Accent v. Dialect v. Language

Accent = the way words are pronounced. Two people can speak the same language with different accents.
Dialect = a variety of a language, with its own vocabulary, grammar, and expressions shaped by history and community.
Language = a complete system of communication, with unique structure, rules, rhythm, and worldview.

For too long, most Caribbean languages have been mislabeled as “dialects of English.” This framing comes from colonial history and a lack of academic attention, not from the linguistic reality. When linguists began studying Jamaican, Trinidadian, Guyanese, Barbadian Creoles and others in depth, the truth became clear: these are languages in their own right.

The challenge is that resources — dictionaries, teaching systems, formal recognition — haven’t been invested at the same scale as European languages. That’s why tools like this guide matter. They don’t just help with performance; they contribute to the recognition and respect of Caribbean languages as full systems of communication, carrying culture, identity, and history.