated

KREYOL PT 3FEMALE/MALE INTERACTIONS

Can I talk to you? - Mwe ka pale avec ouYou are pretty! - Ou bell wi! Give me your number? - Bum nimewo? Leave me alone! - Kitem o repo!Kisa ou bezouen? - What do you need? What Do you want? - Kisa Ou vle?Rete/suspen - stop kouri - run rete trankil - be quiet Kilaj ou? - How old are you? Kote ou rete? - Where do you live? Eske ou gen petit? -Doyouhave any children? Eskize’m - Excuse me Pa kounye-a - Not now

MESI!