How to Speak Gullah

Until the work of the African-American linguist Lorenzo Turner in the 1040s, Gullah was considered a dialect of American English. Turner established that this language was actually African-based. He further traced its origins to the creolization of African dialects spoken on the Rice Coast of West Africa. Slaves uprooted from this area developed Gullah so they could communicate with other slaves who did not speak the same African dialects.

Instructions

1. Go to the educational website Gullah.com. Experience a multidimensional introduction to the language, culture and music of the Geechee.

2. Read about the present extent of the Gullah culture and learn about the distribution of the small farming communities in South Carolina and Georgia that comprise most of the remaining enclaves of the Geechee.

3. Watch a documentary on Gullah history. In addition to learning the history, you will gain a further "feel" for the language.

4. Go to a website that links to a number of resources specifically about the Gullah language. Read about a recent translation of the New Testament into Gullah. You'll discover some of the cultural differences that had to be navigated before the New Testament translation carried its traditional meanings.

5. Learn about Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir. Those who speak Gullah as a primary language probably number no more than 10,000. Consequently, keeping the language alive requires a supported, conscious effort. It won't occur naturally.

6. Study a glossary of Gullah words to form a base of common expressions. Travel to Georgia and South Carolina. Expand your skills by studying with those who speak Gullah as a primary language.

Resources

• Basic definition of Gullah and its origins.
• Educational website introducing Gullah--language, culture and music.
• Description of the Gullah culture as it presently exists.
• Documentary on Gullah history.
• Website linking to a number of Gullah language resources.
• NPR website that contains audio story about translation of New Testament into Gullah.
• Information about Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir.
• Glossary of Gullah words.