Lise Winer

The Dictionary of the English/Creole of Trinidad & Tobago is the first scholarly dictionary of the varieties of English and English Creole spoken and written in the twin-island Caribbean nation of Trinidad & Tobago. It contains over 12,200 full entries, with numerous cross-references. The dictionary is an indispensable reference for all the people of Trinidad & Tobago, wherever they may live; for linguists, literary and cultural studies scholars and students, translators, and historians. More than 2,500 entries for flora and 2,000 for fauna also make this an essential reference work for anyone interested in the rich and unique natural history of the country.

The linguistic history of Trinidad & Tobago is a complex one, with contributions from languages of many groups including Amerindians (Carib, Arawak), Europeans (Spanish, French, English, Portuguese), Africans (Kikongo, Ewe, Yoruba), Chinese (Cantonese, Hakka), and Indians (Bhojpuri, Urdu), as well as the English and French Creoles of immigrants from elsewhere in the Caribbean. Wherever possible, words are traced to their source languages.

The DE/CTT includes definitions, etymologies, pronunciations, spelling variants, and an abundance of citations of usage including the earliest known usage for individual items. Citation sources include not only written, but recorded and oral language. This wealth of information, including cultural and social context, is often not found easily elsewhere.