Linguistics Paper Written In Guyanese Creole - Possibly The Only One (corrected Title)

Hubert Devonish, who is Professor of Linguistics at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica, is one of the very, very few researchers to have published a scholarly paper written entirely in Guyanese Creole.An example paragraph :

Hubert Devonish, who is Professor of Linguistics at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica, is one of the very, very few researchers to have published a scholarly paper written entirely in Guyanese Creole.

An example paragraph :

“In plentii konchrii, di piipl-dem no taakin di seem langgwij an no fiil se dem iz seem neeshan. So, dem wa in chaaj a di setop in di konchrii doz chrai mek di piipl-dem get fiilinz fo neeshan. Fo du dis, dem doz chrai mek evriibadii grii se wanlanggwij izdibes an dem mos lam am. Huu no taakin di langgwij nobiilaangs to di neeshan, an no gat no biznis fo iivn de ins aid dikonchrii. Dem chrai-in fo push wanneeshan langgwij fo aal dipiipl in di konchrii. Di set-op in di konchrii tekin fiilinz folanggwij an yuuzin am fo mek fiilinz fo neeshan. ”

For clarity. the author also provides an accompaniment in standard English, the above being translated as :

“In many countries, the populations do not speak the same language and, therefore, do not feel they belong in the same nation. In these circumstances, those who run the state apparatus often try to create a shared national consciousness [...]”

Di hool ting caan bi red year. ‘Ruuts langgwij, nyuu taim sapii an fiilinz fo neeshan

It was presented at the 10th Biennial Conference, Society for Caribbean Linguistics, 24-27 August, 1994, Guyana, S.A. and also reprinted in Kyk Magazine # 48, April 1998, pp. 136-152.

BONUS: For those unfamiliar with the sounds of Caribbean speech, see this 2010  interview with Horsemouth Wallace.

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Martin Gardiner

I specialise in beachcombing the scholarly journals and university websites for uncommonly intriguing academic articles by uncommonly intriguing people. Articles such as moustache transplants, the aerodynamics of boomerangs, and uses for phatic cushions. I always provide links back to the original source – just in case anyone thinks I’m making it all up. I'm currently Rio de Janeiro desk chief for Improbable Research. Anyone with a requirement for original articles about intriguing research can contact me via : research at univ dot org dot uk