Content

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• Part 1 of 3: Learning basic Rastafarian words
• Part 2 of 3: Learning basic Rastafarian phrases
• Part 3 of 3: Understanding Rastafarian culture
• Tips
• Warnings

Rastafarian English is a dialect mainly spoken by Jamaican Rastafarians. The Rastafarian language is much easier to learn than Jamaican Patois because it plays with English words more than it is a completely separate spoken dialect like Jamaican Patois. The Rastafari movement, which originated in Jamaica in the 1930s, is based on positive belief in things like unity, peace and one love. The Rastafarian language is a reflection of this positive belief.

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Part 1 of 3: Learning basic Rastafarian words

1. Understand the pronunciation of words in Rastafari. Rastafari exists as a spoken language, so pronunciation is very important if you want to try to speak Rastafari.
   • In Rastafari you do not pronounce the "h" from English words. So “thanks” becomes “tanks”, “three” becomes “tree”, etc.
   • Rastafarians also do not pronounce the “th” in English words. So, “the” becomes “di”, “them” becomes “dem”, and “that” becomes “that”.
2. Learn the use of "I and I". In Rastafari, "I and I", pronounced "eye an" eye, is an important term. It refers to the openness of Jah (Rastafari to their "God", Ethiopian Emperor Ras Tafari Haile Selassie I) in every person. "I and I" is a term that emphasizes the Rastafarian belief that Jah exists in all people and that everyone exists as one people brought together by Jah.
   • "I and I" can be used in a sentence to replace "you and I". Like, "I and I'm going to the concert." This means that you and someone else are going to a concert.
   • But it can also be used when talking about something you do alone, or as a short version of "me, myself, and I". As in: “I and I going to the concert”. This means that you go to the concert on your own.
   • “I” is also used as a play on words for certain English words, such as “I man” for “inner man”, or a Rastafarian believer. Rastas say “Inity” instead of “unity”.
3. Learn how to say "hello", "goodbye", and "thank you". Most Rastafarians do not use certain English words because they have devilish connotations. For example, the word "hello" is not used because it is made up of "hell" and "lo", referring to "low".
   • To say "hello", use: "Wa gwaan" or "Yes I".
   • To say "goodbye", use: "Me a go", or "Lickle bit".
   • To say “thank you”, use “Give thanks” or “Praise Jah”.
4. Understand the words “Rasta” “Jah Jah”, and “dread.A Rastafarian refers to himself as a "Rasta," or calls other Rastafarians "Rasta."
   • "Jah Jah" is used to praise or refer to Jah. For example: "Jah Jah protect mi fram mi enemy dem." This means in English: "Jehovah protect me from my enemies."
   • "Dread" refers to the dreadlocks worn by Rastafarians as a spiritual use. It is also used to describe someone or something who is a Rastafarian or seen as a positive influence.
   • For example: "Dread, mon." In English this means, "Cool, man." Or, "Natty dread." In English, this means "You're cool" or "You're a Rasta."
   • Someone without dreadlocks is called a "ball head", a play on words with the term "bald head". For example, Bob Marley sings in his song "Crazy Baldheads": "Wi guh chase dem crazy Ball head outta town." This means: “We're going to chase those crazy people without dreads out of town”.
5. Learn common Rastafarian words such as "Babylon", "politricks" and "irie". These are keywords in Rastafari, as they refer to important concepts in Rastafarian culture.
   • “Babylon” is the Rastafarian word for the police, seen by the Rastafarians as part of the corrupt government system. “Babylon”, which refers to the Biblical rebellion against God through the Tower of Babel, can also be used to describe a person or an organization that oppresses the innocent.
   • For example, "Babylon deh cum, yuh hav nutten pan yuh?" In English this means: "The police are coming, do you have anything on you?"
   • "Politricks" is the Rasta phrase for "politics". There is general skepticism among Rastas against authorities, including politicians. They are seen as "tricksters", so full of "tricks".
   • “Irie” is one of the most important expressions in Rastafari. It embodies the positive outlook of Rasta culture and the belief that “everyting irie” or “everything is alright”.
   • For example, "Mi nuh have nutten fi complain bout, mi life irie." In English this means: "I don't have anything to complain about, my life is good."
6. Understand the words for "man" and "woman". Rastafari is about the idea of ​​oneness with everyone. Rastas refer to people as their "Idren," as from the English word "children."
   • A boy ("boy") is called "bwoy" by a Rasta. A girl ("girl") is a "gal" in Rastafari. When a Rasta asks another Rasta about their children, he refers to the children as as "pickney", or "gal pickney".
   • Rastas refer to adult males as “bredren”. Adult women are called “sistren”.
   • A Rasta man calls his wife or girlfriend his "empress" or "queen".For example: "My cyaah cum tomorrow, mi a guh spen sum time wid mi empress." This means, "I can't come tomorrow, I'm going to spend time with my girlfriend."
7. Understand the use of positive words over negative words. Rastas replace words that express something negative such as “down” or “under” with “up” or “out”. For instance:
   • Rastas say “downpression” instead of “oppression”. This is because “up” is Rastafari for “up”, so “downpression” means that something is holding someone down.
   • Rastas say “overstanding” or “innerstanding” instead of “understanding”.
   • Rastas say “outernational” instead of “international”. This gives the Rasta feeling that the rest of the world is outside their realm or world.
8. Learn to swear in Rastafari. There are a number of unique sounding curses in Rastafari. They usually refer to physical injuries or bodily functions.
   • "Fiyah bun" is an expression used to strongly reject someone or something.
   • For example: "Fiyah bun babylon kaaz dem eva deh taament people." This means: "I denounce the police because they are always tormenting poor people."
   • "Bag o wire" is an expression that refers to a traitor ("betrayer" or "traitor"). This is a reference to a close friend of black political leader Marcus Garvey, who betrayed him by passing on the details of his escape plan.
   • For example: "Mi nuh truss deh bredren deh kaaz him a bag o wire." This means: "I don't trust that man because he is a traitor."
   • "Bumba clot" or "Rass clot" are very strong Rastafarian curses. “Clot” is considered an unpleasant sounding sound and can be associated with the verb “to clout”, or “to hit or strike”. It also refers to a used tampon, which is where the unpleasant, dirty aspect of the word comes from.

