The popular perception within Jamaica of the Jamaican language situation is that it consists of two varieties: Jamaican Creole, popularly labeled ʼPatwaʼ and Jamaican English. Historically, JamC phonology represents the output of speakers of West African languages modifying the phonological shape of words coming into their speech from varieties of 17th century British English. JamE in contemporary Jamaica is the Caribbean-accented standard variety used in formal and public contexts.
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