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Annou voyé kreyòl douvan douvan

New words and idioms entering Haitian Creole
Mo nouvo ak espresyon ki antre nan kreyòl

Emmanuel W. Védrine
Boston
October 2019 : Oktòb 2019

Deutsch • English • Español • Français • Kreyòl



Photo: Courtesy Védrine Creole Project

Updated Oct. 18, 2019 : Mizajou 18 okt. 2019

With the rapid development of Haitian Creole (in the 20th and 21st century), and many of us who have the chance observing it, the question we may ask is: What strategy we (who are in area of linguistics, and research on the native language) can use to record this development?

  

Ak devlopman rapid lang kreyòl la (nan ventyèm e venteyinyèm syèk), anpil nan nou ki gen chans obsève l, e kesyon nou ka poze se: Ki estreji (nou menm ki nan domèn lengwistik, e rechèch sou lang matènèl la) nou ka itilize pou rekòde devlopman sa a?

In this sense, one of the Haitian researchers we can’t forget to mention is André Vilaire Chéry (through his “post-dechoukaj research”, cited in bilingual (Creole–English) dictionary,  
Haitian-English Bilingual Dictionary (2007), Indiana University.

  

Nan sans sa a, youn nan chèrchè ayisyen nou pa ka bliye site se André Vilaire Chéry (atravè «rechèch post-dechoukaj» li, ki site nan diksyonè diksyonè bileng (kreyòl–anglè) Haitian-English BilingualDictionary (2007), Indiana Iniversity.

He collects what have been published in newspapers, and analyzed them for his research (Ref. Interview with André Vilaire Chéry, Indiana University-Creole Institute, 1999).

  

Li kolekte sa k pibliye nan jounal, epi analize yo pou rechèch li a. (Ref. Entèvyou nou ak André Vilaire Chéry nan Enstiti Kreyòl, Inivèsite Indiana, 1999).

Certainly, we are encouraging all other Haitian researchers (in the linguistic area) to think of the opportunity to contribute also (while alive) in this sense.

 

Sètènman, n ap ankouraje tout lòt chèrchè ayisyen (nan domèn lengwistik) pou panse a opòtinite pou kontribye tou (nan vivan yo) nan sans sa a.

It can be done through recorded interviews (with their phones, and then write down the transcript immediately after or send a copy of the recording to their email to keep it as documentation, and them later they can work on the transcript. They can also use videos, and publish them online so that researchers can have access to them.

  

Sa kapab fèt atravè entèvyou anrejistre ou rekòde (ak telefòn yo, epi ekri transkrip la imedyatman aprè, oubyen voye yon kopi anrejistreman sa a bay imel yo pou kenbe l kòm dokimantasyon, epi aprè yo ka travay sou transkri la. Yo ka itilize videyo tou, epil pibliye yo an liy (ou entènèt la) dekwa pou chèchè ka aksede yo).

They can be published in web sites, not only to record their investigation, but also to raise consciousness of a larger audience (who don’t need be only people in the field of Linguistics, but everyone who feels concerned to contribute to research related to the mother tongue in Haiti).

  

Yo kapab parèt tou atravè paj wèb, non sèlman pou rekòde ankèt yo, men tou pou konsyantize yon pi gran odyans (ki pa bezwen sèlman moun ki ta nan domèn lengwistik, men tout moun ki ta santi yo konsène pou kontribye nan rechèch sou lang matènèl la an Ayiti).

Their research model can be published in (daily, weekly) newspapers in order to encourage other people to participating or to bring their contribution also. They can be published in (literary, scientific) reviews to help with research (as reference).

  

Modèl rechèch yo kapab pibliye nan jounal (k ap soti chak jou, chak semèn) pou ankouraje lòt moun patisipe oubyen pote kontribisyon pa yo tou. Yo ka parèt nan revi (literè e syantifik) pou ede nan kad rechèch (kòm referans).

As a result the glossary below, we are sharing with what we collected through interviews with journalist Edlène Vernal Norde*.

  

Konsa, nan glosè (lis mo) anba a, n ap pataje ak ou sa nou kolekte atravè envèvyou ak jounalis Edlène Vernal Norde*.

