Forro language.html



Forro is a Portuguese-based creole language spoken in São Tomé and Príncipe.

The name means "freed slave" in Portuguese. The language is also called crioulo santomense. It should not be confused with Santomense, the dialect of Portuguese spoken in São Tomé and Príncipe.

History

São Tomé is an island of the Gulf of Guinea, discovered by the Portuguese in the 15th century. It was uninhabited at the time, but Portuguese settlers used the island as a center of the slave trade, and there was a need for slaves in the island. Since both parties needed to communicate, a pidgin was formed. The substrate languages were from the Bantu and Kwa groups. This pidgin then became fixed (creolized) as it became the mother language of children born from Portuguese men and African women slaves. (Mixed marriages were then encouraged by the Portuguese Crown, for the sake of settlement.)

Later because of Dutch and French pressure to gain the island, many Portuguese settlers left. It must be remembered that children of Portuguese and black women were, eventually, not considered as African or slaves, some were considered as full right Portuguese citizens. Those mixed-raced that did not have the status of Portuguese, darker skin, often gained a "forro" declaration; because their Portuguese fathers did not want to enslave their children. Thus they gained the name "forro". The São tomean Creole is most known as "Forro"², language of the freed slaves or Crioulo Santomense, not to confuse Crioulo Santomense with Santomense (a variety and dialect of Portuguese in São Tomé and Príncipe). Portuguese is the main language for children until their early 20's, when they relearn Forro. The rich São Tomean culture also preserves a unique mixture of Portuguese and African cultures.

Features

Although the São Tomean Creole had (and still has) a restricted contact with Portuguese (seen as a prestigious language), it did preserve a larger number of the substrate languages elements, more than the Creoles of Cape Verde, that preserve fewer traces. Roughly 93% of São Tomean Creole lexicon is from Portuguese and 7% of African origin.

Classification and related languages

Forro is a creole language based on Portuguese, the superstrate language. The substrate languages were from the Bantu and Kwa groups. It is most similar to Principense, Angolar, and Annobonese.

Geographic distribution

Forro is spoken mainly in São Tomé Island (most of it); there are some speakers in Principe Island.

Dialects

Due to their great similarity, Principe Island's Principense and Equatorial Guinea's Annobonese may be regarded as dialects of Forro.

Vocabulary

Although the São Tomean Creole had (and still has) a restricted contact with Portuguese (seen as a prestigious language), it did preserve a larger number of the substrate languages elements, more than the Creoles of Cape Verde, that preserve fewer traces. Roughly 93% of São Tomean Creole lexicon is from Portuguese and 7% of African origin.

Although 95% of São Tomeans speak Portuguese; the islands' national language is Forro (spoken by 85%). Even though it does not have the prestige of the Portuguese language on the islands, it is evident that continuous contact with the large number Portuguese speakers did not destroy Forro, many relearn Forro when they become adults. The rich São Tomean culture also preserves a unique mixture of Portuguese and African cultures.

Writing system

There is no orthography, but the São Tomean government is already studying one, that is now being implemented.

Examples

Hello: Seja lovadu! (proposed: sejalovadu); From Port. seja louvado

Good Morning: Bom dja ô (proposed: Bondja o); From Port. Bom dia

Good Afternoon: Bos tadji ô (proposed: Boxtadji o); From Port. Boas tardes or Boa tarde

Good Evening: Boj notxi ô (proposed: Bojnotxi o); From Port. Boas noites or Boa noite

What's your name: Que nomi bo e? (proposed: Ke nomi bo e?); From Port. Que nome você tem?

My name's Pedro: Nomi mu sa Pedro; Possibly from Port. Nome meu é Pedro (somewhat incorrect Portuguese; only used in poetry).

Not everything is from Portuguese,

I live in Neves (São Tomean City): Nga-ta Tlaxa. (-ta is from "esta" and Tlaxa is from "praça")

Notes

External links

Look up Forro in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Sãotomense Ethnologue report on Sãotomense.
• Declaraçón Universal di Dirêtu di Hómé Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Forro