August 16, 2008 3:10 AM
Elephant Man Picks Bolt in 100m
Americans will be watching U.S. sprinter Tyson Gay tonight in the 100m final, but all eyes in Jamaica are on Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, the two men who have held the title of Fastest Man in the World this year.Some on the island, like popular Jamaican rapper Elephant Man, have already picked their favorite for the race. Elephant Man -- whose new album includes contributions from Chris Brown, Diddy and Rihanna -- told the Jamaican Star, a daily tabloid:
"Dem will put stone inna di road fi wi drop but wi ago run ova it. Right now it tight. Mi money deh pon di two a dem: Bolt and Asafa. But mi a put a extra energy pon Bolt. Mi know him from him a run a primary school and a mi fren like dat so mi just a bring him and give him mi support."
He also spoke out against the repeated blood tests that Bolt and Powell have taken in the last week:
"Mi nuh like how dem a draw out the whole a di runner dem blood. By the time dem fi run dem ago drop down. Two bottle! Weh dem ago run pon den?
"It's one of the best times for Jamaicans to see the Olympics and we are one of the favourites: running, sprinting, a we a di favourite."
I'd be inclined to call Elephant Man's quotes gibberish, but check out this interview with him. His syntax isn't exactly Shakespearean.
Also of note: Puma -- which Bolt endorses -- used one of Elephant Man's songs in a 2004 Olympic ad starring Bolt. Elephant Man even had a cameo in one of the ads.
[One post-script: I do remember my sister's freshman year college roommate, who was from Kingston. My sister has fond memories of reading her roommate's first essays and telling her that, yes, American professors would deduct points for sentences that started "The ting is...".]
August 17, 2008
10:33 PM
yoursisterexroomate writes:
There are no words to describe to deep offense i feel after reading this blog.Not only is it a poor misconception of my country's rich culture but also it uses me to depict a misguided stereotype of the thousands of jamaican students who are continuing their studies in the states. Not only is it an offensive take on one of our proudest accomplishments as a nation -our dacehall culture- but it also does not make any excuses for pulling the superior card of american standard dialect. i am very proud of my jamaican heritage and feel sorry for anyone who cant take their nose out of the clouds long enough to realise that there is more to life than the "american way".
August 17, 2008
10:38 PM
Tracy-Ann Myers writes:
When did being patriotic become a crime? What is so wrong with supporting your fellow country-man? This poor child who wrote this blog obviously did not learn that there are different types sociolinguistic labels on the language register, (to each country its own), starting from the bottom of each country's veracular dialect which is basilect, then mesolect and the post-creole advancement acrolect. Probably this is my mistake:I saw the sports category and assumed that it would have been about sports and not how Jamaican's speak. Well we still kicked your ass in that race so suck it up you sore loser! By the way you are a loser for bashing a culture that you know nothing about.
August 18, 2008
10:49 AM
E. Washington L. writes:
I almost feel there's a sort of innocence in the writing. Maybe, maybe not. I just hope the writer of this blog is able to see how this is offensive, and not immediately get defensive due to the sharp comments being made against him/her.
"I'd be inclined to call Elephant Man's quotes gibberish, but check out this interview with him. His syntax isn't exactly Shakespearean.
Also of note: Puma..." So wait, the first comment was something "of note"? If you read Jamaican literature, you will find that there are pieces written to 'reflect' the dialect, and then there are those that follow the "standard American English". Keep in mind, [American] English, is a far cry from proper English.
It doesn't make me mad, it makes me sad because I have an understanding of what it takes for something like this to come from another person (likely unconsciously).
The line
"I'd be inclined to call Elephant Man's quotes gibberish, but check out this interview with him."
makes me feel like the writer wasn't trying to talk down to Elephant man's speech . . . until it was followed up with "His syntax isn't exactly Shakespearean." I think that combination may have really set the tone in a way that you/the writer may not have intended.
That's just my observation(s).
August 18, 2008
7:48 PM
Dan Oshinsky
writes:
A quick response to those who were upset at initial post:
I don't think we've focus group tested the Olympic Blog's readership yet, but I do not believe that our core audience is wholly familiar with the style of music that Jamaicans call dancehall.
