During the last, well more than, five years, Gylchris Sprauve (St. Thomas, USVI) worked on revitilazation of Virgin Islands Dutch Creole, or, as it is called in todays articles ‘Carriols’. Years ago we started zooming on a weekly basis to write and compose a book for the people of the US Virgin Islands with new and eighteenth century dialogues and related historical texts and to find ways to introduce this language in today’s Virgin Islands society.
Gylchris Sprauve, being an enthusiastic musician, collected some of the earliest Creole hymns, from 1749-1782, to sing in recent Christmas services and accompanied these with information about the language for the interested audience. On this website I referred to his initiative a few times.
On the other hand, wouldn’t it be nice to introduce the language in day to day life of the US Virgin Islands? On for instance Curaçao tourist are immediately welcomed with a sign in Papiamentu, wishing them ‘Bon bini’, wouldn’t it be nice to show the ones on the USVI a sign saying ‘Wandu frai’ (Have a good trip), or something alike.
Only a few days ago, Gylchris Sprauve introduced Virgin Islands Dutch Creole words in the social media, which will hopefully be used soon be used. Perhaps first these words will be used as a gimmick, but hopefully it will learn the people of the US Virgin Islands something about the language which was common in the eighteenth, nineteenth and, although less used, even in the twentieth century.
(c) Gylchris Sprauve.
die creol taal 