Best friends without a common language ...
February 11, 2010 5:39 PM Subscribe
Can anyone translate something to Creole for me? "Thanks for being my friend." or "You are a great friend."
My kiddo is last minuting valentines cards; wants to put something like that above in a valentine for a creole-speaking friend ...
Thanks in advance!
My kiddo is last minuting valentines cards; wants to put something like that above in a valentine for a creole-speaking friend ...
Thanks in advance!
Response by poster: dang, no idea. I believe he's from Haiti, if that's any help.
posted by tilde at 5:48 PM on February 11, 2010
posted by tilde at 5:48 PM on February 11, 2010
Indeed, creole simply means a pidgin that has become a native language. You would need to know at least the country of origin, if not a more specific location...
posted by jckll at 5:49 PM on February 11, 2010
posted by jckll at 5:49 PM on February 11, 2010
Response by poster: Wow ... okay, score one for major ignorance fighting (I told the kid I'd ask, but what an education for me. Here I am on the internet! Looking Dumb!
I think likely:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Creole_language
posted by tilde at 5:51 PM on February 11, 2010
I think likely:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Creole_language
posted by tilde at 5:51 PM on February 11, 2010
Best answer: thanks = mesi
friend = zanmi
my/mine = mwen or simply "m"
the possessor goes after the object, opposite English ("zanmi mwen" instead of "my friend")
you could try to figure that out, but I would go with "nou se zanmi" which translates to "we are friends;" markedly similar to "nous sommes amis" in French
posted by jckll at 5:57 PM on February 11, 2010
friend = zanmi
my/mine = mwen or simply "m"
the possessor goes after the object, opposite English ("zanmi mwen" instead of "my friend")
you could try to figure that out, but I would go with "nou se zanmi" which translates to "we are friends;" markedly similar to "nous sommes amis" in French
posted by jckll at 5:57 PM on February 11, 2010
Response by poster: I like that, thank you jckll! I just found a PDF language lesson book that seems to confirm what you've suggested.
posted by tilde at 6:02 PM on February 11, 2010
posted by tilde at 6:02 PM on February 11, 2010
Best answer: Or maybe: "w ap yon bon zanmi" --> "you are a good friend"
note that "ou" is "you" but is often shortened to "w"
posted by jckll at 6:02 PM on February 11, 2010
note that "ou" is "you" but is often shortened to "w"
posted by jckll at 6:02 PM on February 11, 2010
Even though it's more accurate to say Haitian Creole, I'm fairly confident that generally in the US simply "Creole" (or Krèyol) is a common and accepted short-hand, and other creoles have to be specifically differentiated. Similarly to how "Gaelic" is taken to be the Scottish variety unless otherwise modified.
posted by threeants at 4:14 AM on February 12, 2010
posted by threeants at 4:14 AM on February 12, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by phoenixy at 5:45 PM on February 11, 2010