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Garífuna: the Birth and Rise of an Identity Through Contact

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Garífuna: the Birth and Rise of an Identity Through Contact GARÍFUNA: THE BIRTH AND RISE OF AN IDENTITY THROUGH CONTACT LANGUAGE AND CONTACT CULTURE A Dissertation presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy By MICHELLE ANN FORBES Dr. Flore Zéphir, Dissertation Supervisor MAY 2011 © Copyright by Michelle Forbes 2011 All Rights Reserved The undersigned, appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School, have examined the Dissertation entitled GARÍFUNA: THE BIRTH AND RISE OF AN IDENTITY THROUGH CONTACT LANGUAGE AND CONTACT CULTURE Presented by Michelle Ann Forbes A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy And hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. Professor Flore Zéphir Professor Emeritus Edward Mullen Professor Rangira Gallimore Professor Erick Blandón Professor Robert Baum Acknowledgements United States My most sincere thanks to the organizations that realized the importance of this study and whose funds supported me so that I could complete this dissertation project. Obtaining the Fulbright scholarship enabled me to live in Guatemala and include the voices of the modern Garífuna. The University of Missouri Chancellor‟s Dissertation Completion Fellowship allowed me to take a year off from teaching to concentrate solely on producing the best work possible. First, foremost and above all else, I thank my family who was there for me in every stage and in every word of this dissertation. Dad and Mom (Donald Floyd and Norma Joy Forbes) always had much more faith in my abilities than I did and constantly reminded me to keep strong and keep writing through the most difficult moments. My brother Marc, who would send me flowers and teddy bears along the journey to keep up my spirits will always be one of the most special people in the world to me. To my sister Monique (“You there?”) was there for me wherever I was in the world to listen, give advice, encouragement, and even a sentence when I was stuck for words! And my brother Michael (“we got a cool Black guy”), the first PhD in the family – thanks little brother for setting the first example! My favorite Aunt, Beryl Elaine Lodge-Harriott and my Uncle Bozie (Neville Lloyd Lodge) were there for me anytime I just felt like talking on the phone about nothing at all. I also extend many thanks to family in Jamaica, Canada, and England for always wishing me the best. I could not have asked for a more superior support system than my family. At the University of Missouri, I thank Flore Zéphir who is not only the best academic mentor on the planet, but who was my “big sister” when I needed her. Flore was the giant on whose shoulders I stood to complete this work and although she had a large role to play in the editing and clarification of its structure, any misinterpretations or mistakes are purely mine alone. A great thanks is owed to the faculty who agreed to be on my dissertation committee: Ed Mullen, Jr., Rangira “Bea” Gallimore, Erick Blandón, and Robert Baum whose comments on this dissertation at my defense were extremely helpful. I would be remiss if I did not mention Kelly Maynard, who sparked my interest in contact linguistic studies, and Marvin Lewis, who in my first semester at Mizzou encouraged me to continue to study linguistics and to apply this knowledge to Garífuna studies. The final two months of writing were the most difficult – literally speaking if you know how I work in my office. There were some very special people who constantly came by my office to make sure that I wasn‟t having a breakdown or going crazy and for that I am very grateful: Mamadou Badiane, Tomaz Cunningham, Matthew Dye, Enrique Muruato and Nancy Molavi. Wendy McBurney and Carlos Mendez were incredible sources of strength when I needed to walk away from my desk and vent, take tea and scones, or even eat at El Maguey. Thank you Pam Myers, Mary Harris and Marcia Reeves for ii tolerating my nonsense talk and wild eyes when I would leave my office after hours of reading and writing. And Delores Fisher, thank you so much for your kindness and patience when I had my Inter Library Loan books out too long. To Mizzou colleagues whose continued support was greatly appreciated: Linda Keown, José Carreño, Antoine Matondo, María Taub, Hilda Fennell, Monica Marcos Llinas, Ann Menshouse Samarasekera, Dena Faith, Maritza Navarro, Jenny Zelaya, Nicole Price, Tyra Lewis, Michelle Anderson, Michel Man and Lorena Medrano. To Francisco Lopez Delgado who meant the world to me, you were taken away from this earth much too soon. Rest in peace, pilluelo. Guatemala