Title [Springboard Exercises] Reading File - Multiple Matching No.1.docx ✅

You are going to read an extract from a book about Creole languages. For questions 86- 95, choose from the sections (A - E). The section may be chosen more than once. A Language in Jamaica today reflects the history of the country's interaction with a variety of cultures and languages from many ethnic, linguistic, and social backgrounds. Aside from the Arawaks, the original inhabitants of Jamaica, all its people were exiles or children of exiles. Over 90% of the 2.5 million people living in Jamaica today are descendants of slaves brought from western Africa by the British. The local Jamaican language is a reflection of a history of con­tact with a variety of speakers, but the official lan­guage remains Standard English. The most influential speakers were immigrants from Africa and Europe. Kwa, Manding, and Kru are amongst the variety of prominent African languages apparent in Jamaican history. Early Modern English was brought to the Caribbean by sailors, soldiers, indentured servants, convicts, and lower-class settlers in the form of regional and non-standard dialects. B Today the Jamaican creole language, called Jamaican Patois, falls at one extreme of the linguistic spectrum while Standard English lies at the other end of the spectrum. The majority of the population speaks a lan­guage which falls in between the two. At one end there is the educated model spoken by the elite, which follows the "London Standard". At the other extreme is what linguists call "creolized" English, frag­mented English speech and syntax with African influ­ences developed during the days of slavery. This is the speech of the peasant or labourer with little edu­cation. In the middle of the language scale there is the inclusion of Jamaican rhythm and intonation of words, which evolved within the country, as well as the pres­ence of other uniquely Jamaican traits including reten­tion in common speech of English words now rare or poetic as well as new formations such as alterations of existing words. C Jamaican history and the formation of Patois are based on the experience of exile. In the early 16th century Spanish settlement began in Jamaica with the Arawaks as their first slave labour force. Within 100 years very few Arawaks survived due to a deadly epidemic. The only evidence of the Arawak dialect in Jamaica today is a few loan words, place names, foods, natural objects, and events. Xaymaca is actually an Arawak word meaning "island of springs", which is where the name Jamaica is derived from. It is possible that the first contact of the Arawaks and the Spinards may have led to an early pidgin or bilingualism among the first generation of mixed blood. Throughout Spanish rule, the Arawaks had contact with Spanish colonists, Portuguese, Amerindians brought in as slaves from other parts of the Caribbean, and West Africans. Then, in 1655, the English attacked the Spanish colony bringing with them new influences. Arriving with the invaders were soldiers recruited from
England, Barbados, and Montserrat; settlers from Surinam, Barbados, Bermuda, New England, and Virginia; Jews from Brazil; indentured servants from Bristol; midland and northern lower-class English speakers; convicts from large prisons in England; Romany speakers; and a variety of African speakers. The birth of population centers, such as Port Royal, Passage Fort, and Kingston, served as a mixing pot of many different speakers. D Today linguists agree that East Indians, Spanish, and Arawaks have contributed a little vocabulary to the Jamaican dialect, but the majority of non-English terms, grammar and phonology is African. Africans came to acquire forms of English because of the domination of the English dialects of their plantation-own­ing masters. The heyday of sugar, between 1700-1834, is the period thought to be most responsible for the forming of Patois. At this time, increasing numbers of Africans were imported to work on the large planta­tions. By the end of the century Africans made up a quarter of the slave population and Creole took prece­dence over the African past. Increases in written records of Jamaican Creole were seen at the time of the abolitionist movement from 1770 to 1838, but English continued to influence Jamaican Creole in the form of biblical and prayer-book language. E The perception that English-lexicon Creole languages are a form of "bad English" still persists today in Jamaica. Jamaican Patois continues to be considered an unacceptable official language and an informal lan­guage not to be used for any formal purpose. Creole speakers are often compared to those speakers of Standard English. The similarity of Creole to English has led Creole speakers to be labelled as socially and linguistically inferior, although Jamaica Creole is increasingly showing up in newspapers once known for their old-fashioned Standard English, on the radio, and in songs. Indeed, in the past 30 or 40 years lin­guists have finally begun to recognize Creole as a lan­guage in itself. In which section are the following mentioned? Your answers: the reason why Jamaican Creole is looked down upon 86. a source by which Jamaicans were exposed to English after Patois developed 87. how most people speak in Jamaica 88. the name of the legally recognized language of Jamaica 89. why there are not many Arawaks in Jamaica today 90. the part of society that speaks the London Standard of English 91.
the places where most Jamaican people live 92. a significant development during the years when growing sugar was important 93. African languages that were particularly important in the development of Patois 94. the characteristics that make Jamaican Patois unique 95. ANSWER & EXPLANATION : [Springboard Exercise] Answer & Explanation File - Reading Multiple Matching No.1