From 'Big Jues' To 'Tay-Tay Water,' A Quick Guide To Liberian English - 2 views

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  #1 ssaksena15 on 16 Apr 15

   

  http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/11/07/359345125/from-big-jues-to-tay-tay-water-a-quick-guide-to-liberian-english
  
  Liberia was founded in the early 19th century by freed slaves from America. "People assume they brought English to Liberia," says linguist John Singler of New York University. "But in fact, English was already there - the West African variety, pidgin English."
  
  At first, this version of English was spoken mostly along Liberia's coast, among traders, Singler says. Elsewhere, people spoke their own tribal languages. Liberia has at least 16 (and perhaps as many as two-dozen or so, depending on where you draw the language line, Singler says).

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner"><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/11/07/359345125/from-big-jues-to-tay-tay-water-a-quick-guide-to-liberian-english" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/11/07/359345125/from-big-jues-to-tay-tay-water-a-quick-guide-to-liberian-english</a> <br /> <br /> Liberia was founded in the early 19th century by freed slaves from America. "People assume they brought English to Liberia," says linguist John Singler of New York University. "But in fact, English was already there - the West African variety, pidgin English." <br /> <br /> At first, this version of English was spoken mostly along Liberia's coast, among traders, Singler says. Elsewhere, people spoke their own tribal languages. Liberia has at least 16 (and perhaps as many as two-dozen or so, depending on where you draw the language line, Singler says).</div>

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