Jamaican Sayings Character

Jamaican Sayings - Character is the second in a series of three books that capture Jamaican adages used to communicate ideas about human nature, behaviour, relationships, aspirations, health hope and survival. Jamaican Sayings - Life and Jamaican Sayings - Success complement the series. The adages represent an archive of the wit and wisdom of many generations and aim to trigger reflection and thought. In their use they are never fully explained but those to whom they are directed usually understand their meaning based on the context in which they are used. They utilise imagery and draw upon a variety of flora and fauna to enrich their content. They hold valuable lessons, inspiration and wisdom that link Jamaican culture to its African past. The sayings are presented in three parts: i)the original saying; ii)the literal English translation and iii)the meaning it aims to convey.

Jamaican Sayings - Life is the first in a series of three books that capture Jamaican adages used to communicate ideas about human nature, behaviour, relationships, aspirations, health hope and survival. Jamaican Sayings - Character and Jamaican Sayings - Success complement the series. The adages represent an archive of the wit and wisdom of many generations and aim to trigger reflection and thought. In their use they are never fully explained but those to whom they are directed usually understand their meaning based on the context in which they are used. They utilise imagery and draw upon a variety of flora and fauna to enrich their content. They hold valuable lessons, inspiration and wisdom that link Jamaican culture to its African past. The sayings are presented in three parts: i)the original saying; ii)the literal English translation and iii)the meaning it aims to convey.

“A rich and compelling collection that will make a significant contribution to the study of Jamaican/West Indian/black folklore and culture” –Daryl Cumber Dance, Virginia Commonwealth University “A fantastic collection from the rich storehouse of Jamaican traditional oral literature” –Rex Nettleford, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica “A Wealth of Information…. The author carries the presentation of the proverbs/sayings to the level of socio-anthropological significance” –E. Valerie Smith, Florida A&M University In 1992, Jamaicans throughout the world celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Jamaica’s formal independence from Britain this collection of Creole sayings contributes to the lively interest in cultural preservation which exists this year in anticipation of the event. The sayings, an archive of the wit and wisdom of many generations, aim to trigger reflection and thought. They are never fully explained, and, says the author, “in the most extreme situation one might well need an entire week to ponder and think seriously” about their meaning. They exert pressure to conform to community standards, and they influence conduct in much the same way as religion does. Strong in imagery and often poetic, the maxims draw upon a variety of well-known flora, fauna, and real or imaginary creatures the anansi, for example, famous for “playin’ de fool fe ketch wise” (playing foolish in order to catch the wise), is regarded as a favorite hero in folklore. Creole, initially constructed as a coded language, employs a number of West African linguistic traditions. These Creole sayings, a valuable addition to the literature and ethnography of the Caribbean region, link Jamaican culture to its African past. They offer delightful reading to Latin American scholars, to students of comparative sociology and anthropology, and to the general public. G. Llewellyn Watson is professor of sociology at the University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetowwn, Canada.

Jamaican Sayings - Success is the third in a series of three books that capture Jamaican adages used to communicate ideas about human nature, behaviour, relationships, aspirations, health hope and survival. Jamaican Sayings - Life and Jamaican Sayings - Character complement the series. The adages represent an archive of the wit and wisdom of many generations and aim to trigger reflection and thought. In their use they are never fully explained but those to whom they are directed usually understand their meaning based on the context in which they are used. They utilise imagery and draw upon a variety of flora and fauna to enrich their content. They hold valuable lessons, inspiration and wisdom that link Jamaican culture to its African past. The sayings are presented in three parts: i)the original saying; ii)the literal English translation and iii)the meaning it aims to convey.

100 Jamaican Sayings is a small, fun and humorous guide to some of the colourful sayings of Jamaican everyday life and culture.

"You Can't Catch Me!" is a collection of sayings that were passed down from the author's parents and people in the community. It is her candid words of wisdom that have inspired the documentation of such cultural authenticity. Through her voice, may these life lessons transpire through generations to come.ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Victoria Kelly, fondly known as "Vicky," was born in Cuba on January 14, 1920 to Jamaican parents, William and Beatrice Warren. She was raised in Jamaica and came to the United States in 1979. She is a daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a hidden gem. She has 7 children, 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and a host of cousins and in laws. Victoria resides in Los Angeles, California, where she loves to cook, sew, read her Bible, dance, and listen to Spanish music.

Seminar paper from the year 2017 in the subject Cultural Studies - Caribbean Studies, grade: 1,1, , language: English, abstract: Our cultures are influenced by countless different factors, which vary greatly from country to country. From a young age, people are shaped entirely by their culture and by the people who raise them. One aspect that particularly influences young people in societies is folklore. Folklore is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as, “the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth”. This research paper will focus on various aspects of folklore of the Caribbean country of Jamaica, and the analysis of three different topics concerning Jamaican folklore, namely the Anansi stories, the Jamaican sayings, and a traditional witchcraft called Obeah. Furthermore, the character Anansi, who appears in the majority of these stories, will be examined and analyzed. The methods employed in researching this topic include a personal interview, well documented stories mentioned in books, and internet research to gather background information about these topics.