Part 2 of 3: Learning basic Rastafarian phrases

1. Practice saying "what's up". In Rastafari, you greet a friend in the street by saying "Bredren, what gwaan?"
   • The other Rasta might reply, "Bwai, ya done know seh mi deya gwaan easy." This means, "" I'm here just taking it easy. "
2. Practice asking someone where they come from. In Rastafari you ask someone where he is from or was born by saying, "A weh ya job?"
   • The other Rasta might then say, "Mibaan inna Kingston," meaning, "I was born in Kingston."
3. Learn how to say “see you later”. A Rastafarian ends an informal conversation with:
   • "Yeh man, lickle more, seen?" This translates as, "Ok see you later."
   • The other Rasta might then say, "Lickle more." This translates as, "For sure, see you later."
   • A conversation in Rastafari could go like this:
   • "Bredrin, wow?"
   • "Bwai, ya done know seh mi deya gwaan easy."
   • "Yes I, a so it go still. Not 'n na gwaan, but we a keep di faith, nuh true?"
   • "True. How the pickney dem stay?"
   • "Bwai, dem aright."
   • "Yeh man, lickle more, seen?"
   • "Lickle more."
   • The English translation is:
   • "What's up, man?"
   • "Not much, just taking it easy."
   • "Yeah, that's how it is. Times are hard but we have to keep the faith, isn't that right?"
   • "Yeah. How are your kids?"
   • "They're alright."
   • "Great, see you later."
   • "See you later."

Part 3 of 3: Understanding Rastafarian culture

1. Understand the history of the language. The Rastafarian language grew out of the Rastafari movement, a religious and social movement in Jamaica. Although largely disorganized, Rastas are nonetheless linked by a number of strong beliefs:
   • Belief in the beauty of black people's African heritage.
   • The belief that Ras Tafari Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, is the Biblical Messiah. He is also called the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. This is why the lion is a powerful symbol for Rastafaris.
   • The belief in return to Ethiopia, referred to by Rastas as “Zion,” the true home and redemption of black people.
   • Belief in the eventual fall of “Babylon”, the corrupt world of the white people, and the reversal of the power structure between slave and master.
2. Learn the knowledge resources of the Rastafari movement. The Bible is the most important sacred text for Rastafarians. For this reason, for example, Bob Marley's texts are replete with Biblical references to Exodus and the holy land.
   • Rastas take Bible study very seriously and quote and discuss Bible texts. They believe that the Bible tells the true history of the black people. They also believe that Christian priests have misled people with incorrect interpretations of the Bible, especially using the Bible to justify slavery.
   • Rastas also refer to other official documents such as The Promised Key and The Living Testament of Rasta-for-I. But most scholars agree that there is no central Rasta doctrine, because Rastas do not want to follow organized systems or schools of thought. Rastas believe that a person should engage in reflection and interpretation of their experiences and develop their own personal beliefs about the Rasta faith.
3. Learn the importance of “I-tal”. Rastas use the word “I-tal” to refer to foods that are in a natural state. "I-tal" foods are not contaminated with modern chemicals and contain no preservatives, additives or salt.
   • Most Rastas follow the "I-tal" customs, some are vegetarian. Carnivorous Rastas usually refrain from eating pigs, as pigs are seen as the scavengers of the dead.
   • Alcohol, coffee, milk and flavored drinks such as soft drinks are not considered “I-tal”.
   • Rastas often say, "Man a rasta man, mi only nyam ital food." This translates as, "I am a Rastafarian, I only eat natural foods."
4. Understand the role cannabis plays in Rastafarian culture. We all know the image of a Rasta with dreads, smoking weed or "herb" as Rastas call it. In addition to making you feel “irie”, smoking marijuana or “ganja” plays an important role in Rastafarian life. It is considered a spiritual ritual in Rasta culture.
   • For Rastas, the “holy herb” is highly valued for its physical, psychological and therapeutic powers.
5. Know the idea of ​​“everliving life”. Rastas embrace the idea of ​​an “everliving life” rather than an “everlasting life”. They don't believe in the end of life, or the "last part" of life. Rasta instead believe in an ongoing living life or immortal life.
   • This does not necessarily mean that Rastas believe they live forever. But they see “everlasting life” as a negative view of the fullness of “living-ness of life”.

Tips

• Listen to reggae from artists like Bob Marley and the Wailers, Pato Banton, Patra and Damian Marley to familiarize yourself with Rastafarian pronunciation and culture. Listen carefully to the lyrics of the songs and try to identify some basic words and phrases in them.
• You can also buy "Speak Jamaican" tapes and videos online. Since Rastafari is a spoken language, hearing Jamaicans speak the language helps to get a sense of the rhythm and tone of Rastafarian words.

Warnings

• Some Jamaicans, who hear you speak Rastafari, will consider you a poseur, especially if you are white. Try speaking Rastafari to Jamaicans in a bar and test the waters based on their response. Remember that in these occasions some people might take offense at your attempts to speak Rastafari and see it as an insult. So be ready for some teasing and bullies from the real Jamaicans, generally on a jovial level.
• You could also, to be on the safe side, put your knowledge of Rastafari on one relaxed Jamaican friend can try.