So with this post, and any post here in the blog, my purpose is twofold:
1. To bring you news about the Olympics.
2. To bring you stories about the Olympics that are unusual or, in some cases, absurd.
The initial post was not meant as a swipe at Jamaicans or their regional dialects, and I won't get into the relative merits of standard written English vs. other dialects of English. I also won't discuss whether or not is the job of journalists to "clean up" language from sources whose grammar doesn't fit the AP's stylebook.
What was intended was to show that a popular Jamaican musician had endorsed one of the country's runners in that night's race, but that he had done so with quotes that -- as seen above -- needed some translation to be fully understood by those who do not speak Elephant Man's dialect.
The way he is quoted in the article is definitely obscure and unlike I've ever seen in a Western newspaper. The YouTube links were intended for those who were hearing about Elephant Man at the first time and had not yet heard him speak. I think that actually hearing his accent and dialect goes a long way toward understanding how a sentence like "What will they have left for the race?" can turn into "Weh dem ago run pon den?"
One more thing:
When Americans say or do strange things about the Olympics, we're obligated to point them out too. The blog does not discriminate against the unusual or absurd.
Apologies to those who were offended. None was intended.
Thanks for your comments and your criticism. I appreciate the feedback.
August 27, 2008
3:15 PM
Devi-Ann Smith writes:
I'm a fellow Jamaican! Elephant Man was not speaking gibberish, it was just that his dialect is like that. We speak patois in Jamaica. Here's a little message: Some a unno jus a hate pon wi but wi a di best rite now!
September 6, 2008
9:43 AM
proud jamaican writes:
this is nonsense.. if jamaican grammner was so bad why is it jamaican teachers are recruited by american and english school system.. we love our patios we speak in it but we dont write in it ..
April 2, 2010
10:31 AM
netbooks reviews writes:
Good day, do you have a Twitter page that I may follow? Bless you
May 13, 2010
12:57 AM
Hip Hop Producer writes:
Antagonists often announce that rap & hip hop music is offensive to many groups of people. I will agree that unfortunately these are sometimes true with certain varieties of hip hop. The fact is that so many artists out there are in the industry simply for the love. These artists are not “sellouts” that are only in the industry for the money and fame. Also, there are many artists out there in the hip hop world that promote positivity As time goes on hip hop culture is integrating many different racial and ethnic groups. It is now socially acceptable for people of all races to enjoy the many aspects of hip hop. Hip hop was spurred in the late 70’s. The man credited as being the first rapper ever, DJ Afrika Bambataa, was the first to “talk” to his music. His unorthodox style quickly became very popular in the disco and funk clubs. For the lack of a better word, "rap” was the term given to the music. As more and more rappers came about, the term MC, or Master of Ceremonies, was associated with rappers. Break dancing actually originated a few years prior to DJ Afrika Bambataa. Break dancers (B-Boys and B-Girls), would dance during the breaks in the music while steady beats were played.
August 16, 2010
12:14 PM
ufc 118 livestream writes:
penn smack- he didn't win the first fight. i hope frankie takes him out this time
September 6, 2010
4:29 PM
Scot Marchi writes:
Awesome beats dude. I've been working on kick ass beats for my album
October 28, 2010
1:19 PM
Engleza incepatori writes:
Va propun un site gratuit de invatat limba engleza ,cu materiale audio si peste 800 de lectii
May 11, 2011
12:39 PM
Kevin Dominguez writes:
this was offensive..THAT WAS THE ACCENT..hmmmm tsk2 people should respect other people's culture and dialect.
November 14, 2011
7:23 AM
John Rodriguez writes:
As an American who married to a beautiful women that was born and raised in Kingston Jamaica
i will only say that i really can't write what I'm feeling right now after reading your post Dan
I will only say that you're dead wrong and I hope that u will recognize your mistake
Good luck to u
J
November 29, 2011
7:28 AM
phen375 reviews writes:
GREAT POST
ELFANT U ARE THE BEST AND DONT LISTEN TO NO ONE
DUDE!!!!!!!