Jamaican English Creole

A language of Jamaica

Location

Widespread.

Also spoken in:

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Bahamas

Language NameJamaican English Creole

User Population

6,180 in Bahamas (2018).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Costa Rica

Language NameSouthwestern Caribbean English Creole

User Population

55,100 in Costa Rica (Winkler 2013).

Location

Limón province: East of San José, principally railroad area between Limón and Siquirres, road south of Limón.

Alternate Names

Jamiekan, Limonese Creole, Limón Creole English

Language Status

8a (Moribund).

Language Use

Older adults only. Most young people can understand Creole but either won’t use it or cannot. Conversations between most older adults are in Creole. Spanish [spa] is the first language of most children (Winkler 2013). Shifted to Spanish [spa]. Most also use English [eng], with limited comprehension.

Language Development

Creole is not considered proper for literary purposes. They consider Jamaican Creole more broken than their own.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Jamaican migrants settled in Limón and Panama middle of the 19th century, so those varieties are similar. Some say they do not understand Islander Creole English [icr] of San Andrés.

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Dominican Republic

Language NameSouthwestern Caribbean English Creole

User Population

22,000 in Dominican Republic.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Panama

Language NameSouthwestern Caribbean English Creole

User Population

268,000 in Panama (2000).

Location

Bocas del Toro province: Colón island; Colón province: Colón district; Panamá province: Rio Abajo in Panama City.

Alternate Names

Bocas del Toro Patois, Jamiekan, Panamanian Creole English, Panamanian Patois English, Patois, “Guari Guari” (pej.)

Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Language Use

Also use English [eng], formerly the medium of education. Also use Spanish [spa], as a medium of education. Used as L2 by Ngäbere [gym].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Ancestors came from Barbados and Jamaica in mid-19th century to work in fruit plantations, and later to build the railway and canal. Influences from both eastern and western Caribbean English Creole.

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United States

Language NameSouthwestern Caribbean English Creole

User Population

22,000 in United States (2015 census). 4,390 in New York state.

Location

Florida: Miami area; Maryland: Baltimore; New York: New York City; Pennsylvania: Philadelphia.

Alternate Names

Jamaican English Creole

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Most also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Jamaican English Creole

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A language of Jamaica

Also spoken in:

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