#Caribbean Hindustani

[bimdraws]

For queer people worlwide

If you speak any of the languages listed below you would greatly help me out if you could teach me LGBT+ vocabulary, either through DMs or just in the replies/reblogs. I'm building a global LGBT+ dictionary but some languages are just harder to access in my side of the world.

The languages are the following (in no particular order):

Kashmiri

Caribbean Hindustani

Selk'nam

Ossetian

Bolze

Erromintxela

Petu/petuh

Huilliche

Hmong

[forgedfromlove]

From The Cutlass Magazine:

“Caribbean Hindustani Interview: Mahadeya Kowlessar

Contrary to popular belief, the language of Bhojpuri or Hindustani is not dead in the Indo-Caribbean community. The Bhojpuri of chutney and Hindi/Urdu of Bollywood echoes throughout our daily lives. Words and phrases have been adopted into the island vernaculars. While the languages may have decayed in spoken form for the masses in Trinidad, Guyana, and Jamaica, among other indenture sites, are they beyond rebirth and preservation?

In this interview, Dr. Visham Bhimull speaks to Mahadeya Kowlessar from South Trinidad. With her white "orhni" (veil) and command of native tongue, she is an embodiment of a time long ago. This dialogue reveals much about our roots and Indo-Caribbean identities. You may be able to isolate words such as "nana-nani" (maternal grandfather-grandmother) or "aja-aji" (paternal grandfather-grandmother), perhaps phrases like "na jane" (I do not know). She exemplifies how our ancestors would have referred to a pre-partitioned India as "muluk" (country) rather than the "Bharat" or "Hindustan" known to South Asians. Bhimull, an Indo-Trinidadian linguist, is spearheading the movement to document these ancestral dialects through his organization Caribbean Hindustani. In doing so, he is continuing in the line of pioneers like Peggy Mohan, working against the inevitable passing of time to protect the endangered Bhojpuri from extinction in the West Indies.”

[trinidad-slang-clothing]

Trinidad And Tobago Dictionary - Trinidad Slang - BADDIST

BADDIST - A promiscuous female but can be used on men as well.

Book Available on Amazon!

CLICK HERE —> https://amzn.to/3ZCNauM CLICK HERE —> https://amzn.to/3ZCNauM

Learn about Trinidad And Tobago slang words and Phrases from Look De Word Dey! A Trinidad And Tobago Word Search Puzzle Book that teaches you Trinidad Slang from A to Z.

[belanegara4]

International Symposium on the "History and Legacy of Muslims in the Caribbean"

ircica.org

International Symposium on the "History and Legacy of Muslims in the Caribbean"

OIC IRCICA

6–8 minutes

The International Symposium on the “History and Legacy of Muslims in the Caribbean” organized by IRCICA, OIC General Secretariat, the Government of Guyana and Guyana University was opened by President H.E. Mohamed Irfaan Ali with a Feature Address on 4 September 2023. IRCICA Director General Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç gave an address at the opening ceremony. Moderated by Mr. Al Creighton, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education of the University of Guyana, the ceremony started with Quran recitation and translation by Hafiz Salih Rahim, and heard the opening remarks of H.E. Mr. Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick, Special Envoy of IRCICA to the Caribbean; Dr. Alhoucine Rhazoui, Director of Cultural Affairs, OIC General Sceretariat, as well as cultural items, consisting of the Islamic Chant in Urdu recited by Mr. Imran Ali, Deputy President of the Muslim Youth Organization, and the Islamic Chant in Yoruba language presented by Mr. Toyib Hamza. A press conference followed the opening session. The ceremony and the working sessions were held at Arthur Chung Conference Center in Georgetown.

Subsequently, the same day, IRCICA Director General Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç was received by H.E. President Mohamed Irfaan Ali for a welcoming meeting. Professor Kılıç briefed H.E. the President about IRCICA’s objectives and activities. Mr. Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, high officials from Guyana, and the IRCICA delegation members, were also present at the meeting. Director General Prof. Kılıç presented H.E. President Irfaan Ali and Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Hugh Todd with samples of IRCICA’s publications in the series of studies on the Holy Qur’an.

The working sessions of the symposium, spread over three days, were on the following themes:

First day, Session I: Globalization and Localization in the Caribbean: Aliyah Khan, University of Michigan, | The Qasida and Muslim Devotional Music in Guyana and Trinidad; Frank J. Korom, Boston University | The Current State of Hosay (Moharram) Observances in the Caribbean; Abdin Chande, Adelphi University | Migration and Identity of South Asians of the Caribbean and East African Indian Ocean Region: A Comparative Analysis; Maurits S. Hassankhan, Anton de Kom University of Suriname | Localization and Globalization of Religion: The Case of Hindustani Muslims in Suriname.

