Tief Nuh Luv Fi Si Tief A Carry Lang Bag

Chicken Hawke citing, Clarendon, JA.

Tief nuh luv fi si tief a carry lang bag.

Translation:  A thief does not like to see another thief with a large bag.

Interpretation:  Someone who is dishonest will always be envious of another dishonest person who appears to be "hauling in more loot"!

Application:  Just know that a dishonest person will be swift to call another person dishonest!

 Love talking with my #Jamaican #Yardies!  I was talking about the U.S. election with a fellow Jamaican and of course, she loves +Hillary Clinton and was lamenting about +Donald Trump characterizing her as crocked, then she just burst out, "Tief nuh luv fi si tied a carry lang bag!" I had to ask her to repeat it several times, and nearly fell off my chair laughing! #Priceless.

Walk gud yuh si, is Halloween, suh nuh mek no duppy frighten yuh!

MissSam

October 31, 2016

 

Di Langess Liva Si Di Moass

Worth Repeating:  Jamaican Patois is a spoken language, it is phonetic - so I try to write the words so they sound as authentically Jamaican as possible.

This looks like the oldest tree in High Park?

Di langess liva si di moass: 

Translation:  The longest liver see the most or stated another way, the person who lives the longest will witness the most.

How is this used?  When two people hold opposing views and each person is convinced they are right, this proverb is used to break the deadlock.  Each person concedes that time will tell who is right.

Application:  There is a got debate going on in the USA right now as to whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump will win the presidential election.  I listed to each candidate's surrogates defend them, as an outside observer, I could say "Yuh can seh anyting yuh want, di langess liva si di moass."


Walk gud, yuh si,

MissSam
Friday October 7, 2016

 

Duppy knoa A Who Fi Frighten

NB:  The Jamaican Patois is a phonetic language, there are no rules for writing or spelling as far as I know.

Inushuk On the Humber - Toronto
An artistic person took the time to
create this and a lot more in the river bed.

Duppy knoa a who fi frighten: 

Translation:  Duppy (Ghost) will know who they are to frighten

What does this mean?  People know who to pick a fight with or take on.  It is usually used in the negative or defensive way rather than the a positive or offensive stance.  For instance, it is said that a bully will find a weak or vulnerable person to pick on but would avoid taking on someone that would pose a real threat.  Sometimes a bully might just pick on someone who appears weak and get the surprise of their life.


Application:  A boss or supervisor may be making what the workers would consider unreasonable demands or expectations on workers, and when the expectation is not met, a punishment or penalty is dished out.  Someone in the group who would take a defensive stance would retort to the fellow workers something like this " Cho, mek him gwaan, yuh tink im can cum to mi wid dat?  Duppy knoa a who fi frighten."


Walk gud yuh hear!

MissSam
Sunday October 2, 2016