Some Haitian Krey?l Proverbs From The Book ?I Read With a Happy Heart.?
K?k Pwov?b Krey?l Aysien Nan Liv La ?M'ap Li Ak K? Kontan?
Introduction
All Haitian villages and cities have market days two days per week. They are staggered so that, for example, if you live in Kwafe, you know the market days (different) of the adjacent Belad?. My point being that you can find at any of these markets the books that are used in the public schools and purchase them. For Krey?l the book that many grew up with is "M'ap Li Ak K? Kontan" or "I Read With A Happy Heart." I guarantee it. Go to any Haitian (in Haiti) and ask them if they know this book and the answer will be ?Yes!? with a broad smile of recognition. I'm not sure if this book is still used in the public school system but it has been around since 1968 or so.
From the advent of first speech, Haitians are fluent in the syntax and pronunciation of Creole. It is the de facto family and national language. 100% speak Creole but 100% do NOT speak French.
When students enter the first grade, they begin to learn to read and spell and write the language they already know. Their vocabulary is significantly extended as they learn various cultural mores (as in the proverbs), agricultural activities, the market, social interactions, etc. The famous stories ?Bouki and Ti Malis? begin the second half of the second year. From these first two year primary school books I learned 2,650 words. Many of these are synonyms as the text does a great job enriching and adding nuance to vocabulary. It is because of this nuance, that you really need an advanced dictionary to learn from these books (following) as the dime-a-dozen severely abridged Haitian dictionaries just don't cut it.
Starting in the third grade, French is added, and is continued with Krey?l. By the time students begin French, they can already read and write. This staggered approach to bilingualism is very sound. French becomes a MUCH easier proposition when you can already read and write its derived form.
Unfortunately, large numbers cannot afford public school, which requires the purchase of uniforms and books, so a vast number of Haitians speak K. only and not French and may be illiterate, to varying degrees, in writing and the reading of K. depending on the years of education. At the extreme end would be one like my friend F. who cannot read or write one word, would not recognize her name if she saw it written, cannot write her name, and would sign a document with an X, oh, and doesn't know how to hold a pencil or a pen. The latter example is NOT typical but it is common. On the other hand, large numbers of Haitians graduate from high school fluent in the reading, writing, and speaking of Creole and French, sometimes adding Spanish and/or English.
In Haiti, as in Africa, it is not uncommon to meet people who are fluent in three or four languages. Some, who assist tourists, add a fifth language. Flame!! When you consider this cultural competence, it's disconcerting (understatement) to see ?Haiti bashing.?
I spent two years reading, writing, and speaking based on the primary school text "M'ap Li Ak K? Kontan" plus about 30 visits to the country. I am now working on my third year. And I use the most advanced dictionary the six volume, 57,000 word dictionary from the University of Kansas, which by the way, is absolutely necessary for even this primary school work. The primary school textbooks are, really, quite advanced compared to their English equivalents.
Here, then, are the proverbs:
Yon s?l dw?t pa kab manje kalalou.
A single finger cannot eat okra.
L? ou malere, ou toujou gen espwa ou ka jwenn lajan.
When you are poor, you always have hope that you can find money.
** @GWOZOZO: Here is a zero copula in the textbook! In fact, if you put the zero copula in the English translation (I did not) it sounds exactly like the zero copula in AAV (African-American Vernacular--?When you poor . . . ?) One point for African influence on H. Creole.
Sak vid pa kanpe.
An empty sack cannot stand.
B?f pou wa, savann pou wa.
Cows for the king; pasture for the king.
Si ou gade sa poul manje, ou p'ap janm manje poul.
If you see what a chicken eats, you will never eat chicken.
Dan pouri gen f?s sou bannann mi.
Rotten teeth have strength against a soft banana.
Rav?t pa janm gen rezon devan poul.
A cockroach never has reason to be in front of a chicken.
Foumi pa janm mouri anba sak sik.
Ants never die under a sack of sugar.
L? ou rive yon kote ou w? tout moun ap danse sou yon pye, danse sou youn tou.
When you arrive at a place where everyone is dancing on one foot, you will dance on one foot too.
Jwe ak makak, men pa janm manyen ke li.
You can play with a monkey but never touch his tail.
Je w? bouch pe.
Eyes see, lips keep silence.
Chay sot sou t?t, li tonbe sou zep?l.
