Other Languages: The Overlooked Presence

Indian Languages

Though most Indo-Caribbeans now speak Creole, traces remain: - Tamil in religious ceremonies - Hindi/Bhojpuri in songs and prayers - Urdu among Muslims - Food terms: dalpuri, colombo, massala

"We lost our ancestral languages but kept sacred words," explains Radika Ranguin, whose grandparents came from India. "During Diwali, we sing bhajans in languages we don't fully understand, but the spiritual connection remains."

English Influences

Proximity to Anglophone islands and American media brings English: - Youth slang mixing English and Creole - Business terminology - Music and entertainment vocabulary

"English is the language of opportunity for many youth," notes Dr. Juliette Facthum-Sainton. "They see it as more useful globally than French."

Surviving African Languages

While no African language survived intact, influences persist: - Ritual languages in Vodou and Quimbois - Drums that "speak" tonal languages - Proverbs translated from African originals - Names and titles in cultural organizations

Indigenous Whispers

Beyond place names, Indigenous languages left: - Plant and animal names - Fishing and farming terms - Spiritual vocabulary - Environmental descriptions