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Right throughs, rings and taws: Marbles terminology in Trinidad and Tobago1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2009

Lise Winer  and
Hans E. A. Boos
Lise Winer
Affiliation:
Department of Linguistics, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901
Hans E. A. Boos
Affiliation:
Emperor Valley Zoo, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
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Abstract

Marbles games (“pitch”), perhaps the most widely played of all traditional boys' games in Trinidad and Tobago, have declined precipitously in the last two decades. This article documents close to 200 marbles terms found in Trinidad and Tobago English Creole. Although most are British in origin, there are East Indian, French Creole, and possible African influences on this lexicon. An analysis of the discourse of marbles talk in its sociocultural context was prompted by its high affect for men who had played pitch as boys. Using frameworks from the sociology of games and from studies in language and gender, marbles talk is shown to demonstrate features of ”masculine“ gender-linked use of language and games, including highly elaborated rules and strategies, and competitive and confrontational use of language. (Caribbean, change, Creole, discourse, games, gender, marbles, obsolescence)

Type
Research Article
Information
Language in Society , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , March 1993 , pp. 41 - 66
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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