Session II: Islam in the Greater Caribbean from Early History to Today: Abdullah Hakim Quick, The Islamic Institute of Toronto | Aspects of Muslim History and Legacy in Pre-Columbian America; Juan Thomas Ordóñez, Universidad del Rosario | Caribbean Lebanon: The Muslim Experience on the Colombia/Venezuela Border; Mohamed A. Hakim, Islamic Educator and Social Activist in Haiti | History of Muslims in Haiti; Nuri Muhammad, Imam, Radio Commentator and Social Activist | The Evolution of Muslim Presence in Belize and the Significance of Garifuna Cultural Retrieval;

Session III: Panel on Black Atlantic Muslim Movements – Remapping and Theorizing Global South Migrations:  Youssef Carter, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill | Western Sunrise in the Global South: The Islamic Party comes to the Caribbean; Tasneem Siddiqui, Drexel University | The Caribbean Is No Island: Rethinking Black Geographies through Muslim Resistance Movements; Nsenga Knight, Artist & Storyteller | Irregular Black Muslims: Diasporic Exchange & The Caribbean Elsewhere.

Second day, Session I: Guyanese Experience: Ateeka Khan, McMaster University | East Indians, Religion, and Politics in 20th Century Guyana; Nazim Baksh, Former Investigative Producer with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) | Conflict, Continuity and Change of Religious Narratives and Practices of Muslims in Guyana (1977-1981); Ahmad Hamid, Imam and Researcher | The Challenges and Role of CIOG in the Transformation of the Muslim Community of Guyana from Chaos to Stability; Wazir Baksh, Historian and Community Activist | The Masjid as an Essential Institution to Preserve Faith and Social Cohesion: The Case of Guyana.

Session II: Voices from Trinidad and Tobago: Halima-Sa’adia Kassim, University of the West Indies | An Evaluation of the Resultant Negotiations of Living in an Alien Society: The Indo-Muslims of Trinidad Claiming Their Place; Nasser Mustapha & Mirza Ali Mohammad, University of the West Indies | Race and Ethnic Relations in Trinidad and Tobago; Anand Rampersad, University of the West Indies | Successful Muslim Cricketers in Trinidad and Tobago.

Session III: Economy, Identity and Decolonization in the Caribbean: Ibraheem Musa Tijani, International Islamic University Malaysia | The Economic Development and Commerce of the Muslim Communities in the Caribbean and the Emergence of Islamic Finance in the Region; Stanley L. Soeropawiro, Policy Advisor Religious Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs (Suriname) | Economic Development among the Javanese Muslims in Suriname; Karimah Rahman, Toronto Metropolitan University | Decolonizing Muslim Indo-Caribbean Mental Health; Suleiman Bulbulia & Sabir Nakhuda, Historians and Authors | The Muslims of Barbados: Sustaining A Muslim Identity.

Third Day, Special Presentation at the University of Guyana by: Abdullah Hakim Quick, Nuri Muhammad, Mohamed A. Hakim and Stanley L. Soeropowero.

The closing ceremony of the symposium was conducted with the remarks of Prof. Dr. Aboubacar Abdullah Senghore, Assistant Director General, IRCICA and Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Guyana.

On 5 September 2023, IRCICA Director General Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç had a meeting with Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana. The meeting was a fruitful occasion to exchange views on research and education in Islamic studies.

During the symposium period, Director General Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç held contacts and meetings with Muslim cultural institutions and educational organizations in Guyana including the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), Guyana Islamic Trust and the ISA School.

[mampiedotcom]

Devanand Gattoo - Aao Dekho Diwali

Devanand Gattoo - Aao Dekho Diwali

Devanand Gattoo – Aao Dekho Diwali (Bhajan 2023 Songs) Devanand Gattoo – Aawo Dekho Diwali [Official Video] (2023 Bhajan) Artiste: Devanand Gattoo Title: Aawo Dekho Diwali Song Remastered By: DG Studio Special Thanks to Dr Visham Bhimull & Caribbean Hindustani (Translation Of Lyrics) Video By: A Navin Laloo Video Production Sponsored By: The One Love Chutney Crew & Dg Studio Special Thanks To:…

[zeebartels]

Wishing all my Trinidadians and ancestors a Happy Indian Arrival day 🔁 • @cutlassmagazine This picture captures the first Indian Arrival Day celebration in Trinidad on May 30th, 1945. The “East Indian Centenary” marked the 100th year of Indian presence in the nation. It took place in Skinner Park, San Fernando, and local leaders like Adrian Cola Rienzi (Krishna Deonarine) were present. Written statements from public figures, such as Gandhi, were read. But the festivities soon waned. By the 1970s the Divine Life Society, a Hindu sect, was the only group continuing the practice. It was named “Indian Emigration Day” and found little attention beyond the town of Chaguanas. There was a shift after the Indian Revival and Reform Association (IRRA) was founded in 1976 to tackle racism towards Indians and promote the culture. In 1977, an IRRA panel was assembled with Rajiv Sieunarine, Azamudeen Jang, Khalique Khan, Ramdath Jagessar, Anand Rameshwar Singh, Rajesh Harricharan, and Michael Shankar. The next year Rajnie Ramlakhan, Ashok Gobin, and Anand Maharaj joined. They issued a pamphlet in 1978 outlining the very beginning of Indian indentureship in 1845. It listed the names of the “jahajis” aboard the Fatel Razack ship and covered their history. The Trinidad Express newspaper promoted the document while The Guardian published an article by Kusha Haracksingh about the journey on the “kala pani” (black water). San Fernando Secondary School also held an event and the television show Mastana Bahar aired an Indian Emigration Day special. The IRRA worked with the Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS), Satnarayan Maharaj, on a showcase at Lakshmi Girls Hindu College, an SDMS-founded school, on May 27th, 1979. To recognize Indians as citizens, and not just emigrants, they jointly agreed to adopt the title “Indian Arrival Day” from then. Source: Scott He and Project Gutenberg #indocaribbeanculture #indocaribbeanhistory #hindi #urdu #hindiurdu #bhojpuri #hindustani #caribbean #westindies #westindian #southasia #southasian #desi #indian #eastindian #india #trinidad #trinidadandtobago https://www.instagram.com/p/CeL0Ssho-f4ZgBwR4qXDzSCY6BB3b8TEw5NPzg0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[heauxanthem]

I'm so tired of Caribbeans always forgetting to mention Suriname 🇸🇷 when they talk about the Caribbean.

