Complex patterns of variety perception in the Eastern Caribbean

Abstract

This chapter presents the sociolinguistic situation in St. Kitts, an island in the Lesser Antilles of the Eastern Caribbean. St. Kitts is officially English- speaking, yet most of the population speaks a creole variety thereof in their everyday conversation. In this chapter, we first outline the history of the island and the current situation of language use in St. Kitts, as well as the typological differences between St. Kitts English and St. Kitts Creole. We then present a study of language attitudes among Kittitians toward their own as well as other Caribbean varieties and also the more metropolitan varieties of English, above all British and American English. The results show that even though Kittitians do appreciate their own variety of English, the metropolitan ones still carry the highest prestige.