This paper is going to deal with usage of Creole by Rastafarian especially their own new-created Creole and how it is expressed in songs of Bob Marley. But to understand this usage of Creole we need to have some background information. This is why I have to explain the history, Rastafarian symbolism and sum it up to Dread Talk. But before we come to this short overview about religious backgrounds I try my best to give an outline of Patois and what we call Standard English well knowing, that I cannot give a clear definition.
Later on I am going to examine two songs of Bob Marley. But it is important to know about his background and the basics of Rastafarianism what we discussed earlier already. A language is always influenced by someone's background, as where he comes from, his education (or even the education of his parents), where he grew up and what he experienced. This is why we cannot go on without a short overview1 about his life if we want to examine his language in the next subsection.
The sections about Rastafarianism and the life and career of Bob Marley are compiled by several authors with many different opinions or information. The first chapter is a mixture of a collation of the existing readings and my own thoughts. Bob Marley's language is mostly examined by myself and the closer examination of his songs is all based on information from class or earlier work in this paper.
I want to make sure that I do not want to offend anyone by using terms like black, Rastas or Rastafari. I will talk about people who believe in the Rastafarian believe, not all Jamaicans. This will be mentioned if my work deals about the whole population in Jamaica.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. What is Patois? What is Standard English?
- 3. Rastafari
- 3.1 History
- 3.2 Symbols
- 3.3 Dread Talk
- 4. Bob Marley
- 4.1 Life and Career
- 4.2 Language
- 5. Linguistic observations on his songs
- 5.1 "Redemption Song"
- 5.2 "Legalize Marijuana"
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to explore the Rastafarian use of Creole, specifically its unique characteristics and expression in Bob Marley's songs. To achieve this, it provides background information on Patois, Standard English, and Rastafarianism, including its history, symbolism, and the development of "Dread Talk."
- The relationship between Rastafarian beliefs and the development of a unique Creole language.
- The linguistic characteristics of Patois and its differences from Standard English.
- The role of language as a tool of resistance and cultural expression within the Rastafarian movement.
- An analysis of Bob Marley's linguistic style and the influence of Rastafarianism on his music.
- The sociolinguistic context of language use in Jamaica and the Rastafarian community.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper, outlining its focus on the Rastafarian use of Creole in Bob Marley's music. It acknowledges the need for background information on Patois, Standard English, and Rastafarianism to understand this unique linguistic phenomenon. The author emphasizes the importance of considering Bob Marley's background and the broader context of Rastafarian beliefs to properly analyze his language. The chapter also briefly addresses the author's methodology and commitment to respectful terminology.
2. What is Patois? What is Standard English?: This chapter differentiates between Jamaican Patois (Patwa) and Standard English. Patois, a Creole language with origins in West African languages and 17th-18th century English vernacular, is described along with its grammatical features, such as the absence of a progressive form and the use of "not" for negation. The chapter contrasts this with Standard English, acknowledging the existence of multiple varieties, and focusing on English as a native language (ENL). It addresses the complexities of defining "Standard English" and clarifies the paper's focus on ENL speakers, due to space constraints, while acknowledging the complexities of defining Creole as a distinct language versus a dialect.
3. Rastafari: This chapter provides an overview of Rastafarianism, its origins in 1930s Jamaica, its global spread, and its diverse sects. It highlights Rastafari's role as a movement of black self-confidence and political resistance against systems of oppression. The chapter emphasizes that Rastafarianism is not the national religion of Jamaica and introduces the historical significance of Haile Selassie I. This section lays the groundwork for understanding the socio-political context within which Rastafarian language developed.
4. Bob Marley: This chapter focuses on Bob Marley’s life and career, explaining the necessity of understanding his personal background to analyze his linguistic style. The chapter notes the use of various sources and the author's personal interpretations in analyzing Bob Marley's use of language. It is established that Marley's language will be examined within the framework of the concepts introduced earlier regarding Rastafarianism and Patois. The detailed examination of his life and career provides valuable context for a deeper understanding of his work in subsequent sections.
Keywords
Jamaican Patois, Patwa, Creole, Standard English, Rastafarianism, Dread Talk, Iyaric, Bob Marley, Linguistic analysis, Language and identity, sociolinguistics, resistance, religious belief, cultural expression.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Rastafarian Creole in Bob Marley's Music
What is the overall focus of this paper?
This paper explores the Rastafarian use of Creole, specifically its unique characteristics and expression in Bob Marley's songs. It analyzes the relationship between Rastafarian beliefs and language, the linguistic features of Patois, and the role of language as a tool of resistance and cultural expression within the Rastafarian movement.
What topics are covered in the Table of Contents?
The Table of Contents includes an introduction, a comparison of Patois and Standard English, an overview of Rastafarianism (including its history, symbols, and "Dread Talk"), a biography of Bob Marley, and a linguistic analysis of selected Bob Marley songs ("Redemption Song" and "Legalize Marijuana").
What are the key objectives and themes of the paper?
The paper aims to examine the unique characteristics of Rastafarian Creole, its development, and its use in Bob Marley's music. Key themes include the relationship between Rastafarian beliefs and language development, the linguistic differences between Patois and Standard English, and the role of language in resistance and cultural expression within the Rastafarian movement.
What is the difference between Jamaican Patois and Standard English as explained in the paper?
The paper differentiates Jamaican Patois (Patwa), a Creole language originating from West African languages and 17th-18th century English vernacular, from Standard English. Key differences highlighted include grammatical features such as the absence of a progressive form and the use of "not" for negation in Patois. The paper acknowledges the complexities of defining "Standard English" and focuses on English as a native language (ENL).
What information is provided about Rastafarianism?
The paper provides an overview of Rastafarianism, including its origins in 1930s Jamaica, its global spread, diverse sects, its role as a movement of black self-confidence and political resistance, and the historical significance of Haile Selassie I. It emphasizes that Rastafarianism is not the national religion of Jamaica.
How does the paper analyze Bob Marley's music?
The paper analyzes Bob Marley's linguistic style within the context of Rastafarianism and Patois. It examines his life and career to provide context for understanding his use of language, with a detailed linguistic analysis of specific songs, including "Redemption Song" and "Legalize Marijuana."
What is the sociolinguistic context addressed in the paper?
The paper addresses the sociolinguistic context of language use in Jamaica and the Rastafarian community, highlighting the role of language as a tool of resistance and cultural expression within this specific social group.
What are the key words used in the paper?
Key words include Jamaican Patois, Patwa, Creole, Standard English, Rastafarianism, Dread Talk, Iyaric, Bob Marley, Linguistic analysis, Language and identity, sociolinguistics, resistance, religious belief, and cultural expression.
What is the methodology and approach of the author?
The author employs a respectful approach to terminology and utilizes various sources, including personal interpretations, to analyze Bob Marley's language within the context of Rastafarianism and Patois. The introductory chapter briefly outlines the author's methodology.
What are the chapter summaries provided?
Chapter summaries provide concise overviews of each chapter's content, outlining the key information discussed in each section, including the introduction, comparison of Patois and Standard English, overview of Rastafarianism, Bob Marley's biography, and the linguistic analysis of his songs.
- Citar trabajo
- Johannes Schiefer (Autor), 2008, Patois and the Rastafarian use of English , Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/167868
