"Palenque is the land of cattle, sweets, and basic staples."
What language is this? Looks like a cross between Spanish and some African language? Well it is. Also, add Portuguese to the mix. In San Basilio de Palenque, Columbia, there resides a village that still speaks this pidgin like language Palenquero. Palenquero came to be through the slave trade in Africa from Portuguese traders who brought African slaves to Cartagena in the 1600's. It was a language used by the slaves during the time. Palenque even translates in Spanish as the word for a fortified village of runaway slaves. But that is not it. This said last remnant of a pidgin language developed during the slave trade is dying. This wonderful, historic language is dying because of communication with outsiders. People are finding that they cannot get jobs speaking Palenquero because no one is able to understand them. Luckily, the Palenque people will not let their beautiful language lay to rest. Their language comes from strength and they believe that strength will live on no matter what.
Although, this article is from 8 years ago. I found the language pretty neat and closely related to the term pidgin language, which is a language based on different languages to further communication. I know Palenquero is not defined as a pidgin language but I feel as if it were language that evolved through a need for communication between uncommon people. On the other hand, this language was neat because of the history behind it. Creole languages are so beautiful and for it to have some tinge of Spanish makes it even more beautiful. It goes to show that a language with such roots will probably die out because of how the language hinders activities such as getting a job. Another classic underdog in a world full of power languages such as English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Hindi will die out simply because it no longer applies to this fast and ever changing world.
A Language, Not Quite Spanish, With African Echoes
This is very interesting to know, about the palenque language and its origin. Creole (French) is also a cool language, is mostly use in Haiti, I was able to learn some word from the language.
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew some French because I feel like with a name like mine, I need to ahaha.
DeleteI looked up this video after reading your post. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7uS7DxBcyg. I never heard of Palenque! And having the quote above made and your description of the language made me want to hear it! Thank for sharing this, Sade!
ReplyDeleteSo...I read the title and was completely lost for a second. I thought you were going to write this in another language, I did that once in a presentation, freaked out my entire class. But this was pretty cool, languages will always mix and out comes something completely new, things always find a way.
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