Spanish is not the only language spoken in Colombia: In the Caribbean archipelago of San Andres and Providencia, its people speaks Creole. The Creole of San Andres and Providencia, also known as Bende or Islander Creole English, is an English-based creole language primarily spoken by the Raizal population of the archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina, which belong to Colombia.
Although similar to the Creole spoken in Bluefields and Mosquitia in Nicaragua, the Province of Limon in Costa Rica, and the provinces of Bocas del Toro and Colon in Panama, San Andres Creole has its own characteristics that make it truly special.
The origins of Colombia’s San Andres creole
The linguistic history of the archipelago is marked by a series of dominations and influences: initially frequented by the Miskitu indigenous peoples, the islands were colonized by the English in the early 17th century, particularly by Puritans from Barbados and England, followed by the arrival of African slaves, mainly brought from Jamaica starting in 1633. The Spanish later claimed sovereignty over the islands, officially recognized by the Treaty of Versailles in 1783, though British presence and commercial ties with Jamaica persisted.
The San Andrés Creole likely developed during the second half of the 18th century, from a blend of the English of the colonists, various African languages (notably Twi, Ewe, Kwa, Igbo, Mende, Mandinka), and to a lesser extent French and Spanish. After the abolition of slavery in 1853, migrations between the archipelago and the Caribbean coast of Central America further strengthened the ties with other English-based creoles in the region.
Characteristics of the Islander Creole English
One of the most notable characteristics of Creole is its vocabulary, which has its roots in English. However, this language has evolved over time and has incorporated 7 to 10 percent of loanwords from Spanish, French and African languages.
The phonology of the creole shares vowels and consonants similar to English but has its own characteristics.
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One of the most interesting grammatical features is the use of the auxiliary “wen” (benmen) to indicate past tense, adding depth to the temporal structure of sentences. Additionally, the auxiliaries “beg” and “mek” are used at the beginning of sentences to indicate request or permissiveness, serving as modal markers for the sentence.
The Creole also uses modality markers placed before the verb, adding nuances to communication. These markers can indicate probability, future, obligation, potential, or desire, allowing for rich and nuanced expression.
Another interesting feature is the presence of twelve aspect markers preceding the verb, enabling the expression of a wide range of meanings related to the duration and nature of an action. This grammatical structure enriches storytelling and communication in San Andres Creole.
A cultural exception
In San Andres and Providencia, San Andres Creole is an official language alongside Spanish, as established by the 1991 Constitution of Colombia. Today, around 20,000 to 30,000 people speak the San Andrés Creole and most of its speakers are trilingual, as they also speak English and Spanish.
Throughout history, English has remained present in churches for Bible reading, religious services, and choirs, while the presence of mainland immigrants and economic, political, and administrative activities has promoted the use of Spanish, which is fluently spoken by the raizal youth. However, schools and satellite television have contributed to a resurgence in the use of the local Creole among natives.
San Andrés Creole is much more than a language; it reflects the cultural, historical, and linguistic diversity of San Andrés and Providencia, contributing to the incredible richness of Colombian culture.