LEXICON : LEKSIK

bannann. “nèg bannann nan”.    
Pseudonym to refer to President Jovenel Moïse, since the time of his campaign, given that he was in the “so-called” plantain business.   Soudonim pou refere a prezidan Jovenel Moïse, depi epòk kanpay li, etandone li te nan ‘swadizan’ biznis bannann.
(a)    
Apa ‘nèg bannann nan’ kache, li  pa janm pale sou sitiyasyon peyi a ap travèse.   (The ‘nèg bannann’ is in hiding; he never talks about the situation the country has been facing).
(b)    
Kote tout bèl pwomès ‘nèg bannann nan’ te fè pèp la pandan kanpay li?   (What happen to all the nice promises the ‘nèg bannann’ made to the people during his campaign?).
(c)    
Pèp la panse ‘nèg bannann nan’ ta pral devlope agrikilti kòmsadwa pou ede peyizan alawonnbadè pou pa kite Ayiti al Chili ak Brezil.   (The people think the ‘nèg bannann’ was going to develop agriculture thoroughly to help peasants everywhere in the country so that they don’t go to Chile and Brazil).

baz. [sense | sans: “Anpil fwa, se yon klan, yon gwoup moun ki chwazi regwoupe yo (li ka 4, 5; konsa tou, baz la gen dwa se 2 moun. Sa pral depan de ki dil yo konn fè ansanm, sa yo konn di, sa yo konn pale”. Mòd pale sa a ta kategorize kòm “pale geto”. Li posib pou mo ou espresyon sa a ta devlope apati gang yo].

(a)    
Èskè n ap fè l aswè a ‘baz’?   ‘Dude’, are doing to it tonight?
(b)    
Èske n ap fè l demen ou apre demen ‘baz’ pa m?   ‘My man’, are we going to do it tomorrow are after tomorrow?
(c)    
Sa k ap fèt, apa w lage m nèt, ‘baz’?   What’s going on, you abandome me totally, ‘dude’?
(d)    
Baz’, fò n chita pale sou dil la pou wè kijan n ap fè sa.   ‘Dude’, we have to sit down and talk about how we are going to do it.

chòping. “fè chòping”. [sense | sans: “dechouke estò,  boutik magazen, biznis pou vòlè sa k ladan yo pandan yon manifestasyon”. Se langaj (gang, vòlè ta itilize]. Pa egzanp, kote manifesyon an kòmanse pou rive kote l abouti. Anpil fwa, se la yo ta pwofite vòlè plis. Y ap dechèpiye tout estò, boutik, magazen yo jwenn sou wout la. ‘Chòping’ lan enkli tout bagay, manje... Se yon espresyon ki ta pran nesans nan dat 7 jiyè 2018… Sèn piyay e dechoukay ki te fèt, prèske nan plizyè depatman nan peyi a].

(a)    
Nan fè ‘chòping’, sa yo jwenn y ap pran: manje, rad, tout bagay…..   In ‘doing shopping., they take what they (can) find: food, cothing, everything…
(b)    
Anpil nan manifestan yo te pwofite de sa pandan yo t ap monte kay Petyon (Petyonvil), epi w tande slogan an: ‘Mwen pral fè chòping!’.   Many of the protestors take advantage of that while going to Pétion-Ville, and you heard the slogan: ‘Mwen pral fè chòping!’ (I am going to do shopping).
(c)    
Nou pral ‘fè chòping’ pandan manifestasyon an.    
(d)    
Gen moun ki prefere rete lakay yo epòk manifestasyon adwat agoch, lè yo konnen anpil bandi pral tou pwofite ‘fè chòping’.   Some people prefer staying home during protests back and forth, knowing that many bandits will take advantage of breaking shops, stores and steal everything.

kana. (1) “Kana m ye, m p ap tuip!”.

Sans: Kèlkeswa kote kana jwenn dlo a, li naje, li benyen menm si anba kò l p ap mouye lè l tranpe zèl li. Li tuip, li pran plezi l. Se sa k fè lè moun nan ap pale avè w, li wè w pran l pou enbesil, li di:   Sense: Wherever a duck find water, it would swim, take a bath to wet its body, its wings. It takes pleasure in doing it. That’s why when a person is talking to you, that person notices that you take him or her for stupid and that person says:
(a)    
‘Gad msye! Pou kisa l pran m la a? ‘Kana m ye’! Mwen p ap tuip, mwen menm!”    

