Tobago's Language Root is Strongly AfricanThe roots of Tobago's speech, being more srtongly African, explain why we drop the final "g" in words ending in "ing". Most African languages do not run two consonants together. Faced with a simple word like "morning", the simple solution is to drop th second consonant, in this case the "g".
By the same token, "the" becomes "de", "mother" becomes "mudder", and so on.
Of course, we have learned to say "morning" and we do. But "mornin" sweeter!
The language is rich not only in simile but also is rooted in metaphor. In my younger days, I was unaware of the metaphorical root of the expression "three sheets in the wind". I always thought of a bed covering. I couldn't figure out what it had to do with being drunk!
Later I discovered a sheet was also the rope attached to the foot of a sail by which the sail is controlled. So "three sheets in the wind" represented a vessel with all sails flapping in the breeze - thus totally out of control.
What is the root of Basodee - It means Confused, unable to get one's bearings. It comes from the French "abassourdir"- to dumbfound, bewilder.
Gigiree- Excited by dire consequences to come. My theory is that this one came from the Italian "tre giri" which mean three revolutions, as when under great stress. Where did the Italian influence come from. Well we have the Salvatori Building, and there is a statue in a public square of a Captain Cipriani , and there is even a Cipriani Boulevard. The story is that in the late 1800's some Italians on the way to neighbouring Venezuela settled in Trinidad rather than face an outbreak of cholera over there.
Commesse- Has its root in the French "commerce" meaning 'commerce, trade or business'. This word has taken an a connotation of disgraceful conduct - shades of Enron and other corporate scandals - and now means matters of a scandalous nature, especially when accompanied by public quarrelling or disagreement and confused gossip. So we were always admonished to "stay out of the people's commesse."
Lime - a verb, not a fruit. It means to sit or stand or lounge around talking of inconsequential matters. To hang out. It comes from "limey", a pejorative applied to Englishmen in the closing days of colonialism, who could be observed "liming" in their private clubs.
Ole Talk- The bye-product of "liming". Idle speech, not to be given serious consideration. A supply of beer, rum, whiskey and such contributes greatly to the production of 'ole talk'.
Ting- something that is unnamed or not to be mentioned.To be "in ting' is to be involved in some "commesse". Also used of a person when you can't remember his name, and you think the other person can, in which case it is followed by "na?" . "You know, ting na?" "De Ting" is something you do not want to name, but which the hearer knows about. "I come for de ting:."
Some People- Normally a collective expression, "some people" is often used pejoratively in pointed reference to an individual, absent but sometimes present, but whom the speaker does not wish to identify by name. This one can get you into a "fleet" of trouble. I was present many years ago in a local court when a certain lawyer presumed to take issue with the magistrate over his manner of administering the affairs of the court. He ended his discourse with the expression "Some people should be clerks!" The magistrate, being a Trini, was stung by the full force of the comment, and ordered the lawyer to "sit on that bench there until you have purged yourself of your contempt." Several hours later a colleague rose to plead for him and apologise on his behalf
Bounce up- [verb - transitive] To encounter, especially unexpectedly. E.g.' He bounce up a bull.' or ' De chile bounce up she mudder '
But to "Bounce down" means to "knock down" or "run over".
Some of Our More Curious Expressions
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