Comments on: The Gullah Language

By: Mohamed Mansaray

Mohamed Mansaray — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:28:21 +0000

tThe gullahs have shown a test of courage and resistance. Long live the Gullah/ geechee

By: Michael Bruce

Michael Bruce — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:45:20 +0000

Please give some examples of the Gullah-Geechee language including if possible some grammatical rules so that I can see where the structure as well as the vocabulary differs from Standard English.

I am quite fascinated by the survival of this group, and would love to learn more.

By: admin ( Justin Nathanson)

admin ( Justin Nathanson) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:38:20 +0000

Karen, I think you are correct - I moved to Charleston from Brooklyn, NY 5 years ago, and when I first heard Gullah it felt extremely familiar....there is a tremendous Caribbean community in Brooklyn and I had been hearing similar dialects my entire life. This was one of the things that peaked my interest in doing this film, and in this culture. I think what most people who study language agree with is that there was (and is) in fact a true Gullah language that in which spawned a hundred different other dialects, and that the original, through time, can slowly dissipate as people dont need it, dont speak it, and dont hand it down. There are a myriad of reasons why - including other cultures who made them feel embarrassed. I truly think that time is just about behind us now - and the efforts now are in this restoring of Gullah pride which is very evident, living in Charleston, SC. Fortunately, and this I see just in the past 15 - 20 years, The Gullah language has been shared widely once again - spawned by earlier events like the Civil Rights movement but later with growth and development, the internet, PBS television, restored pride, and the official work from great organizations like the UN, the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, The Gullah Geechee Nation and Queen Quet, The Avery Research Center, The Penn Center, The Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival, sites that host and archive Gullah Videos, and a host of others. I am so pleased that my little documentary film "Bin Yah" is also a small part of this wider dialogue. We have Gullah spoken in "Bin Yah" by a few people, including an original poem, that was written by the storyteller and poet Fouche Sheppard. These are great ways to hear and share the language. -Justin Nathanson - Director, "Bin Yah: There's No Place Like Home" email: justin @ the cut company dot com

By: Karen Misick

Karen Misick — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 04:39:31 +0000

The Gullah language is not lost. In Turks and Caicos our local dialect sounds very similar to the dialect you mention above. In fact it is mentioned in our history that many loyalists left the carolinas and moved to the Turks and Caicos during the Aerican Revolution. Perhaps it would be helpful for you to begin researching our dialect for more cues and connection to this colorful dialect.

By: Andrea Westmoreland

Andrea Westmoreland — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:25:48 +0000

For the person making the previous comment, here is a link to a source of Gullah music:

http://www.amazon.com/Georgia-Island-Singers-Presents-Gullah-Geechee/dp/B000QAUOC8

By: Monique Williams

Monique Williams — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:32:59 +0000

I am in the process of writing a short story in which the mother of protagonist speaks Gullah and the father is Trinidadian…I am born and raised in Harlem, but I have family from Savannah Georgia. I still have my work cut out for me and would just love to be directed to some sites that may give me some audio on the Gullah language.

Thank you in advance

Monique

By: voyd

voyd — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:43:30 +0000

Hi, i am doing some research on the Gullah language- I am wondering if you could direct me to some current info or stats as to how many people still speak the Language.

thank you.

By: M A Bullock

M A Bullock — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:54:26 +0000

Grandaughter is doing a state fair report for her school on So. Carolina and her main focus in on Gullahs. We have tried to find info in TN or some music but to no avail. I love this sight

By: Alice McCann

Alice McCann — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:34:28 +0000

I am glad to see hopefully a growing interest in the Geeche People and the Gullah language. Thank you for making this site so people friendly. Can someone email me about the origin of the Geechee name as does it relate to a place in Africa?
Does anyone know if the people originated from Haiti? Thank you, Alice McCann
P.S. Does anyone know if there are Sabbath keepers who know the name Yah on the island?

By: Robert Rozier

Robert Rozier — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 05:35:22 +0000

I am a Columbia, SC native and I love this site.

I am currently a student at the University of South Carolina and majoring in Anthropology and Media Arts with a focus on Visual Anthropology.

I have often thought about creating a documentary on the Gullah people and their language.

I hope and pray that this culture and this language never die out, and I believe that documentaries such as this one help preserve such rich and important parts of heritage.

Thank you.

Robert Rozier
opngate@gmail.com
ROZIERR@mailbox.sc.edu