Grenadian people speak a particular dialect of English, which differs from Standard English in both grammar and vocabulary. Because of the historical background of the country, many of the differences are due to the influence of the French language. There are French and French-derived words and phrases that pepper the dialect, often with words pronounced in the way there were hundreds of years ago. There are old English words still used that have since changed their meaning in other English-speaking areas, such as the use of ‘hand’ and ‘foot’ for the whole of the arm or leg. You may even hear words from Shakespearian times, like ‘sot’! There are a few words and grammatical structures that remain from the different African languages that were spoken, such as Twi. Often there will be three verbs in one sentence, and singular nouns are used in place of plurals. Dialect varies according to social class, age, and geographical location. Most people also speak Standard English, and will most likely use it to address you as a foreigner. When speaking with each other, they will use dialect, which may have you feeling a little lost until you tune in! Because of this, when people read Standard English from a book, they may sound a little stilted, as the words do not reflect their natural cadence. Although the general level of literacy is high, be aware that not everyone is fully or confidently literate, so be sensitive to any reluctance or hesitation, if you are giving them written information, or asking them to write something down for you. The most common learning style is imitation in a holistic manner, rather than breaking everything down to its elements in order to build it back up again. The Caribbean countries inherited a strong oral tradition, where history is handed down from generation to generation. Storytelling is an art form, shown in the drama inherent in passing on a piece of gossip!
Arguing- Diplomacy aside, raised voices are not uncommon. People are fairly uninhibited in many ways, including expressing feelings in a discussion or misunderstanding. You may observe people shouting loudly at each other, but it often seems much worse than it actually is. The dispute often dies down pretty quickly and once people have got things off their chest, they continue as before. Conversely, there is a strong tradition of ‘the silent treatment’ of a person that is considered to have treated you badly or unfairly. This may be resolved, or may run into the next generation!
Attitude to animals – Compared to what you may be used to, you may find that the attitude to animals is harsh and uncaring. Dogs are often used as guard dogs, rather than pets, which means that they may be chained up most of the time. The majority of dogs and cats are unspayed, with the resulting problem of numerous stray animals eking out a meagre existence. If you want to make any inroads here in terms of education, efforts must always be made in a respectful and calm manner, without creating embarrassment. There is a great fear of snakes, but there are no poisonous snakes in Grenada. The hunting of ‘wild meat’ is common, such as iguanas and manicou (opposums), even though some of these animals are endangered.
Children and the Family- Grenada has a very youthful population. Children are generally cherished and welcome in most social events. However, children in a family are expected to pull their weight and help with the household chores, light shopping etc. They are expected to be polite and obedient to their elders, and disciplining of children is considered to be a community, not just a family affair. Discipline is authoritarian and often involves the use of corporal punishment. The extended family structure is still the norm, often with female headed households, due to absent fathers. Most young people live at home with their parents for a long time, whether they have children or their own or not. Teenage pregnancy is not uncommon.
Women – it is fairly unusual to see women smoking or drinking large quantities of alcohol. Women entering a rum shop should be aware that this is traditionally a men’s preserve, although the owner may be a woman. You may see women of the older generation with a pipe. Men call out to women on the street with various epithets of affection. This is not meant to offend, but you would be advised to ignore it if you don’t want to attract further attention. Men make a hissing noise, called ‘soupsing’, which is another way of expressing interest, and trying to attract attention! People of the opposite sex do not converse as much as in other countries, and you will find that women are generally expected to spend time in other women’s company, and the same for men.