Like i know we're mainland but so is Guyana 🇬🇫 and i know we're small in population but so are MOST Caribbean countries. We're literally part of CARICOM...don't sleep on us, please. We bring you the usual awesomeness from Asia and Africa but with the added bonus of Native and non-Native South America .

Beautifully diverse

Amazing food

Beautiful sights

Okay now I'm done being nationalistic af

[2022andbeyond]

One of my love languages is to share and recommend music

Music in every genre.

Classical

Country

Electronic dance music (EDM)

Hip-hop

Indie rock

Jazz

K-pop

J-pop

Metal

Oldies

Pop

Rap

Rhythm & blues (R&B)

Rock

Techno

Music around the world.

African Music

Afrobeats

Benga

Chimurenga

Ethio-jazz

Gnawa/ethno-pop/gwani blues

Highlife

Hiplife

Inkiranya

Juju

Majika

Mbalax

Ndombolo

Palm wine

Rababah

Shaabi

Somali jazz

Soukou/Congolese rumba

Ubongo

Zilin

Zouglou

Asian Music

Baila

Bollywood

Carnatic

Chinese folk

Chinese traditional opera

C-pop

Dangdut

Gagaku court music

Goa trance

Hindustani

Japanese folk

J-pop

K-trot

Punjabi

Rafi

Raga rock

V-pop

Caribbean Music

Calypso

Dancehall

Mambo

Mento

Merengue

Reggae

Rocksteady

Salsa

Ska

Soca

Steel band music/pan music

Zouk

European Music

A capella

Celtic chant

Drum & bass

Euro-disco

Flamenco

Glitch pop

Grime

Opera

Polka

Trance

Latin and South American Music

Bachata

Balada

Bossa nova

Compas

Cumbia

Mariachi

Mexican

Mesitzo

Ranchera

Reggaeton

Samba

Tango

Vallenatto

North American Music

American folk

Bluegrass

Blues

Canadian folk

Gospel

Industrial

Swing

Tejano

Zydeco

So much more.

[lanapatelxoxo]

My mother is from yard 🤱🏽🇯🇲🇮🇳(Jamaica) My father is from bush 👨🏾‍🍼🇹🇹🇮🇳 (Trinidad) Wah gwan?! I cooling in my #dougla shirt from @shesmixedllc 💚💛🖤 ❤️🤍🖤 #afewofmyfavoritethings ✨ Dougla people are Caribbean people who are of mixed African and Indian descent. The word Dougla (also Dugla or Dogla) is used throughout the Dutch and English-speaking Caribbean. 🇯🇲🇹🇹🇮🇳 The word Dougla originated from doogala (दुगला), which is a Caribbean Hindustani word that literally means "two"ish and may also mean "many", "much" or "a mix". In the West Indies, the word is used only for Afro-Indo mixed race. The word has its etymological roots in Hindi, where "do" means two and "gala" means "throat". The word might have been used as a way to refer to people who could speak Indian and African languages. In Guyana, Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese make up half of the population and Douglas number 15% of the country's demographics. Notable dougla - Nicki Minaj ( Happy Birthday Queen) @nickiminaj 👑 #nazar #tikka looking inward on I and I ✊🏾 #love gold and red heart #jhumkas by @funkymaharani ✨ Protecting and preserving my melanin with @livetinted #hueguard and flexing in #true & #grounded #huestick reminded me to always stay true to self and remember my roots which will always keep me grounded no matter how far I go in this world 🧡 #wcw #wce #brownskin #brownskingirls #blessed #jamaican #trinidad #trinigyal #yardie #islandgirl #caribbean #indocaribbean #lanapatel (at Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXQP1Y0rV50/?utm_medium=tumblr

[natasjawrites]

This is the story of Natasja. Thirty-something writer. Bisexual. Lipstick lover. Holder of multiple diplomas, I’m a curious woman, seeking to understand the world around me and within. I’m passionate about nerdy things that I can talk about for hours. And... I’m a little lost. A lot lost.

All my life I’ve been defined by hyphens. Surinamese-Hindustani. Indo-Caribbean. South-Asian. Dutch-but where are you really from? You know the drill. You’re not quite this, and you’re never quite that. Yet still looking to belong somewhere.

The Little Mermaid was one of the Disney movies I deeply related to as a child, because Ariel swam in the waters… but she really wanted to walk on land. Speaking of projecting, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my all-time favorite tv-show (is my age showing?). She just wanted to be a normal girl, she didn’t want to be forced into a life that wasn’t her own.