(2) “Ala kana gen pwèl!” (“Ala kana ap rele! ”). [sense | sans: “Moun nan gen dwa nan yon zen; zen an cho; li depase limit. Li gen dwa mele m (ladan), epi esplikasyon m ap tann lan se pa sa l ban mwen. Epi m di:
(b)    
‘Gade yon tenten! Ala kana ap rele, papa!”.    
(c)    
Ala kana gen pwèl! Kote m te ye, yo gen tan foure m nan zen sa a!].    

klou. /pa gen yon klou». [sense | sans: “Pa gen senk kòb, pa gen lajan” (There is no money)… Nèg la leve yon maten, menm yon goud li pa genyen. Li ka anvi sòti al pran yon machin, epi l pa gen kòb].

(a) Mwen pa gen yon ‘klou’ non menn (I am broke, man; I don’t have any money, man). 
(b) Mwen pa gen yon ‘klou’ non, baz! (I am broke buddy!)
(c) M a zewo, m pa gen w ‘klou’! (I have nothing; I am broke).
(d) M atè nèt wi, mwen pa gen w ‘klou’. (I am totally down [flat on the ground] /broken; I don’t have a cent)
(e) Ou pa gen w ‘klou’, epi w bezwen achte mak telefòn chè sa a! (You don’t have a cent, and you want to buy this expensive phone brand!).

koton. [meaning | definisyon: “diri blan san anyen, san sòs, san vyann, san legim; pa gen mwayen lajan pou achte lòt bagay pou met ladan... Espresyon ki ta plis itilize kòm ‘pale geto”].

(a) Yon ‘koton’ m pral fè jodiya, baz; pa gen lajan. (I am going to get white rice today, buddy; there is no money).
(b) Mwen pral fè yon ‘koton’ la a. (I am going to make some white rice).
(c)Mwen pral manje  yon ‘koton’. (I am going to eat some white rice). (Look at Creole recipe : Gade resèt kreyòl).

lapli! lapli! (Atansyon, vòlè! Vòlè sou ou! Vijilan!). [comment | kòmantè: Anpil fwa se machann ki ta itilize espresyon sa a (pou avèti lòt pou fèt atansyon ak vòlè, oubyen yon avètisman pou yon pasan oubyen kliyan... Dabitid, machann nan kale nawè l (oubyen je l) sou ou lè l di sa (pou evite itilize mo ‘vòlè’). S: (sinonim) Ranmase pèpè w!].

(a) ‘Lapli! Lapli! Ranmase pèpè’ n, medam!: Rain! Rain! Pick up your ‘pèpè’, ladies!
(b) ‘Lapli’, kòmè Woz, ranmase pèpè w!: Rain, Sis Rose, pick up your ‘pèpè’!
(c) Lapli! Ranmase pèpè w tande, pitit!: Rain! Pick up your ‘pèpè, my dear!

lòk. /peyi lòk”.[sense | sans: “Pa gen anyen k ap fonksyone nan peyi a” (Nothing is functioning in the country)].
(a) Peyi a ‘lòk’; tout bagay an kriz. ‘Peyi a lòk’, tout bagay fèmen.
(b) ‘Peyi a lòk’ ak manifestasyon chak semen. (The country is locked with daily protests). (c) Moun pa ka jwenn gaz ak pwodui premye nesesite pou achte akoz ‘peyi a ki lòk’. (People can’t get gas and essential products to buy because the country has been locked).

mawozo. [sense | sans: “gwo soulye, ki pa rafine, ki manke delikatès, ki manke eklere, ki manke djentlemenn (jantiyòm), ki manke rafine, ki manke swa, ki manke vayb].
(a)‘Mawozo’ sa a panse l ka file tout fanm ak lajan. (This ‘mawozo’ dude thinks he can court women with money).
(b) Depi sou pale Sadrak ak dam lan, ou gen tan wè msye son w (se yon) ‘mawozo’. (By listening to Sadrak’s talk, you already see him as a ‘mawozo’).

pèpè /ranmase ‘pèpè’ w! (see idiom : wè espresyon “lapli! Lapli!”).

seksi pentad.

