Bahamas accent

Question

Today, on the news they were interviewing Bahamians affected by the hurricane, and I noticed some interesting accent variants. The black Bahamians interviewed had a Caribbean island accent. And, there were two white Bahamians interviewed: a man and a woman.
The man had what I would describe as a Boston/Eastern New England accent, and the woman, a local store owner had an accent similar to the Cajuns of Louisiana, which I thought was interesting. This surprised me. I'm not sure if these people were representative of the general, local populous.

Is anyone aware of a migration of New Englanders to the island? How about the "Cajun" accent of the local store owner? I thought it was interesting, and surprised at the great differences given the fact that the islands are in such relative close proximity to the U.S., and that on the islands interviewed, surely they must be barraged by U.S. culture via Florida radio and TV signals. Of course, I know this isn't necessarily a factor in other areas, so I guess I don't see why it should be there.

Thought it interesting.
Larry

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Today, on the news they were interviewing Bahamians affected by the hurricane, and I noticed some interesting accent variants. The ... know this isn't necessarily a factor in other areas, so I guess I don't see why it should be there.[/nq]
I am no expert but I have cruised the Bahama Islands for many years in a small yacht so I'll take a shot at this. Unfortunately I did not stay at a Holiday Inn last evening.
The "white" Bahamas are largely in and north of Abaco, and although they were initially populated by the same slave traders and slaves as the rest of the Islands, they were re-populated around the time of the American Revolution by Loyalists from the Colonies. These immigrants have taken political and economic control of many arrears in Abaco and on Eluthera. They certainly do have a very characteristic accent, and it quite different from the standard Bahamas "lilt."
To my eye, these residents also look very much alike. There is a serious inbreeding component in and around Spanish Wells, Man-O-War Cay, and so on that seems to result in a lot of look-alikes. A friend and I were waiting in a line in a bakery one morning and studying the family photos on a nearby wall. I had a lot of trouble telling the individuals apart. Unfortunately this particular collection of family photos contained many uglies. (See Charles, there's that cattitude again).

Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]To my eye, these residents also look very much alike. There is a serious inbreeding component in and around Spanish ... telling the individuals apart. Unfortunately this particular collection of family photos contained many uglies. (See Charles, there's that cattitude again).[/nq]
No problem, Armond, I have some `tude in me myself.

Since you brought it up, degrees of worldwide ugliness rate as follows, ugliest to most beautiful:
Korea (Unbelievable! *** must have been asleep.)
Tibet
Philippine Islands (I'm sure there are some exceptions, Alec, as in the rest of this list.)
Chechyna
Most of Africa, Ethiopia excepted of course
China
Wales
Midwest America
Maine, USA
Scotland
Hawaii, if 'native' Polynesian
Japan, if not on the farm
Canada, in or near the cities, needless to say
England
Boston area, oh yes
Finland, but be careful
US South, and charming too
Israel and the rest of that area
California
Germany, if not over-fed. Berlin can be counted on. New York (the city, needless to say, most especially Manhattan) France Paris especially
Ireland, Castlebar in particular, but some of the Dubs ain't bad Denmark
Holland
Norway
Sweden, but don't count on a having a good conversation Portugal
Italy, and elegant
Greece, and so **** (the women, I mean)
Iceland
Spain (Wow!)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Since you (Armond) brought it up, degrees of worldwide ugliness rate as follows, ugliest to most beautiful: Korea (Unbelievable! *** ... are some exceptions, Alec, as in the rest of this list.) Chechyna Most of Africa, Ethiopia excepted of course China[/nq]
(skip to way down the list)
[nq:1]Ireland, Castlebar in particular, but some of the Dubs ain't bad Denmark Holland[/nq]
The Filipinas who are pretty are not of pure native stock. My wife, for instance, is largely of Irish heritage. Her mother's maiden name was purely Irish.

Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1](skip to way down the list)[/nq]
[nq:2]Ireland, Castlebar in particular, but some of the Dubs ain't bad Denmark Holland[/nq]
[nq:1] The Filipinas who are pretty are not of pure native stock. My wife, for instance, is largely of Irish heritage. Her mother's maiden name was purely Irish.[/nq]
But where are the Malays? The prettiest people on Earth, surely? (And aren't some native Filipinas of Malay 'stock'?)
But I agree that great beauties are often the product of weird mixtures, if that was what you were moving towards saying, Mr Skitt. (Hi, Mrs Skitt!)

Mickwick,
sounding like a racist again, ho hum

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]The Filipinas who are pretty are not of pure native ... of Irish heritage. Her mother's maiden name was purely Irish.[/nq]
[nq:1]But where are the Malays? The prettiest people on Earth, surely? (And aren't some native Filipinas of Malay 'stock'?) But ... often the product of weird mixtures, if that was what you were moving towards saying, Mr Skitt. (Hi, Mrs Skitt!)[/nq]
Yup, that's it. You've seen my photo page (accessible from the gallery), right?

Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]But where are the Malays? The prettiest people on Earth, ... you were moving towards saying, Mr Skitt. (Hi, Mrs Skitt!)[/nq]
[nq:1]Yup, that's it. You've seen my photo page (accessible from the gallery), right?[/nq]
It´s funny how things are... according to my husband, I am the most beautiful woman in the world. My father is Filipino with Spanish ancestry. My mother is German American with a touch of English somewhere in the bloodlines. Funny mixture isn´t it... and to boot, my husband is Spanish so according to the aforementioned list, he would know what beautiful is like!! ha ha ha!

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Yup, that's it. You've seen my photo page (accessible from the gallery), right?[/nq]
[nq:1]It´s funny how things are... according to my husband, I am the most beautiful woman in the world. My father ... my husband is Spanish so according to the aforementioned list, he would know what beautiful is like!! ha ha ha![/nq]
My daughters are half Mexican. From their father's side they are mestizas with Italian mixed into the mix. From my side they get English, "Scotch-Irish", French, and possibly Cherokee or Choctaw. My father and a couple of his sisters had the teeth and facial bone structure of "Native Americans". Their mother was from Coalgate, Oklahoma and her mother was from Tennessee.
The one who lives here in New Jersey gets taken for Italian which isn't far off the mark. The one in Iowa got teased by a customer at Mickey D's, who called her Mexicali Rose, in an offensive tone. He thought her English was good for a (fill in the blank). My daughter would serve him with something resembling a smile and refrained from throwing a Big Mac at him.
BTW her English has an Arkansas accent. She lived in Hot Springs for several years and picked it up. Not a far stretch from the rural Missouri accent she grew up with. A pediatrician in Iowa thought her son had hearing problems because she couldn't understand his speech. My daughter changed pediatricians and the next one didn't have any difficulty understanding him.
My Jersey daughter gets teased about PIP and when she says "roof" a co-worker will say "woof, woof" to her. So far no one has said that to me. We both pronounce it between roof and ruff, though obviously closer to ruff, at least to New Jersey ears.
Nell
A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first thought of.

Usenet · Answer

She's way up on the list then. Glad to hear it.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2](skip to way down the list) The Filipinas who ... of Irish heritage. Her mother's maiden name was purely Irish.[/nq]
[nq:1]But where are the Malays? The prettiest people on Earth, surely? (And aren't some native Filipinas of Malay 'stock'?)[/nq]
I don't recall ever seeing a Malay so I wouldn't be able to accurately place them on the list. The prettiest, you say? Wowee. Even prettier than the Icelandic girls, prettiest women in Europe many say?
[nq:1]But I agree that great beauties are often the product of weird mixtures, if that was what you were moving towards saying, Mr Skitt. (Hi, Mrs Skitt!)[/nq]
Yes indeed. Who was that ravishing beauty who played opposite Marlon Brando, was it, in one of his films? A girlfriend of his at one time too, I believe. Wasn't she a mix of French, Polynesian, and something else equally as exotic? I wish I could remember her name.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I am no expert but I have cruised the Bahama Islands for many years in a small yacht so I'll ... telling the individuals apart.Unfortunately this particular collection of family photos contained many uglies. (See Charles, there's that cattitude again). http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/[/nq]
Interesting. Thanks for the info.
Larry

Bahamas accent

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