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Guyanese Creole



We are from Guyana, an 83,000-square-mile country with six major races. It is a unique and English-speaking country nestled in the centre of South America. The distinctive language, Guyanese Creole, is one of the many fascinating aspects of this cosmopolitan country that sticks out the most. With Guidance from Ms. Dion Glasgow, you can learn how to familiarize yourself with this language. If by chance you're already knowledgeable then..... watch um stil  lol (watch it still). 




Dion Glasgow


What is Guyanese Creole? It may seem like English with a broken accent to others, but to us, it is much more. It shares linguistic traits with other Caribbean English dialects, drawing from 19th-century English. African slaves were transported to Guyana during the era of European colonization to labour on sugar plantations, and this is when Guyanese Creole originated. These African slaves were forced to speak a reduced version of English to both their European masters and each other despite coming from diverse language backgrounds. (Devonish & Thompson 2013). Guyanese English Creole as it is sometimes called, embodies the spirit of diversity and togetherness in the nation and is used in poetry, music, storytelling, and casual discussions. This language over centuries has become a part and parcel of everyday life, whether one is singing along to hit songs or engaging in conversation with friends at the market. I've heard that there are two types of Guyanese that travel. The first is the one that migrates but never gives up on their mother tongue and the other, well, that's the one that picks it up and drops it off at the airport.



Giff of Jerry


Over time, as the language began to spread all across Guyana, the sounds have been normalised, as such here is a guide to help you with yours. Are you curious about Guyanese Creole? Perhaps you've heard fragments of it in music or conversations and would like to understand more. 










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