This idiom refers to President Jovenel Moïse. They see him as a sexy person, and he would look like a guinea fowl (in his body). At the same time, they would see him as someone cunny, a tricky person, in relation to a program he was selling (during his campaign), and he made it as president even if he cannot do anything.   Espresyon ki refere a prezidan Jovenel Moïse. Yo wè misye kòm yon moun seksi, e l ta sanble yon pentad (nan kò l, jan l ye). An menm tan, yo ta wè l kòm yon moun rize, yon moun ki gen trik, pa rapò a pwogram li t ap vann (pandan kanpay li), epi l rive prezidan menm si l pa ka fè anyen.

When a candidate is campaigning, he has a program; so he has to convince people to vote him. You have the impression that the president was attempting to convince people, and he did it. At the same time also, it is possible that he finds himself in a dead-end.

  

Lè yon kandida an kanpay, li gen yon pwogram; donk fò l konvenk moun pou vote l. Ou gen enpresyon ke prezidan an t ap tante konvenk moun, epi l fè sa. An men tan tou, li posib ke l retwouve l nan yon enpas.
We cannot ignore the reality of the country where a tiny group of bourgeois has the economic monopoly of the country. They make decision in their advantage. They are often in control of everything, including politics… Don’t forget also that the president comes from the mass of the people… Maybe in the beginning, he did not have enough courage to explain the reality to the people (when he was speaking during campaign).   Nou pa ka iyogre reyalite peyi a, kote yon vyep ti gwoup boujwazi gen monopòl ekonomik peyi a. Yo pran desizyon ki nan avantaj yo. Trè souvan, yo kontwole tout bagay (ou gen kontwòl tout bagay), enkli politik... Pa bliye tou ke prezidan an soti nan mas pèp la… Petèt o debi, li pa t gen ase kouraj (ou kran) pou l te esplike pèp la reyalite a (lè l t ap pale pandan kanpay).
(a) ‘Seksi pental’ ta renmen palman an ratifye premye minis deziye a san pèdi tan. (‘Seksi pentad’ would like the parliament to ratify the first designated PM right away)
(b) ‘Seksi pental’ pral pale nan l’O.N.U. (‘Seksi pentad’ is going to speak at U.N)
(c) Poudi ‘Seksi pental’ ka fin fè rès manda l la pou jan bagay yo mangonmen Ayiti? (Can ‘Seksi pentad’ complete his term the way things are in bad shape in Haiti?).
sosyal /fè sosyal. [sense | sans: “kidnape kamyon, kontenè manje pou al vann /distribiye bay”. Yo te vote yon kandida ak kondisyon pou l ba yo manje selon pwomès kanpay li].
(a) Apre prezidan an fin monte sou pouvwa, li bliye pwomès manje l te fè a; anpil bandi tou pwofite ‘al fè sosyal’.
(b) Yon gwoup gang ame jouk nan dan bloke wout la pandan y ap ‘fè sosyal’. (A heavily armed group of gangs block the road while a truck carrying food).

*NOTE : NÒT

  • Edlène Vernal Norde… “Interview with journalist E. V. Norde (entèvyou ak jounalis la), Oct. 7, 2019 (7 okt. 2019).
  • Pèpè [clothes commonly worn by the population. They can also be sold by clothing sellers in Haiti (in open markets or in some small clothing stores). S: kennedi].
  • Post-dechoukaj (post-dechouquage) from February 7, after the Fall of the Duvalier’s dictatorship [father and son] : apati 7 fevriye, apre chit diktati Duvalier yo [papa e pitit]).  
  • Research for [Haitian Creole dictionary and lexicon, Haitian Creole data base : Rechèch pou diksyonè ak leksik kreyòl, bank done leksikal. (Ref. Mo nouvo ak espresyon ki antre nan kreyòl: interview with journalist Edlène Vernal Norde. (Oct 7, 2019); Interview with André Vilaire Chéry, Indiana University, December 1999).

* * *

ANNEXED TEXTS : TÈKS ANEKSE

(in releation to research on Haitian Creole Dictionary : ki rapò ak rechèch sou Diksyonè Kreyòl Ayisyen)

CHERY, André Vilaire.

VALDMAN, ALBERT. 

VEDRINE, Emmanuel W.

 

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