Kriol "hn": Chroo di Noaz!

Nazalization> Chroo di noaz


This is a distinctive Kriol sound. Di spelling system writes it as "hn"

"on = pahn, (not "pan"... "pan" is the pan/dish)
"a, will = "wahn" = (not just "wa")


BUT NOTE: In sentence final position, and often for emphasis, one often drops the nasalization. NOTE also: This also occurs with such words as "nayhn/naym" for "name" and "sayhn/saym" for "same" and "hoahn/hoam" for home.


A special note about "ahn" and "an" for "and": Di standard Kriol is di nasalized ‘ahn" but when a short vowel, especially "a" or word that begins with "short "a" follows, one often will use "an"

"Mee ahn shee gaahn da maakit" bot " Afta Ah mi bayd an Ah mi powda op miself..."


Notice how some speakers may feel it would be awkward to force nasalization in the second Kriol sentence directly above because of the following short vowel that follow—unlike in di first sentence, where "ahn" is clearly nasalized. Other speakers would just go directly to the point:

"Mee ahn shee gaahn da maakit" bot " Afta Ah mi bayd ahn powda op miself..."





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Kriol is the language spoken by many Belizeans, especially the Creole people of Belize. Although it is often perceived as a dialect of English, it is indeed it's own language with grammar and spelling rules. The National Kriol Council of Belize was created to promote the culture and language of the Kriol people of Belize, as well as harmony among all the ethnic groups of Belize. Please visit the website of the National Kriol Council of Belize for lots of good information about the Kriol language and the Creole people.


The Kriol Council has been kind enough to send us the weekly "Weh Wi Ga Fi Seh" column that is usually published in the Reporter.


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