Papiamento By "Eddy" Ramou, a 21 year old Aruban, now
attending college in Holland. In Aruba we speak, write and read English, Spanish, Dutch and Papiamento fluently. Many also speak French and Portuguese. Where did Papiamento come from? Papiamento came from the neighboring island of Curacao in the 1500's to enable African slaves to communicate with their owners. In addition to their own language, Portuguese and Spanish missionaries, Dutch merchants, South American traders and Indians added additional words. Dutch is the official language of Aruba due to the fact that Aruba is a Dutch colony. All documents and government papers are in Dutch. Lessons at school are given in Dutch. Papiamento is the native language, only spoken on the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao). Most of the ihabitants speak Papiamento at home or on the streets with friends. English is recognized as an international language and all inhabitants of Aruba are obliged to learn English as early as the 4th grade in primary school. Spanish is also taking on equal importance since Aruba is located just off the South American Continent. Spanish is also taught at an early age in school, as early as the 5th grade of the primary school. French is taught in high school as an optional language. Aruba did not give that much importance to Papiamento until 1995, when voices were raised in the community that Papiamento is also a language that should have equal value as the other languages. It is a unique language only spoken on three islands and that should also be taught at school. A taskforce was raised to discuss the posibility of bringing Papiamento into school. The year1998 was decleared Year of Papiamento in Aruba and all attention was focused on what to do about it . The government decided that it was best to put Papiamento in the schools and in the school year of 1998/1999, Papiamento was officially taught as a new language subject in school. All students now would especially learn to write Papiamento correctly. There is even a Papiamento dictionary in bookstores and fairy tale stories written in Papiamento. Even though all three ABC islands speak Papiamento, it is spoken in a different accent and the three islands use a few words in different ways. Curacao speaks Papiamento much tighter and short while Aruba speaks it much more softly and laid back. Bonaire is the mixture of the two. What follows are some words and phrases you should know in Papiamento. Papiamento is fun!! It has a rhythm of its own and it is very easy to learn. Arubians are very delighted when visitors use our language. I am delighted when tourists ask me something in Papiamento. "Eddy" Ramou Simple Words and Phrases Bon dia: Good Morning Words For a Loved One Un sunchi: A kiss Shopping kwanto esaki ta costa: How much does
this cost More Words and Phrases bin aki: Come here Food cuminda: Food |