There’s a recurring theme in the story of me: Stuck between cultures, and stuck between my own needs and that of others. During my teens I thought I would’ve figured everything out as an adult, but here I am—in my thirties, still struggling, still holding myself back.

.

“What will people think?”

.

Hyphens aren’t the only thing that have defined me. I’ve let others define me. My mother. My father. The family. Loved ones. Strangers. I’ve put their needs above my own.

Somewhere in my twenties I lost myself, and most of that decade has been given to depression. I did what I thought was necessary to be accepted, to be loved, to be successful whilst barely hanging on. I don’t want that anymore. I have to find a way to live for me. I have to take back my power.

Who am I? What am I doing with my life? Honestly, I’ve no freaking clue. But I’m working hard on figuring that out… for me. Not others. It’s time to change the narrative. It’s time to be brave, to be seen, to be really me. Whoever that is.

That’s where Unearth my Roots comes in. A worded manifestation of my journey. I’ll be writing for me, but I’m also writing for you. I know I’m not alone, and I hope that with my posts and through my stories you’ll feel less alone too.

.

.

.

read more on Natasja writes

[thelanguagecommunity]

“what language should I learn?”

“is it better to learn [x] or [x]?”

“is it worth learning [x]?”

I get this type of question a lot and I see questions like these a lot on language learning forums, but it’s very difficult to answer because ultimately language learning is a highly personal decision. Passion is required to motivate your studies, and if you aren’t in love with your language it will be very hard to put in the time you need. Thus, no language is objectively better or worse, it all comes down to factors in your life. So, I’ve put together a guide to assist your with the kind of factors you can consider when choosing a language for study.

First, address you language-learning priorities.

Think of the reasons why are you interested in learning a new language. Try to really articulate what draws you to languages. Keeping these reasons in mind as you begin study will help keep you focused and motivated. Here are some suggestions to help you get started, complete with wikipedia links so you can learn more:

Linguistic curiosity?

For this, I recommend looking into dead, literary or constructed languages. There are lots of cool linguistic experiments and reconstructions going on and active communities that work on them! Here’s a brief list:

Dead languages:

Akkadian

Egyptian (Ancient Egyptian)

Gaulish

Gothic

Hittite

Old Prussian

Sumerian

Older iterations of modern day languages:

Classical Armenian

Classical Nahuatl (language of the Aztec Empire)

Early Modern English (Shakespearean English)

Galician-Portuguese

Middle English (Chaucer English)

Middle Persian/Pahlavi

Old English

Old French

Old Spanish

Old Tagalog (+ Baybayin)

Ottoman Turkish

Constructed:

Anglish (experiment to create a purely Anglo-Saxon English)

Esperanto

Interlingua

Láadan (a “feminist language”)

Lingua Franca Nova

Lingwa de Planeta

Lobjan

Toki Pona (a minimalist language)

Wenedyk (what if the Romans had occupied Poland?)

Cultural interests?

Maybe you just want to connect to another culture. A language is often the portal to a culture and are great for broadening your horizons! The world is full of rich cultures; learning the language helps you navigate a culture and appreciate it more fully.

Here are some popular languages and what they are “famous for”:

Cantonese: film

French: culinary arts, film, literature, music, philosophy, tv programs, a prestige language for a long time so lots of historical media, spoken in many countries (especially in Africa)

German: film, literature, philosophy, tv programs, spoken in several Central European countries

Italian: architecture, art history, catholicism (Vatican city!), culinary arts, design, fashion, film, music, opera

Mandarin: culinary arts, literature, music, poetry, tv programs

Japanese: anime, culinary arts, film, manga, music, video games, the longtime isolation of the country has developed a culture that many find interesting, a comparatively large internet presence

Korean: tv dramas, music, film

Portuguese: film, internet culture, music, poetry

Russian: literature, philosophy, spoken in the Eastern Bloc or former-Soviet countries, internet culture

Spanish: film, literature, music, spoken in many countries in the Americas

Swedish: music, tv, film, sometimes thought of as a “buy one, get two free” deal along with Norwegian & Danish

Religious & liturgical languages:

Avestan (Zoroastrianism)

Biblical Hebrew (language of the Tanakh, Old Testament)

Church Slavonic (Eastern Orthodox churches)

Classical Arabic (Islam)

Coptic (Coptic Orthodox Church)

Ecclesiastical Latin (Catholic Church)

Ge’ez (Ethiopian Orthodox Church)

Iyaric (Rastafari movement)

Koine Greek (language of the New Testament)

Mishnaic Hebrew (language of the Talmud)

Pali (language of some Hindu texts and Theravada Buddhism)

Sanskrit (Hinduism)

Syriac (Syriac Orthodox Church, Maronite Church, Church of the East)

Reconnecting with family?

If your immediate family speaks a language that you don’t or if you are a heritage speaker that has been disconnected, then the choice is obvious! If not, you might have to do some family tree digging, and maybe you might find something that makes you feel more connected to your family. Maybe you come from an immigrant community that has an associated immigration or contact language! Or maybe there is a branch of the family that speaks/spoke another language entirely.

