Lesson #1 - An introduction to St. Martiner Creole
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A brief summary of the Martinese language
This public article was written by [Deactivated User], and last updated on 3 Apr 2022, 02:58.
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St. Martiner Creole (Martiner Creole: martis, Dutch: Maartenaars Creools), commonly referred to as Martinese is a Dutch-based creole language spoken by approximately 100,000 people worldwide. It is one of the three official languages of the country of Saint Martin, where it is the native language of a majority of the population. Much like the French-based creoles common in the Caribbean, St. Martiner Creole evolved from direct contact between Dutch settlers and enslaved Africans in the 18th and 19th century. As a result, most of the vocabulary and grammar are derived from the Dutch language. It also has influences from French (dam [dam] 'wife'), Spanish (jega [jega] 'up to'), English (kómputë [kɔmputə] 'computer'), and several West African languages (omo [omo] 'godchild' from Yoruba ọmọ 'child').
It is believed that Martinese developed in the early 18th century in the Danish colony of Saint Thomas. It was later transplanted to Sint Maarten (along with a considerable population of speakers of its speakers) in the early 19th century. It is here where the pidgin became a creole as it passed through generations and developed its unique flair. Martinese draws primarily from the Hollandic dialect of Dutch with some Zeelandic influences. Due to the influx of African slaves and the island's intertwined history with neighbouring Spanish and British colonies, the language also is heavily influenced by Spanish, English and some West African languages (mainly Yoruba).
The history of the the usage of the Martinese language on the island can best be described as contentious. Prior to its independence from the Netherlands and France and its subsequent unification, St. Martin's government operated solely in either Dutch or French depending on the side of the island one lived. This colonial history not only formed the creole language but also maintained a polyglot society on the island with most of its population able to communicate in at least three languages: namely, Dutch, French and Martinese. As a result, both Dutch and French remain important to St. Martiner culture and are the de facto main languages of government, the press, and secondary- and higher education.
Despite not having a standardized form, the earliest texts that contain St. Martiner Creole dates back to the late 19th century. These texts were generally poems and collections of religious and folkloric narrations. After its independence in 1977, there was a nationwide call for a standardized language that would replace French and Dutch as a common language that truly represented the population. The support for a standardized language was the main campaign promise of presidential nominee Francis Toussaint that ultimately led to his election and becoming the first president of St. Martin. Toussaint was born in Quartier d'Orleans on the French side of the island to Francophone-author parents and grew up with a passion for literature; this had a major impact on his future political career. Under President Toussaint, legislation approved the establishment of the St. Martin Language Union (Sint Martin Talyni or more commonly Talyni) in 1980.
Scholars from both sides of the islands were brought together to organize the orthography of the Martinese language. This new orthography lead to a much higher literacy rate in rural areas and an increase in the development of St. Martiner literature. An official dictionary (dë Vortlast Martins Tal or the Talvortlast) was published by the Talyni in 1981 and, with the help of Dutch, French and American publishers, was widely printed and distributed with the promise of 'ën vortbuk in élk hus', "a dictionary in every house". The Talvortlast became and remains an intregal part of St. Martiner culture and society and is the official orthographic and grammatical reference of the Martinese language.
Article 5 of the St. Martin Constitution states:
Ale Martinar is dur ën hëmen tal féreniçt: Martis.
Martis, Frajs en Nedëlants is dë ofiçel tal faj dë Repyblik.
"All St. Martiners are united by a common language: St. Martiner Creole. St. Martiner Creole, French and Dutch are the official languages of the Republic".
There is still a sociolinguistic divide among the population when it comes to the use of St. Martiner Creole. Some still view the use of Martinese as "less prestigious" and associate it with rural, less educated St. Martiners. However, this view is decreasing as today even the president gives most of his or her speeches in Martinese. Martinese is the language of instruction throughout primary education with Dutch and French being introduced gradually. All secondary and higher education is instructed in Dutch and/or French. ✎ Edit Article ✖ Delete Article
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