1. Understand the pronunciation of words in Rastafarian. Rastafarian survives as a spoken language, so pronunciation is very important when trying to speak Rastafarian.
In Rastafarian, you do not pronounce "h" in English words.
2. Learn the use of "I and I". In Rastafarian, "I and I", pronounced "eye an’ eye", is an important term.
3. Learn how to say "hello", "goodbye", and "thank you".
4. Understand the words "Rasta" "Jah Jah", and "dread."
5. Learn common Rastafarian words like "Babylon", "politricks" and "irie".
6. Understand the words for "man" and "woman". Rastafarian centers on the idea of oneness with everyone. So Rastas refer to people as their "Idren", a version of the English word "children."
7. Understand the use of positive words over negative words. Rastas replace words that have negative terms like "down" or "under" with "up"
or "out". For example:
Rastas will say "downpression" instead of "oppression". This is because "op" is Rastafarian for "up", so "downpression" indicates something is holding someone down.
Rastas will say "overstanding" or "innerstanding" instead of "understanding".
Rastas will say "outernational" instead of "international". This indicates the Rasta’s feeling that the rest of the world lies outside their realm or world.
8. Learn swear words in Rastafarian. There some unique sounding swear words in Rastafarian. They usually refer to bodily harm or bodily functions.
9. Practice saying "what’s up". In Rastafarian, you would greet a friend on the street by saying "Bredren, wa gwaan?"
The other Rasta may respond with: "Bwai, ya done know seh mi deya gwaan easy." This means: ""I’m here just taking it easy."
10. Practice asking someone where they are from. In Rastafarian, you would ask someone where they are from or where they were born by saying: "A weh ya baan?"
The other Rasta may respond with: "Mi baan inna Kingston", which translates to: "I was born in Kingston."
11. Learn how to say "see you later". A Rastafarian will end a casual conversation with:
"Yeh man, lickle more, seen?" This translates to: "Ok see you later."
The other Rasta may then respond: "Lickle more." This translates to: "For sure, see you later."
A conversation in Rastafarian may go something like this:
"Bredrin, wa gwaan?"
"Bwai, ya done know seh mi deya gwaan easy."
"Yes I, a so it go still. Not 'n na gwaan, but we a keep di faith, nuh true?"
"True. How de pickney dem stay?"
"Bwai, dem aright."
"Yeh man, lickle more, seen?"
"Lickle more."
The translation of this in English would be:
"What 's up, man?"
"Not much, just taking it easy."
"Yeah, that 's how it is. Times are hard but we have to keep the faith, isn't that right?"
"Yeah. How are your kids?"
"They're alright."
"Great,