City Antes que nada le quiero dar las gracias a Andrés Álvarez Castañeda, Director del Departamento de Antropología y Sociología de la Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. Andrés se dio cuenta de la importancia de esta obra y me apoyó con el Departamento del Estado de los Estados Unidos para que pudiera ir a hacer los estudios en Guatemala. También a Bani Uziel López Álvarez del Instituto de Educación Básica y Diversificada por Cooperativa Cabricán. Me siento orgullosa de haber sido la primera persona de color para visitar la escuela (pues y el pueblo también), muchas gracias por invitarme. Cómo olvidar a Nery Rámos Pérez quien se prestó a ayudarme a buscar en dónde vivir en la ciudad capital y la bondad de su esposa que siempre me llamaba a ver si iba bien. También a Lic. Fernando “el guanaco” Gonzalez quien me ayudó a buscar en dónde vivir en Livingston durante una época de calor insoportable. Yo hubiera estado totalmente perdida sin la ayuda de ellos. Del Archivo General de Centro América, agradezco mucho la ayuda de Raul Kroell y de Jorge Castellanos por su paciencia conmigo todos los días. Marvin Gómez, donde hay vida, hay esperanza. Nunca dejaré de amarte. Livingston Labuga, yin lubéi nasubudirie Tomas Sánchez furumieti weyasu kai buri dîsi irumu guen le, ligia meha araudüahabei iñeñe Garifuna lau sun héchun Garinagu nun, ligia tima numadabei. Giarati hamuga abürüdü aba güarüdia lau le nafurenderubei lumaguein. Haniemeti lidaragunina Tomas Labuga, afanrienhati lida igundani le nasugurubei lidan nibagari, iñaguwa kai numada uguñe weyu, owembu seremein lun Juan Carlos Sánchez, luagu laraini, ídahati lida ligirunina lun nabürüha luagu Marco Sanchez Diáz le abeichubali Labuga. Inebetiña Garinagu ha lubaña niridagunia, adugatiña saragu nuwagu de le naganobei Labuga irumu biama milu nefu (2009): Román Ávila, Berta Engleton, Richy Martínez, Kevin Flores, Mariano Gotay, Fermin Arzú, Blanca Álvarez. Memegiñe owembu seremein hun sun Garinagu ha aurenchubalin habenari nuba, idaragualumutina saruga ya ubauwagu. Nasierubei Marco “Nekis” Bonilla abulieida hadagiñe Garinagu Labugana ha aganubaña Los Angeles, iñurahalumuti nuwani luagu labürüha nu lau gangamuru lumagiñe nasubudiruni lidan furumiati hati. Ayahen sun Garinagu lida nisami lau abürühanei le, agurabatina lun harebisirunei Áhari. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. ii List of Figures .................................................................................................................... ix Abstract ............................................................................................................................... x Chapter One ........................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 The Origins of the Garífunas: Tripartite Cultural Structure........................................... 2 Garífuna identity ....................................................................................................... 6 Methodology ............................................................................................................. 8 Challenges for the researcher .................................................................................. 11 Historical accounts and archival records ................................................................. 13 Linguistic problems ................................................................................................. 13 Livingston: A Garífuna community ............................................................................. 15 Explanation of terms .................................................................................................... 17 Arawak language family ......................................................................................... 19 Carib language terminology .................................................................................... 21 Brief explanation of the chapters ................................................................................. 23 Chapter Two...................................................................................................................... 26 Proto-Garífuna (1492-1635) as a Foundation for the Garífuna Language ................... 26 History of the Garífuna Language ........................................................................... 41 The Creation of Proto-Garífuna Language .............................................................. 44 Arawak linguistic history ...................................................................................... 44 iv Carib and “Island Carib” linguistic history ........................................................... 53
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