A load on your head falls on your shoulder.
K?k Pwov?b Krey?l Aysien Nan Liv La ?M'ap Li Ak K? Kontan?
Introduction
All Haitian villages and cities have market days two days per week. They are staggered so that, for example, if you live in Kwafe, you know the market days (different) of the adjacent Belad?. My point being that you can find at any of these markets the books that are used in the public schools and purchase them. For Krey?l the book that many grew up with is "M'ap Li Ak K? Kontan" or "I Read With A Happy Heart." I guarantee it. Go to any Haitian (in Haiti) and ask them if they know this book and the answer will be ?Yes!? with a broad smile of recognition. I'm not sure if this book is still used in the public school system but it has been around since 1968 or so.
From the advent of first speech, Haitians are fluent in the syntax and pronunciation of Creole. It is the de facto family and national language. 100% speak Creole but 100% do NOT speak French.
When students enter the first grade, they begin to learn to read and spell and write the language they already know. Their vocabulary is significantly extended as they learn various cultural mores (as in the proverbs), agricultural activities, the market, social interactions, etc. The famous stories ?Bouki and Ti Malis? begin the second half of the second year. From these first two year primary school books I learned 2,650 words. Many of these are synonyms as the text does a great job enriching and adding nuance to vocabulary. It is because of this nuance, that you really need an advanced dictionary to learn from these books (following) as the dime-a-dozen severely abridged Haitian dictionaries just don't cut it.
Starting in the third grade, French is added, and is continued with Krey?l. By the time students begin French, they can already read and write. This staggered approach to bilingualism is very sound. French becomes a MUCH easier proposition when you can already read and write its derived form.
Unfortunately, large numbers cannot afford public school, which requires the purchase of uniforms and books, so a vast number of Haitians speak K. only and not French and may be illiterate, to varying degrees, in writing and the reading of K. depending on the years of education. At the extreme end would be one like my friend F. who cannot read or write one word, would not recognize her name if she saw it written, cannot write her name, and would sign a document with an X, oh, and doesn't know how to hold a pencil or a pen. The latter example is NOT typical but it is common. On the other hand, large numbers of Haitians graduate from high school fluent in the reading, writing, and speaking of Creole and French, sometimes adding Spanish and/or English.
In Haiti, as in Africa, it is not uncommon to meet people who are fluent in three or four languages. Some, who assist tourists, add a fifth language. Flame!! When you consider this cultural competence, it's disconcerting (understatement) to see ?Haiti bashing.?
I spent two years reading, writing, and speaking based on the primary school text "M'ap Li Ak K? Kontan" plus about 30 visits to the country. I am now working on my third year. And I use the most advanced dictionary the six volume, 57,000 word dictionary from the University of Kansas, which by the way, is absolutely necessary for even this primary school work. The primary school textbooks are, really, quite advanced compared to their English equivalents.
Here, then, are the proverbs:
Yon s?l dw?t pa kab manje kalalou.
A single finger cannot eat okra.
L? ou malere, ou toujou gen espwa ou ka jwenn lajan.
When you are poor, you always have hope that you can find money.
** @GWOZOZO: Here is a zero copula in the textbook! In fact, if you put the zero copula in the English translation (I did not) it sounds exactly like the zero copula in AAV (African-American Vernacular--?When you poor . . . ?) One point for African influence on H. Creole.
Sak vid pa kanpe.
An empty sack cannot stand.
B?f pou wa, savann pou wa.
Cows for the king; pasture for the king.
Si ou gade sa poul manje, ou p'ap janm manje poul.
If you see what a chicken eats, you will never eat chicken.
Dan pouri gen f?s sou bannann mi.
Rotten teeth have strength against a soft banana.
Rav?t pa janm gen rezon devan poul.
A cockroach never has reason to be in front of a chicken.
Foumi pa janm mouri anba sak sik.
Ants never die under a sack of sugar.
L? ou rive yon kote ou w? tout moun ap danse sou yon pye, danse sou youn tou.
When you arrive at a place where everyone is dancing on one foot, you will dance on one foot too.
Jwe ak makak, men pa janm manyen ke li.
You can play with a monkey but never touch his tail.
Je w? bouch pe.
Eyes see, lips keep silence.
Chay sot sou t?t, li tonbe sou zep?l.
A load on your head falls on your shoulder.