Subjective Reaction Test for Kingston, Jamaica

1
Subjective Reaction Test for Kingston, Jamaica

• developed 1990 by Peter L Patrick

2
Background

• This was part of a battery of language tests I
  developed for my PhD research on Jamaican Creole
  and Jamaican English as spoken in the capital
  city, Kingston.
• These tests use local cultural categories and
  information (regional stereotypes, pastimes,
  residential areas, jobs, etc.)
• I administered it in Standard Jamaican English,
  but spoke at most other times in vernacular
  Jamaican Creole.

3
Spoken introduction

• I've made some recordings of people from
  different areas and backgrounds talking.
• I'm going to ask you to listen to them one by
  one, and try and judge the people from the way
  they talk alone.
• See if you can guess what kind of job they might
  hold, where they might come from, and so on.
  First, the job scale...

4
Job Scale

• Whats the best job you think this person could
  hold? from how they talk.
• 1 2 3 4 5
  6
• TV announcer best best best best
  best best
• Office manager - - -
  - -
• Accounting clerk - - -
  - -
• Factory foreman - - -
  - -
• Machine operator - - - -
  -
• Small shopkeeper - - - -
  -
• None of the above worst worst worst worst
  worst worst

5
Regional characteristics

• Where you think this person was born came up?
  Circle a, b, c, or d.
• 1 2 3 4
  5 6
• In the country a a a a
  a a
• Down in town b b b b b
  b
• Upper St.Andrew c c c c c
  c
• Foreigner/abroad d d d d d
  d

6
Cultural preferences

• How would this person spend their free time?
  Circle the best choice
• 1 2 3 4
  5 6
• DJ, sing w/set a a a a
  a a
• Tell Anansi story b b b b b
  b
• Uptown to plays c c c c
  c c
• Classical music/art d d d d d
  d

7
Neighborhood residence

• If they moved to your neighbourhood, where would
  this person probably live?
• 1 2 3 4
  5 6
• Mountain View a a a a
  a a
• Merrion/Langston b b b b b
  b
• Eden Gardens c c c c
  c c
• Owner or tenant? o/t o/t o/t o/t
  o/t o/t

8
Compatibility/Solidarity

• If you met this person, how well would they fit
  in with you and your friends?
• 1 2 3 4
  5 6
• Definitely Y Y Y Y Y Y
• Might fit y y y
  y y y
• Not sure ? ? ? ?
  ? ?
• Might not n n n n
  n n
• Not at all N N N N
  N N

9
References

• For further information on this study, see
• Patrick, Peter L. 1999. Urban Jamaican Creole
  Variation in the mesolect. (Amsterdam John
  Benjamins.)
• For the classic example of the test, see
• Labov, William. 1966. Social stratification of
  English in New York City. (Oxford Blackwell)