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

 

Tidday Fi Yuh, Tumara Fi Mi

Jamaican proverb:  Tidday fi yuh, tumara fi mi:

Interpretation:  Today for you, tomorrow for me.

 

What does this mean?  This is similar to the English proverb "Every dog has it's day, every puss has it's 4 o'clock", or the karmic phrase "what goes around comes around".

 You would normally hear this proverb when some one feel they have been unjustly treated. They would say this to remind the person things will come around.  Also if someone has a "win" in life and is shamelessly boasting the scorned person would use this proverb to remind the boaster that their turn will come too.

Like this:  Lawd missis, yuh nuh haffi gwaan suh.  Fi mi time wi cum to yuh know.  Tings wi work out fi mi tu man.



Yes, someday my sailboat will come it too!

Smoove sailin yuh hear,

MissSam
September 19, 2016

Wah gaan bad a maaning caan cum gud a evelin

I've had this one in mind for quite sometime now so here we go!

Wah gaan bad a maaning caan cum gud a Evelin:  This is the best example I could find from my picture archives!



This is what I had in mind when I
asked a handyman to build a trellis
for my grape bush



This is what he built!  Had to
dismantle it as it couldn't be
salvaged - so far from desired outcome

     
Translation:  What has gone bad in the morning cannot become good in the evening

What does this mean?  Some situations are just not salvageable!  There are times when a bad start can be turned around but other times no!  Often reached for in a discussion or "post mortem" on a relationship that cannot be reconciled, a mother or trusted friend, in their attempt to comfort the wounded would say something like this:

"Nuh worry yuh self missis, wah gaan bad a maaning caan cum gud a Evelin."  "Nuh mine, yuh wi get ova it."

 

 

Hope all you aspiring Jamaicans "Jafakans" will enjoy this!

 

MissSam

 

Wednesday May 25, 2016 

 

The blog of Proverbs: Beleef Kill Han Beleef Cure

The blog of Proverbs: Beleef Kill Han Beleef Cure: Disclaimer;  There is no correct way to spell Jamaican Patois!  It's all about the sound! Proverb:  Beleef Kill Han Beleef Cure In...

Beleef Kill Han Beleef Cure

Disclaimer;  There is no correct way to spell Jamaican Patois!  It's all about the sound!

Proverb:  Beleef Kill Han Beleef Cure

Interpretation:  Belief kills and belief cures

Me - Hiking Up Dawkins River

What does this mean?  It is all in the power of belief.  Whatever you believe, that is what will happen.

Application:  In Jamaica this proverb is often used in in self-motivation or to encourage someone on if they express a desire to do something big and a friend or parent or neighbour is prodding them along.  For instance, if someone is struggling to make life happen in Jamaica and they feel they would do better in America they might say to the neighbour:

"bwoy, mi a go try fi get a visa fi Merica yu knoa, mi tink tings wi werk out betta fi mi."  Neighbour replies "Try nuh bwoy, if yu tink suh.  Beleef kill han beleef cure."

This proverb is playing out in American politics as I write.  On the one hand some Americans believe Donald Trump is the saviour for the USA and others think the country will be doomed if he wins the presidential election.

Tek care han tink good,

MissSam
Wednesday April 6, 2016

 

Chicken Merry, Hawk Deh Neer

Proberb:  Chicken merry hawk deh neer.




Translation, Chickens happy but the hawk is near.

What does this mean:  When some one is happy - carried away in their own world - they are oblivious to the danger that is at hand.

Application:  As kids growing up in Jamaica, parents used this a lot when they were skylarking, fooling around while our chores remain undone.  Parents used this as a warning that a beating would ensue if the child/children did not smarten up and do their chores.

Mother:  'Mi seh, pickney you nuh hear fi tap skylark an go do yu duty?"  "Hum, chicken merry
hawk deh near!"

Walk good and happy Easter yu here.  And don't eat too much fish an bun & cheese.


MissSam
Friday

 

March 25, 2016

Yu Swap Black Daag Fi Monkey

You swap black daag fi monkey.

Translation:  You have traded a black dog for a monkey!

What does this mean?  This mean that you have traded one problem for another.  In Island and some other folklore, a black dog is bad luck or some such connotation.  A monkey is a symbol of something problematic, hence the phrase "monkeying around". 

Application:  This proverb is most often used in conversations around relationships, be it love, work or play.  For instance, A boss may have fired an employee and hired someone who looked promising during the interview process but no sooner the employment commenced signs of another problem or challenge began to rear it's head.  So, when  his buddy enquired how the new hire was working out the boss hissed his teeth and exclaimed, "boy, mi no know sah, me tink me jus swap black daag fi  monkey"!

 

Walk good,

MissSam

 

November 10, 2014