Cultural Context Affects "Ways of Speaking"

There is a phrase in Pidgin English (Nigerian: Yoruba), that translates as "I am very glad to meet you."* This phrase, to me, sounds like poetry:

My mind sweet
well,
Well wen a take
see yu.

It sounds like a song. The meaning (this phrase signifies a greeting) comes through with a unique flair. The cultural context of the language, here a translation for an American, English reading audience with an attention to alliteration and line, take it out of the context of everyday speech and give it the qualities of a different way of speaking. This "different way of speaking" is noted by socio-linguist Dell Hymes. It is a quality of oral poetry to be explored in this blog.

*101 Languages of the World © 2002, Transparent Language, Inc.

Contemporay Oral Poetry Archive (C.O.P.A.)

Mission: Contemporary Oral Poetry Archive (C.O.P.A.) serves an international community of poets, bards, performers of the spoken word, language artists, aficionados, and fans, by connecting and celebrating exchange between cultures and genres.

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