Language

Haiti has two official languages—French and Haitian Creole. Yet only about 10% of Haitians can speak both languages fluently. Most speak only Haitian Creole, the nation's "mother language."

The use of Haitian Creole began aboard slave ships and the French plantations of Hispaniola. It blends the languages of West Africa with many French words. Over time, words from Spanish, English, and other languages have crept in as well.

Turning Haitian Creole into a written language didn't happen until well after independence. It took the constitution of 1987 to recognize it as the nation's second official language. (French was the first.)

Today many Haitian and Haitian American writers preserve their heritage by recording the Haitian Creole stories, songs, and proverbs handed down through the generations by word of mouth. Some popular proverbs include the following:

• Ti chen gen fos devan kay met li.
• "A little dog is really brave in front of his master's house."

• Bouch manje tout manje, men li pa pale tout pawol.
• "The mouth may eat any food, but should not speak on any subject."

• Fon sl dwet pa manje kalalou.
• "You cannot eat okra with one finger."

• Tanbou prete pa janm fe bon dans.
• "A borrowed drum never makes good dancing."

• Sak vid pad kanp.
• "An empty sack can't stand up."

• Kreyol pale, kreyol comprann.
• "Creole spoke, Creole understood."

What do these proverbs mean to you? Pick one of them, and illustrate your interpretation in the form of a poster.