Bahamian English is English spoken in The Bahamas and by the Bahamian people. The standard for official use and education is largely British-based with regard to spelling, vocabulary, and pronunciation. However, Bahamian English also contains a unique pronunciation system and certain vocabulary, along a scale with the local Bahamian (Creole) dialect. Moreover, perceptions of a standard are more recently changing toward American English; in particular, 21st-century news-industry and younger Bahamian speakers are often more influenced in their pronunciations by General American English or sometimes even African-American Vernacular English.

Pronunciation

The phonology of Bahamian English is believed to be derived from those of Bermudian English, Cockney English, RP, Scottish English, African-American Vernacular English, and Gullah. The English accent of both Black and White Bahamians is traditionally non-rhotic, due to being British-influenced, but often now rhotic among some younger speakers. Bahamian vowel phonetics are basically shared with both General American English and British Received Pronunciation, except the following may be distinct: There is little or no distinction between the and sounds in Bahamian English. The contrast is often neutralized or merged into, or , so village sounds like , or. The final example is especially common among White speakers. This also happens in Vincentian, Bermudian and other Caribbean Englishes. The cheer-chair merger of vowels is common, combining certain vowels before. Dental fricatives are usually changed to alveolar plosives (th-stopping): The sound is often inserted into words that are not spelled with the letter H, leaving "up" to be pronounced as. However, it is also frequently dropped from words that are spelled with an H, so "harm" is left to be pronounced as. The sibilant fricatives and may be devoiced and pronounced as and respectively.

Grammar

The grammar is not so different from the US ( as per Zaka ). When emphasizing a word in Bahamian English, it is common to repeat it. (the car was going fast → the car was going fast fast) The past participle is not indicated using the verb "have" in Bahamian English. Instead, it is indicated with the verb "be", especially among white speakers. (I have already washed the clothes → I am already washed the clothes) It can also be omitted and replaced by "done", with the verb left in its present-tense form. (I done wash the clothes) This practice is common among both white and black speakers. For some speakers (particularly black speakers), the present progressive is written using the present participle preceded by "does be" (I does be washing the clothes). Among white speakers, it is more common to just use "be" when talking in the third person. (They be washing the clothes) The possessive indicator ' s is often omitted. Questions retain the same syntax as statements; the subject and verb do not switch their positions. (What is she doing? → What she is doing?) Thus, the use of "ain't" is highly important to distinguish an interrogative sentence from a declarative sentence.

Vocabulary

Much of Bahamian terminology is derived from British English, West African languages, and Spanish, due to the country's colonial past. Bahamian English has also come under the influence of American English due to a boost in tourism after the country gained independence, along with the resulting diffusion of American media. Some distinctive Bahamianisms include: