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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Americas > Antigua and Barbuda > Antigua and Barbuda Creole English

Antigua and Barbuda Creole English

A language of Antigua and Barbuda

ISO 639-3: aig

Population  67,000 in Antigua and Barbuda (2001). Population total all countries: 125,270.
Region  Throughout Antigua and Barbuda. Also in Anguilla, Dominica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, United Kingdom.
Language map  Creole Languages of the Eastern Caribbean
Alternate names   Anguillan Creole English, Kokoy Creole English, Leeward Caribbean Creole, Montserrat Creole English
Dialects  Antiguan Creole English, Barbuda Creole English. Slight comprehension of Jamaican and perhaps Bahamas creoles. May be similar to English Creoles of the Virgin Islands and Netherlands Antilles. There is a creole continuum with Standard English. There is a dialect spoken mainly by the older generations who live in the villages of Jennings and Bolans, near Johnson. People perceive the Southern variety, spoken along the Fig Tree Drive Road from Swetes to Bolans, as being the most different and difficult to understand. Barbudan is perceived as being more linguistically distant than the Creole English of Montserrat Point (2003 K. Decker).
Classification  Creole, English based, Atlantic, Eastern, Southern
Language use  All ages. Negative language attitude.
Language development  Oral materials available.
Comments  Most villagers deny the existence of a creole, although they speak it. Many migrated to Antigua from Montserrat after the eruption of Soufriere Hills volcano on 18 July, 1995. Agriculturalists: sugarcane.

Also spoken in:

Anguilla

Language name   Anguillan Creole English
Population  11,500 in Anguilla (2001 census).
Language map  Creole Languages of the Eastern Caribbean
Alternate names  Antigua and Barbuda Creole English, Leeward Caribbean Creole English
Language use  All domains. All ages.
Comments  Agriculturalists; fishermen. Christian.
 

Dominica

Language name   Kokoy Creole English
Population  200 in Dominica (2004).
Region  Marigot and Wesley in northeast Dominica and Clifton and Woodford Hill on the northwest point of the island.
Language map  Creole Languages of the Eastern Caribbean
Alternate names  Leeward Caribbean Creole English
Language use  Use it with Jamaicans and some other Caribbean speakers, but not with non-Caribbean. May be shifting to Dominican Vernacular English.
 

Montserrat

Language name   Montserrat Creole English
Population  7,570 in Montserrat (2001).
Language map  Creole Languages of the Eastern Caribbean
Alternate names  Leeward Caribbean Creole English
Comments  Many left the island after Soufriere Hills volcano eruption on 18 July, 1995. Agriculturalists: cotton.
 

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Language name   Saint Kitts Creole English
Population  39,000 in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Region  Widespread.
Language map  Creole Languages of the Eastern Caribbean
Alternate names  Kittitian Creole English, Leeward Caribbean Creole English
Dialects  Nevis Creole English.
Language use  All domains. All ages. Negative language attitude. Most also use English.
Comments  Agriculturalists: sugarcane.