The Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage [Hardcover]

Richard Allsopp (Author), Jeanette Allsopp (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 26, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0198661525 | ISBN-13: 978-0198661528

This unique reference is the first attempt in over four hundred years to provide an authentic record of current English from twenty-two territories in the eighteen states of the Caribbean archipelago. The Dictionary surveys a range of over 20,000 words and phrases drawn from over 1000 written sources. A specially-designed system of labelling--four levels of identification from Creole to Formal and labels to denote social or grammatical register--provides maximum clarity and accessibility. Including hundreds of illustrative examples, Allsopp also includes etymological and usage notes and a short Supplement listing Caribbean French and Spanish equivalents.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Caribbean English is an exceptionally rich dialect, evocative and vivid. Take "bagabu," for instance, a fine word American and British English lack, referring to dried nose mucus. "Day-clean" is a lovely word for dawn. To be in "goat-heaven" is to be in a state of bliss, but to have "goat-mouth" is a nasty business, similar to giving the evil eye. A "pissintail" is a disrespectful young thing, while "piss-a-bed" merely refers to wild coffee. A solid, scholarly work that fills an important reference niche, Allsopp's dictionary covers more than 20,000 words and phrases from Guyana to the Bahamas and Belize. Even if you've no Caribbean ties, are conducting no Caribbean research, and planning no Caribbean vacation, the dictionary is worth the price solely for its grand browsing pleasure. --Stephanie Gold

Review

"Will help teachers and students understand better the literary texts they are examining, and can provide one approach to a wider examination of cultural differences....An essential supplement to any collections where Commonwealth or Caribbean literature form part of the curriculum, and useful for linguistic studies."--Choice

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 776 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (September 26, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198661525
• ISBN-13: 978-0198661528
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,642,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant illumination of Caribbean English, March 31, 1999

By 

Francois Jackman (Durham, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage (Hardcover)

Professor Allsop has been working on this volume for a long time, but for those with an interest in language, it was worth the wait.

There are two outstanding features to this dictionary. The first is the most obvious one: the etymology of words used in daily Caribbean life emphasises not just the culturally diverse origin of language in the region (indigeneous, European and African), but the capacity Caribbean people have displayed to come to terms through language with that diversity. The second thing is the wonderful contrast between the erudite and clinical definitions of the words, and the words themselves, which are alive with the musicalness that characterizes Caribbean English.