Book on How to Write Jamaican Creole

Everyone at Jaspa’s workplace is talking

about something they heard in the news.
Jaspa: Mati, have you heard the news lately?
Mati: What? Indies finally beat England?
Jaspa: No sa! A wish…! It’s about Bible
Jamaican Creole
Society and di Patwa Bible….
Translation Project
Mati: Pat wa? I can’t read patwa! Sari!
Jaspa: Well, they say it’s audio. So we’ll be
able to listen it being read... Bible Society of the
PARTNER WITH US West Indies
Mati: They’ll also want to print it...
Jaspa: Praps! But you can learn to read patwa So far, the translation is resourced by qualified
now, yu know! personnel and is informed by the best linguistic
Mati: We all write it differently, you know! theory and practice. Nonetheless, we are in need

Jaspa: No more, Misis! No more! Some a di
people dem up a UWI have just pub
lished a book on how to write it. I’ve
just bought mine.
Mati: Oh! May I have a look?
Fi Wi Baibl
of the following:
1. prayer partners - to pray for the project on a
regular basis
2. volunteers - to read the translated text and
provide constructive criticisms
3. financial supporters - to help finance impor-
tant aspects of the project such as public
awareness.
If you are able to assist us in any of the above-
mentioned areas, do contact us.

For further information contact:

The Jamaican Language Unit
Dep. of Language, Linguistics & Philosophy, UWI,
Mona, Jamaica
Phone: (876) 970-2953
E-mail: jlu@uwimona.edu.jm.
www.mona.uwi.edu/dllp/jlu/
Gad Wod iina Fi Wi Langwij
BIBLE SOCIETY OF THE WEST INDIES
24 Hagley Park Plaza
P.O. Box 146, Kingston 10, Jamaica W.I.
Phone: (876) 926-2772, Fax: (876) 926 - 0334
E-mail: biblehouse@biblesocietywi.org
www.biblesocietywi.org
Introducing the Jamaican Creole Translation Project
Translating the Bible into indigenous Caribbean lan-
guages goes as far back as the 1700s. It was not
until 1980 that serious consideration was
given to translating the Bible into Jamaican
Creole.
In that year, the United Bible Societies
(UBS) commissioned its regional leaders to
conduct a survey of all the major languages
of the world with over 1 million speakers
who do not have the Scriptures in their mother-
tongue.
Di Krismos Story
To the Society’s utter amazement, Jamaica had
2 million creole speakers who did not have any form of Bible
translation in their heart language.
Here’s how things progressed since the discov-
ery:
1985: The Turning Point - A Jamaican Chris-
tian social worker relates to Bible Society of
the West Indies (BSWI) the positive impact of
communicating with Jamaicans in Creole.
1993: The Launch - January 15-16. Dr Fehderau
CD Cover of and Rev’d William Edwards meets with 13 persons
to explore the scope and direction of a Jamaican
Creole Bible.
1996: A Who Run Tings - A dramatic audio production
highlighting God’s power over all things is launched
in Jamaica.
2003: Di Krismos Story - Second dramatic audio pro-
duction, this time highlighting Jesus’ birth is launched
in the UK, USA & Jamaica.
2007: The Luuk Buk Project - A third dramatic produc-
tion of the book of Luke. It’s to be launched in au-
tumn, 09.
2008: Jamaican Creole Translation Project - BSWI is
granted financial support to translate the entire New
Testament into Jamaican Creole.

PROJECT GOALS INTENDED AUDIENCE

To produce an accurate and acceptable translation of
the Holy Scriptures (of the New Testament first and
then of the Old Testament) into idiomatic Jamaican
Creole. The final product will be suitable for use in
areas such as evangelism, discipleship, individual/
group recreational listening, youth ministry and broad-
casting.
MEDIUM OF DISTRIBUTION AND ACCESS
The translation will be published first in audio format.
There is an expectation that a print format will follow
the initial release of the audio. The specific strategies
as to the release of the print format will be developed
in the future in conjunction with plans to translate the
Old Testament. The audio format will include dramatic
monologue, multi-voicing, full drama, poetry, chanting
and song.
TIME FRAME
The Jamaican Creole Translation Project is aimed at Jamaicans
God willing, the New Testament will be launched in
(at home and in the Diaspora) from different social, educational
2012. And there’s a very special reason for doing
religious and regional (urban and rural) backgrounds.
so. We’ll leave it up to you to figure it out! The Old
Testament should be completed by 2018.
TRANSLATION TYPE
In translating the Bible the Jamaican Creole Translation Project
aims at reflecting the meaning of the best Hebrew and Greek
texts available to us today.
OUR TRANSLATORS
LANGUAGE STYLE
One which is somewhat higher than the average spoken regis-
ter, but not so high that it cannot be understood, memorised
and recited by all segments of society. The text in Jamaican
will not be loose, laughable, vulgar or slangy; at the same
time, it will not be rigid and unnatural. L-R: Jodianne Scott, Lloyd Millen, Tasheney Francis