THE EDITOR, Sir:I WAS very excited recently to find some old English words that I believe to have counterparts in our Jamaican vernacular/ Creole/patois. I have turned in desperation to your readers to share my excitement and hope some of them may be able to further enlighten me.
The first word is brotus of Greek origin which means "something added at no extra charge, usually edible". I think it is very likely that this is the word from which our Jamaican "brawta" was derived.
Every mickle mek a muckle is my mother's response when I quote Ernest Haskins, who said: "Save a little money each month and at the end of the year you'll be surprised at how little you have."
Of old English and Scottish origin, mickle and muckle mean "a great deal, a large extent or amount". This saying, used by the layman in Jamaica, is today used mainly by the literary elite elsewhere. I know it would make sense if mickle meant a small amount but apparently someone took some poetic licence.
Then there is 'susurration' which means to gossip. Some people might think that a stretch but considering that soucer in French Creole means gossip and spy, I'm thinking our uniquely Jamaican word "suss" has Latin roots and not some exciting exotic origin.
Finally there is palaver. Again, this is a word that would be familiar to the average Jamaican. It means idle talk or talk intended to beguile or deceive. Yet it is not a common word used in modern English.
I am only a dilettante in the world of language, but it occurred to me that it makes sense that our Jamaican English may resemble, not modern English, but the English spoken by the English settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries. I have other observations to support this and would be happy to discuss it if anyone cares to e-mail me. Thank-you for "listening"!
I am, etc.,
KARIS CHIN-QUEE
kariscq@hotmail.com
5 Worthington Ave, Kingston 5
Via Go-Jamaica
