#3509: Re: #3503: DeGraff explores Grey's LINGUISTIC arguments on "Culture Vulturis... Grey replies

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From:Racine125@aol.com

<< Errors abound here:
 
 In Haitian Creole, "Mambo" should be written "manbo"   --- according to 
Haitian
 Creole orthography. >>

Incorrect.  The word Mambo is not pronounced with an "n" and is not written 
so in Creole.
 
 <<In Haitian Creole, "Racine" (= "roots") should be written "rasin" ---
 according to Haitian Creole orthography.
 
 In Haitian Creole, "sans" (in the sense of "without") should be written
 "san" --- again, according to Haitian Creole orthography.>>

I have already pointed out repeatedly that my first initiatory Houngan wanted 
me to write my name in French, NOT Creole.

<< As for the syntax, "... sa te la daginen" does not seem to obey any rule
 that I know of.  I've asked around to check whether this would belong to
 some less-known variety of Creole, to no avail.>>

This is a sacred name, DeGraff, it is not a sentence with a subject and a 
verb.
 
<<Bon manbo Rasin san bout ki te deja la, nan Ginen"  (please, note 
spelling)>>

See above.
 
<< Grey did intend the meaning "roots without ends".  >>

No, actually it was my initiatory Houngan who intended that meaning.  "Racine 
Sans Bout" is actually a rather common name among Houngans and Mambos, as is 
Sa Te La.

<<But Grey seems to not
 realize that Haitian Creole "sans", unlike French "sans", does NOT mean
 "without" (see above).>>

I wish you would read what I wrote.  I repeat that my initiatory Houngan 
intended me to write that phrase in French.  I freely confess that I do not 
speak or write French nearly as well as I do Creole.

Now, deGraff, I have to say that you seem to have a personal ax to grind.  
You know you are my neighbor?  I am right around the corner from you, in 
Roxbury.  Wanna do lunch?  :-)

Peace and love,

Bon Mambo Racine Sans Bout Sa Te La Daginen

"Se bon ki ra", 
     Good is rare - Haitian Proverb

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