BAJAN

views updated Jun 08 2018

BAJAN, also Badian, Bajun. An abbreviation of Barbadian and the informal name for Barbadian Creole. Because British colonization started in 1627, Bajan is one of the earliest English-based CREOLES. The function of BARBADOS as a slavers' entrepôt for the Caribbean and North America made Bajan a contributor to the characteristics of such other creoles as GULLAH, JAMAICAN, and SRANAN. It has been so eroded by the spread of English that some scholars consider it better classified as a DIALECT than a creole. However, the presence of features similar to those of such conservative creoles as Jamaican allows its continued classification as a creole. See CARIBBEAN ENGLISH CREOLE.

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