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Babygael · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject:

This is also the case for white Bajans who's ancestor's,the settlers, laid the foundations and were the artetech's of Barbadian society,even though the actual builders were the slaves.

It was the Africans who were brought to the Caribbean who has had to by and large,adapt to European ways. This is why Barbados has so many Uk/canadian residents, because it is very similar to life as they know it.

However, there is and has been a large movement since Independence to become more Afrocentric to adopt more African ways.Like cloths,names,religion,dance and so on.And why not? People don't forget where they are from, no matter how many generations pass.

Even in the dialect,there are differences with the use of words,expressions and so on.where white Bajans allthough familiar with, wouldn't dream of using (depending on circumstances) .Not because its rude either. If it does slip out of your mouth,you either will raise a few eye brows or get a good leg pulling over it!

I can attest to this as this very thing happened to someone Christmas night, and it had the place in a an uproar! Imagine saying that!!! Shocked

Some examples, the name Agatha, white Bajans would pronounce that as you would IE: Aga tha,Agatha BUT Black bajans say, UH GA THA, umbrella,ambrella,platform...flatform,children....trilldren....statue....snatue...mouthstache.....mout snatch and these are the easy ones! But we find them very funny! Oh and the most prolific one ....ask...axe! Laughing

As for me being a Bajan or not, Being Scottish or not, well I'm very comfortable both places although any time I go out and walk down the road here, chances are I will be taken for and spoken to as a tourist! Its as simple as that! Nothing I can say makes a difference, so sod it, I choose to go with my blood kin,whom I know and am in contact with. End of!

SLG · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 6:57 pm Post subject:

Interesting stuff BG. I think it must be very different somewhere where everyone is descended from immigrants though. There is no indigenous culture as such so it is much more relevant to look elsewhere. I'm not sure it's the same here, most people pretty much know where they come from and are pretty content with that. Perhaps an immigrant here can then buy into that as the indigenous culture and it can become their own whereas in a country where everyone is an immigrant, you can't really look back to someone else's ancestors for influence.

Certainly on the language front, I can't say I can tell any difference between a third generation Pakistani compared with anyone else. Most people pick up their language and accent at school and speak exactly the same as their contemporaries. I would think if you had kids and then grandkids in Barbados, then they would speak exactly the same as the other kids they hang about with.

Babygael · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:44 pm Post subject:

well you see, white kids go to certain schools that are predominately white, although not completely.Black kids who attend these schools have well educated parents. its very difficult to explain! Its not like apartheid or anything but its kinda like it.

For example, the white kids (and others Cool

)hang out at Harbour lights a night club where on certain nights there is free drinks until 3AM!! They are pretty wasted when they finally arrive home! The blacks go to after Dark. , the Carib beach bar is popular with whites while the boatyard is with blacks. This is just a small selection.

Not that anyone can't go where they like, its just where each 'Group' gravitates to! Even neighbourhoods are known as white or black enclaves.

And there are certain official functions where whites wouldn't be caught dead at, or would have no desire to go to and vica versa.

I went to school here and where I went there were about 6-9 black folk only. all the rest of us were white. Diplomat kids,white W.I's from other islands,even as far as S.America.All but four teachers were English, and only as I was nearing leaving school,a black maths teacher was appointed,the head was from Kent!

So there is a difference in how the Dialect is spoken,just as a cockney speaks one way and HRH another! Gottit? Laughing

Like you say

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SLG · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:48 pm Post subject:

Reluctant Hero · Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:58 pm Post subject:

I think the writing was on the wall for the alledged bomber, but he died today.

Holebender · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 6:08 pm Post subject:

I imagine they´ll be having a cremation.
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sgmillerton · Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject:

smeato!

the man is a 'pyoor legun'