Immigrant & Diaspora languages:

Arbëresh (Albanians in Italy)

Arvanitika (Albanians in Greece)

Brazilian German

Canadian Gaelic (Scottish Gaelic in Canada)

Canadian Ukrainian (Ukrainians in Canada)

Caribbean Hindustani (Indian communities in the Caribbean)

Chipilo Venetian (Venetians in Mexico)

Griko (Greeks in Italy)

Hutterite German (German spoken by Hutterite settlers of Canada/US)

Fiji Hindi (Indians in Fiji)

Louisiana French (Cajuns) 

Patagonian Welsh (Welsh in Argentina)

Pennsylvania Dutch (High German spoken by early settlers of Canada/ the US)

Plaudietsch (German spoken by Mennonites)

Talian (Venetian in Brazilian)

Texas Silesian (Poles in the US)

Click here for a list of languages of the African diaspora (there are too many for this post!). 

If you are Jewish, maybe look into the language of your particular diaspora community ( * indicates the language is extinct or moribund - no native speakers or only elderly speakers):

Bukhori (Bukharan Jews)

Hebrew

Italkian (Italian Jews) *

Judeo-Arabic (MENA Jews)

Judeo-Aramaic

Judeo-Malayalam *

Judeo-Marathi

Judeo-Persian

Juhuri (Jews of the Caucasus)

Karaim (Crimean Karaites) *

Kivruli (Georgian Jews)

Krymchak (Krymchaks) *

Ladino (Sephardi)

Lusitanic (Portuguese Jews) *

Shuadit (French Jewish Occitan) *

Yevanic (Romaniotes)*

Yiddish (Ashkenazi)

Finding a job?

Try looking around for what languages are in demand in your field. Most often, competency in a relevant makes you very competitive for positions. English is in demand pretty much anywhere. Here are some other suggestions based on industry (from what I know!):

Business (General): Arabic, French, German, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish

Design: Italian (especially furniture)

Economics: Arabic, German

Education: French, Spanish

Energy: Arabic, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish

Engineering: German, Russian

Finance & Investment: French, Cantonese, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish

International Orgs. & Diplomacy (NATO, UN, etc.): Arabic, French, Mandarin, Persian, Russian, Spanish

Medicine: German, Latin, Sign Languages, Spanish

Military: Arabic, Dari, French, Indonesian, Korean, Kurdish, Mandarin, Pashto, Persian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu

Programming: German, Japanese

Sales & Marketing: French, German, Japanese, Portuguese

Service (General): French, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Sign Languages, Spanish

Scientific Research (General): German, Japanese, Russian

Tourism: French, Japanese, Mandarin, Sign Languages, Spanish

Translation: Arabic, Russian, Sign Languages

Other special interests?

Learning a language just because is a perfectly valid reason as well! Maybe you are really into a piece of media that has it’s own conlang! 

Fictional:

Atlantean (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

Dothraki (Game of Thrones)

Elvish (Lord of the Rings)

Gallifreyan (Doctor Who)

High Valyrian (Game of Thrones)

Klingon (Star Trek)

Nadsat (A Clockwork Orange)

Na’vi (Avatar)

Newspeak (1984)

Trigedasleng (The 100)

Vulcan (Star Trek)

Or if you just like to learn languages, take a look maybe at languages that have lots of speakers but not usually popular among the language-learning community:

Arabic

Bengali

Cantonese

Hindi

Javanese

Hausa

Indonesian

Malay

Pashto

Persian

Polish

Punjabi

Swahili

Tamil

Telugu

Thai

Turkish

Urdu

Vietnamese

Yoruba

If you have still are having trouble, consider the following:

What languages do you already speak?

How many and which languages you already speak will have a huge impact on the ease of learning. 

If you are shy about speaking with natives, you might want to look at languages with similar consonant/vowel sounds. Similarity between languages’ grammars and vocabularies can also help speed up the process. Several families are famous for this such as the Romance languages (Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Romanian), North Germanic languages (Norwegian, Swedish, Danish) or East Slavic languages (Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian). If you are a native English speaker, check out the FSI’s ranking of language difficulty for the approximate amount of hours you’ll need to put into different languages.

You could also take a look at languages’ writing systems to make things easier or for an added challenge.

Another thing to remember is that the languages you already speak will have a huge impact on what resources are available to you. This is especially true with minority languages, as resources are more frequently published in the dominant language of that area. For example, most Ainu resources are in Japanese, most Nheengatu resources are in Portuguese, and most Nahuatl resources are in Spanish.

What are your life circumstances?

Where you live with influence you language studies too! Local universities will often offer resources (or you could even enroll in classes) for specific languages, usually the “big” ones and a few region-specific languages.

Also consider if what communities area near you. Is there a vibrant Deaf community near you that offers classes? Is there a Vietnamese neighborhood you regularly interact with? Sometimes all it takes is someone to understand you in your own language to make your day! Consider what languages you could realistically use in your own day-to-day. If you don’t know where to start, try checking to see if there are any language/cultural meetups in your town!

How much time can you realistically put into your studies? Do you have a fluency goal you want to meet? If you are pressed for time, consider picking up a language similar to ones you already know or maintaining your other languages rather than taking on a new one.

