Similarities and distinctiveness in vocabulary used to describe foods endemic to the region

Linguistic similarities and distinctiveness are seen in vocabulary for foods endemic to the region. In different countries different names and labels are used to denote the same referent. Some names are directly infuenced by the mixed linguistic heritage of the territories involved. For example, territories with a French linguistic influence, but Caribbean English borrows from myriad sources starting with the Amerindians, Spanish, Dutch, French, Portuguese, African ancestral languages, East Indians, Chinese, Americans, and of course the British English.

Names of some fruits and vegetables that are used across the Region.

1. Barbados- cashew, bolanger, spur pepper, red beans, ground nut, white eddo

2. Belize- maranon, berenjena, chilli duke, red kidney, cacahaute, cocoyam

3. British Virgin Islands-cherry, melongae, jumbie pepper, red bean, peanut, dasheen

4. Dominica- cashew, balangenes, Pimon toiseau, red peas, pistache, dasheen

5. Guyana- cashew, baigan, bird pepper, bisoloma, ground nut, slip & dip

6. Jamaica- cashew nut, garden egg, bird pepper, red peas, peanut, coco

7. Trinidad& Tobago- cashew, melongene, hot pepper, red beans, peanut, chinese eddo


Notice the difference in the names of the different fruits and vegetables that exist in the region.

Do you think you can add more fruits and vegetables to the list? If so see how many other fruits and vegetables you can find to add to the list.