You're kidding right? I see you have a 301 area code - where are you in Maryland?

No, this is a serious post. Rockville MD

most virgin islanders speak in dialect, but the majority are understood by continentals just fine.

occasionally i find someone who is unable to understand the accent, but so very seldom that it is amusing to me since virgin islanders save their 'slangs' for when they are together and do not go all out with people they do not know...

Thanks Anita! Would you by any chance know anyone who might be interested and fit the criteria? Thanks again!

You may want to contact the Humanities Department at the University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas Campus and speak with one of the professors that specializes in language. The suggested professor would be Dr. Gilbert Sprauve. I think he recently retired but they should be able to help you get in touch with him. He often gives presentations about V.I. English Creole and may be able to help you. Another professor you could try would be Dr. Gene Emanuel.

--Islander

Maria_Babay wrote:
Thanks Anita! Would you by any chance know anyone who might be interested and fit the criteria? Thanks again!

my apologies. as a continental (u.s.)-born and longtime resident i have never had any problems understanding virgin islanders, especially in the course of doing business. there may be etiquette and other considerations as well as language, so i will act like a grown up and try to help.

islander gave some good suggestions. you should definitely make a contact at the university of the virgin islands.

while i am not locating dr. sprauve in the directory at the university (perhaps his relationship with them is different), professor emanuel's info is here

Emanuel, Gene
Associate Professor of English. STT: 340-693-1348. [email protected]

also check out vincent cooper,

Cooper, Vincent
Professor of English/Linq & Honor Program. STT: 340-693-1351. [email protected]

you can pose your query to them, and i am certain they can be more helpful than i have been thus far :$)

"hello, how are you?"

TRANSLATOR to Maria: I am fine thank you.

Maria, I beleive they are trying to tell you that you PROBABLY don't need a translator. You will be able to understand the locals because, after all, they are AMERICANS.

This thread has piqued my curiosity.

One can Google "US Virgin Islands Creole" and come up with a plethora of websites which address the translation issue in very simple terms so it begs the question why your company would offer such a deal to someone to do research which has already been done. Anita's first post expressed it very well but then she felt the need to sort of apologize for her response which Islander then added to.

There are numerous colloquialisms here which go way back but I beg to offer that plain "Creole" is long gone and only a smattering remains and hardly justifies a survey by your company - whose intent is what? Just curious.

"English based Creole spoken throughout the US Virgin Island"? I t'ink me'son you off on bad foot heah. Looking forward to hearing back from you. Cheers!

Thank you, I actually have his information I called the Tourism Dept. and Humanities Dept. of USVI and they gave me his info. Thanks again!

Where do I send my resume'?

Check with the "Friends of the National Park" on St John. I see they have creole classes offered on their activity calendar so they may be able to connect you with someone.