Please remember when choosing a language for study to always respect the feelings and opinions of native speakers/communities, particularly with endangered or minoritized languages. Language is often closely tied to identity, and some communities are “closed” to outsiders. A notable examples are Hopi, several Romani languages, many Aboriginal Australian languages and some Jewish languages. If you are considering a minoritized language, please closely examine your motivations for doing so, as well as do a little research into what is the community consensus on outsiders learning the language. 

[combat-model]

a conversation between two individuals who speak only Fijian Hindustani and Caribbean Hindustani respectively

[trinidad-slang-clothing]

Trinidad And Tobago Dictionary - Trinidad Slang - BAABOO

BAABOO - Term for a ghost or a spirit, used to scare children.

Book Available on Amazon!

CLICK HERE —> https://amzn.to/3ZCNauM CLICK HERE —> https://amzn.to/3ZCNauM

Learn about Trinidad And Tobago slang words and Phrases from Look De Word Dey! A Trinidad And Tobago Word Search Puzzle Book that teaches you Trinidad Slang from A to Z.

[miraakhan]

10 reasons why Thugs of Hindostan failed

This is not a film review. This is a critique of all the unwarranted criticism Thugs has garnered, which has been so extreme that part of me wonders if it’s all somewhat premeditated. But conspiracy theories aside, nothing evokes such vitriolic more than challenging the Indian people’s implicit prejudices. Which ones? Well, where do I even start. Here are just the top 10 prejudices reasons why this perfectly acceptable movie is getting unacceptable levels of hate...

1.       Because Indians are racists

How many Pirates of the Caribbean movies did they make again? And how many of them flopped at the Indian box office? I assure you, nobody was complaining about ‘illogical’ stuff in those movies. Why, because those movies were made by white and not brown people? Mind you the same junta will go watch Guy Ritchie’s Robin Hood this weekend and come out all praise for its fantastical, logic-defying action sequences. But since he’s a gora, well.. as Khudabaksh Jahazi says – “Ek Hindustani ka sabse bada dushman ek Hindustani hi hota hai.” 

2.       Because Indians are sexists

There are two female protagonists in the movie. And needless to say that is just two too many for the patriarchal junta of India. How dare they have a female character who is not a damsel in distress, but instead is a terrific archer and kicks total ass?!? To top that, how dare they have the other one be a prostitute with clear agency over her body, a rebellious mind of her own, and wield actual power over her male patrons? Nope, that’s just too much for desi pricks to handle, isn’t it? Also, given Aamir’s very vocal support of the #MeToo movement in India, I won’t be surprised if the social media attack on the movie was an orchestrated effort to hurt him for it.

3.       Because Indians are ageists

This is a country that clearly still idolizes youth and still hasn’t seen life expectancy go up like in the developed world. So how ridiculous to have a septuagenarian play one of the leading heroes, isn’t it?!? How utterly unbelievable to have said man look his exact age too, maybe even older. Mind you this is the country that happily sits through heavy-duty special effects just to have Rajni in a movie look half his age, because who the hell would ever come to theaters to watch Rajni the way he truly looks like now? 

4.       Because Indians are casteists

I hadn’t thought of this myself until an article in the Indian Express pointed it out. Firangi Malhar – Aamir’s character is clearly what one would call a ‘low-born’ hailing from an oppressed social and economic background. But that simply won’t do, will it? Did the movie makers really expect Indians to root for a… a Dalit? How dare they force us to confront our deep-rooted casteist prejudices like that, when all we want to do is enjoy a movie on a long weekend?

5.       Because Indians are religious bigots

And let’s not forget the other sacrilegious decision the movie makers now live to regret… to have three out of the four main protagonists be Muslim?! Oh my God. Literally. Keep in mind who this country voted into power five years ago and probably will again next year – a Hindu fundamentalist wannabe-dictator with a track record of supporting communalist elements in his own party. Here’s what’s funnier but also sad: the villains are more secular than the audiences of this movie. The British are actually celebrating Dussehra, and even if it’s nothing more than cultural appropriation, it’s still more religiously tolerant than Indians these days. 

6.       Because Indians are self-righteous hypocrites

The self-righteousness dripping from some of the reviews I read online is both laughable and infuriating. What about the word “Thugs” did these apparently literate guys not understand? Protagonists can be regular people too you know, and regular people are not perfect. The heroes in this story aren’t trying to be heroes, nor do they claim to want anything more than their very deeply personal objectives – revenge, resolving internalized guilt etc. In fact, the only person who ends up risking everything without any personal agenda, is Suraiyya Jaan. But does the desi audience appreciate the multidimensional complexities of these very human characters? Noooo. In a period movie set during the colonial era, desi heroes better be a sati savitri, or sata savitra, or they might as well be villains.

 7.       Because Indians are stereotypers

So if the Indian audience is to be believed, stereotyping morons that they are, Aamir Khan should only do movies with a social message in them and nothing else. He’s an actor for god’s sake, why can’t he just do a movie for the sheer entertainment value of it? He has repeatedly said so in his interviews, to the very same media people who now completely choose to ignore his pleas to just let him be an artist. The fact that he is socially responsible is a huge bonus that we should all be bloody grateful for, not use it to put him in a box that restricts his creative instincts. (And if some of you are now arguing that I’m doing the same thing, stereotyping all Indians as the same, well I’m sorry. I know I’m doing it, but at least now you know how it feels.)

8.       Because Indians are ungrateful

How quickly everyone seems to have forgotten the immense contributions Aamir and Mr. Bachchan have made to Bollywood. And this isn’t unique to the film industry. Indians are just as ungrateful to their sports idols, refusing to acknowledge that sportspeople, like actors, are only human. Everyone is bound to have bad days. So what if Yuvi doesn’t perform today, why let it erase the memory of the six sixes he hit in Durban ten years ago? How is it okay to insult and deride this man who is trying his best? It’s especially hurtful when it happens to Aamir because he’s been incredibly selfless in his attempts to improve quality of life in India. Sadly, Aamir, this society does not appreciate, let alone be grateful for, your activism, or your artistry.

9.       Because Indians are group-thinking morons

I don’t know if this is particularly true for desis or just a human trait in general. But it’s particularly hilarious to see it play out on social media. The lack of individual thought is sorely evident in all the reviews and trolls I read online. Also, newsflash, if all you do is retweet, reblog, and forward, you might as well be a mindless bot spreading fake news but adding no value to the discourse whatsoever. If you have a contrarian opinion (like maybe you actually liked the movie) but are too afraid to share it, why have a social media page at all? And for God’s sake, if you never saw the movie, shut the fuck up.

10.   Because Indians are trolls

Years of repression is likely responsible for this surge in social media trolling in India, but come on, you can only understand and excuse this behavior for so long. These trolls seem to have taken special interest in bringing down our biggest heroes and mind you, Aamir truly is a hero in real life – the kind we sorely need. And yet, for the very same reasons, he seems to have a target on his back, especially on the internet where cowards attack him while hiding behind anonymity. No matter what their agenda (jealousy, SRK stans, an episode of SMJ hit too close to home), they seem intent on holding Aamir personally responsible for shortcomings of the movie. I’ll admit Thugs isn’t perfect but none of its faults are the actors’ fault. Either way, I don’t think they’re doing it mindlessly. Like I said before, I strongly suspect an orchestrated conspiracy to bring the movie down. Why? Well, take your pick. Aamir has definitely pissed off a lot of people who want to keep the status quo. 

[marlaluster]

Emptying the cliptray on the new phone. ....

1. https://africanah.org/suriname-lost-caribbean/ 2. ah.orgArena for Contemporary African, African-American and Caribbean Art Suriname: Lost in the Caribbean 05/07/14 at 13:29 pm by Rob Perrée HarveyLisseFreedomandSlavery2012 Surinam is a remarkable country. Although it is located at the north east coast of Latin America – Brazil is the neighboring country – it is seldom considered as part of that continent. Because it is close to the Caribbean islands you would assume that it is seen as part of the Caribbean. It’s not. This remarkable, isolated position has a big influence on art in Surinam. On the kind of art, on the way it develops or does not develop, on art practice, on the identity of it, on the quality of it, on the way Surinamese art is positioned in the international art world and the art market. Rob Perrée points out that Suriname is lost in the Caribbean. SURINAME: LOST IN THE CARIBBEAN I first went to Suriname six years ago. A number of Dutch-Surinamese artists had invited me to take part in the Wakaman project: an exchange project between Surinamese artists in Suriname and Surinamese artists in the Netherlands. The idea was for this exchange to result in a book and an exhibition in Fort Zeelandia, in the heart of Paramaribo, in the 3. (2012) 27.4% Indian 21.7% Maroon 15.7% Creole[1] 13.7% Javanese 13.4% Mixed (incl. Douglas) 3.8% Indigenous Amerindian 1.5% Chinese[2][3] 1% European 1.8% Others[4][5][6] Religion 48.4% Christian 22.3% Hindu 13.9% Muslim 1.8% Winti 4. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suriname 5. country. For other uses, see Suriname (disambiguation). "Surinam" redirects here. For the former Dutch colony, see Surinam (Dutch colony). For the constituent country in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, see Suriname (Kingdom of the Netherlands). Suriname (/ˈsjʊərɪnæm/, US also /-nɑːm/, also sometimes spelled Surinam), officially known as the Republic of Suriname (Dutch: Republiek Suriname [reːpyˌblik syːriˈnaːmə]), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west and Brazil to the south. At just under 165,000 square kilometers (64,000 square miles), it is the smallest sovereign state in South America.[note 1] Suriname has a population of approximately 558,368,[8] most of whom live on the country's north coast, in and around the capital and largest city, Paramaribo. Republic of Suriname Republiek Suriname (Dutch) Flag of Suriname Flag {{{coat_alt}}} Coat of arms Motto: "Justitia – Pietas – Fides" (Latin) "Justice – Piety – Trust" Gerechtigheid – Vroomheid – Vertrouwen (Dutch) Anthem: God zij met ons Suriname ( 6. ASK What race is Suriname? Suriname - Ethnic groups. Suriname has one of the most cosmopolitan populations in the world. The largest ethnic group is the Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"), whose ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century, with 37% of the total population. https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com › S... Ethnic groups - Suriname - Encyclopedia of the ... 7. Roads & Kingdoms › why-would-anyon... Why Would Anyone Go to Suriname? - Roads & ... Jan 17, 2014 · Why travel to Suriname: The former Dutch colony now run by a drug-running ... But how do you build tourism off your dark history when the man ... World Population Review › countries › s... 8. https://roadsandkingdoms.com/2014/why-would-anyone-go-to-suriname/ 9. hwietert Collazo Why travel to Suriname: The former Dutch colony now run by a drug-running dictator is trying to attract tourists. A president accused of murder and convicted for drug smuggling. Rogue gold miners and outlaw timber harvesters, most of them foreigners drawn to the lawlessness. Roads that end two hours outside the capital, leaving travelers with the choice of either taking handmade canoes through rivers infested with anacondas, piranhas, and giardia or flying on prop planes with alarming safety records. Why would anyone want to go to Suriname? I traveled there to find out. Actually, I had been invited by the recently formed Suriname Tourism Foundation, who had seen some of the consulting I did with the Belize Tourism Board a couple years ago. Like Belize, they wanted advice on how to best reach prospective travelers. With the number of Dutch tourists declining each year—Suriname is a former colony of the Netherlands—the country is eager to tap into new markets, and North Americans are, geographically and financially, the 10. https://images.app.goo.gl/YLRgjgfnQkYQZG4y6 11. https://repeatingislands.com/2014/03/07/leeds-documentary-maker-returns-to-caribbean-home-devastated-by-volcano/amp/ 12. https://images.app.goo.gl/b14QS4co8Dyw1A1b6 13. https://images.app.goo.gl/YW9pyCcU55YwALJT7 14. Like the other overseas departments, Martinique is one of the eighteen regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral part of the French Republic. As part of France, Martinique is part of the European Union, and its currency is the euro. The official language is French, and virtually the entire population also speaks Antillean Creole (Créole Martiniquais).[4] Etymology 15. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martinique 16. Pagan traditions practised in South Africa include Wicca, contemporary Witchcraft, Heathenry and Druidry. ... Paganism is simply a nature-based religious-spiritual system of beliefs and practices which recognises and acknowledges nature as a manifestation of divinity. Wikipedia › wiki › Neopaganism_in_South_Africa Neopaganism in South Africa - Wikipedia 17. https://www.google.com/search?q=african+pagan&oq=african+pagan&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3.5198j0j4&client=ms-android-mpcs-us-revc&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8 18. ASK What does it mean to be Pagan? pagan. You could be considered a pagan if you don't believe in religion or you worship more than one god. The original pagans were followers of an ancient religion that worshiped several gods (polytheistic). Today, pagan is used to describe someone who doesn't go to synagogue, church, or mosque. https://www.vocabulary.com › dictionary pagan - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary 19. for a word mag·ic /ˈmajik/ Learn to pronounce noun 1. the power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces. "suddenly, as if by magic, the doors start to open" synonyms: sorcery, witchcraft, wizardry, necromancy, enchantment, spellworking, incantation, the supernatural, occultism, the occult, black magic, the black arts, devilry, divination, malediction, voodoo, hoodoo, sympathetic magic, white magic, witching, witchery; More adjective 1. used in magic or working by magic; having 20. https://www.google.com/search?q=magic+definition&oq=magic&aqs=chrome.3.69i57j35i39j69i60j35i39j0j69i61.2415j0j9&client=ms-android-mpcs-us-revc&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

[natasjawrites]

This is the story of Natasja. Thirty-something writer. Bisexual. Lipstick lover. Holder of multiple diplomas, I’m a curious woman, seeking to understand the world around me and within. I’m passionate about nerdy things that I can talk about for hours. And... I’m a little lost. A lot lost. 

All my life I’ve been defined by hyphens. Surinamese-Hindustani. Indo-Caribbean. South-Asian. Dutch-but where are you really from? You know the drill. You’re not quite this, and you’re never quite that. Yet still looking to belong somewhere.

The Little Mermaid was one of the Disney movies I deeply related to as a child, because Ariel swam in the waters… but she really wanted to walk on land. Speaking of projecting, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my all-time favorite tv-show (is my age showing?). She just wanted to be a normal girl, she didn’t want to be forced into a life that wasn’t her own.

There’s a recurring theme in the story of me: Stuck between cultures, and stuck between my own needs and that of others. During my teens I thought I would’ve figured everything out as an adult, but here I am—in my thirties, still struggling, still holding myself back.

“What will people think?”

Hyphens aren’t the only thing that have defined me. I’ve let others define me. My mother. My father. The family. Loved ones. Strangers. I’ve put their needs above my own. 

Somewhere in my twenties I lost myself, and most of that decade has been given to depression. I did what I thought was necessary to be accepted, to be loved, to be successful whilst barely hanging on. I don’t want that anymore. I have to find a way to live for me. I have to take back my power.

Who am I? What am I doing with my life? Honestly, I’ve no freaking clue. But I’m working hard on figuring that out… for me. Not others. It’s time to change the narrative. It’s time to be brave, to be seen, to be really me. Whoever that is.

That’s where Unearth my Roots comes in. A worded manifestation of my journey. I’ll be writing for me, but I’m also writing for you. I know I’m not alone, and I hope that with my posts and through my stories you’ll feel less alone too.

.

.

.

read more on Natasja writes