There is a question many Anguillians have been asked at least once in their lives: “Where you from?”
For some, the answer comes easily. For others, especially those whose accents do not fit what people expect an Anguillian to sound like, the question often comes with a second layer of doubt.
It is a reality that surfaced during a recent episode of Bush Tea Chronicles podcast, where educators, writers and cultural advocates explored the deep connection between Anguillian language and identity. What began as a discussion about dialect quickly became something much bigger — a conversation about belonging, history, memory and what it truly means to be Anguillian in a rapidly changing world.
The discussion featured educator Vanessa Croft, teacher and poet Patsy Adams, and cultural advocate Rita Celestine-Carty alongside host, Nakishma Rogers, all of whom agreed on one central point: language is one of the strongest markers of Anguillian identity, but it is far from the only one.
For Adams, language sits alongside some of the island’s most recognisable symbols — from “The Rock” itself to the goats that have long become part of Anguilla’s cultural imagery. Celestine-Carty pointed to traditions such as salt picking and boat racing, reminding listeners that identity is built from generations of shared experiences.
Yet while many people think of culture in terms of major events and traditions, the panel suggested that identity is often found in the ordinary moments of everyday life. It lives in memories of eating roast corn; ground parched corn known locally as “sham”; drinking mauby bark beverages; roasting sea food such as whelks, conch and fish; and more. These seemingly simple experiences form a cultural language of their own — one instantly recognisable to those who call Anguilla home.
The discussion also touched on a reality familiar to many modern Anguillians: having one’s identity questioned because of the way one speaks.
Croft shared her experience of being born in the United States and moving to Anguilla at the age of 13. Despite spending most of her life on the island, she still speaks with an American accent, something that has occasionally led people to question whether she is truly Anguillian.
Her experience is one I can relate to. My own Anguillian accent is not as strong as many would expect, and I have often found myself explaining that I was born and raised in Anguilla. It is usually only after I mention spending a few years abroad that people seem to understand, but even then, there is often an assumption that I left the island at a young age or spent a significant portion of my life abroad. In reality, I spent my childhood, teenage years and early adulthood in Anguilla, and neither my accent nor my mannerisms have changed significantly since before I lived overseas. It is a reminder of how easily people can associate identity with the way someone speaks, even when their roots and experiences tell a different story.
But can identity really be measured by the way a person sounds?
The panelists argued that while language is an important cultural marker, identity runs much deeper than pronunciation.
At the same time, they stressed that Anguillian dialect deserves far greater respect than it often receives.
Croft challenged the long-standing perception that dialect is simply “broken English”. Instead, she described it as a legitimate language system with its own grammar, vocabulary and internal logic.
Examples shared during the discussion illustrated just how sophisticated that system can be. Whether it is the use of tone to turn statements into questions, the unique ways certain sounds are pronounced, or expressions that exist nowhere else in the English-speaking world, Anguillian dialect follows recognisable linguistic patterns developed over generations.
Words and phrases that may sound ordinary to local ears often carry cultural meanings that outsiders cannot easily understand. Terms such as “grung”, which refers to one’s land or farming property, reflect relationships with the landscape that have been passed down through generations. Other expressions such as “struck” and “duffel up” immediately evoke shared cultural understanding among Anguillians.
These are not random deviations from English. They are pieces of cultural history embedded within everyday speech.
The panel also explored how Anguillian language continues to evolve.
Today’s young people are growing up in a world shaped by social media, streaming platforms and constant global communication. Their speech naturally reflects those influences. Yet the speakers argued that this does not necessarily mean younger generations are abandoning their linguistic heritage.
Instead, they are adapting it.
Just as previous generations created new words and expressions, today’s youth continue to reshape the language in ways that reflect their own experiences. The result is not cultural disappearance, but cultural evolution.
Still, concerns remain about what could be lost if traditional words and expressions are not documented.
Both Adams and Croft spoke about ongoing efforts to preserve Anguillian language through dictionaries, linguistic research and educational initiatives. Adams discussed her work expanding Mouthspeeches, her collection of Anguillian words and expressions, while Croft highlighted the importance of documenting grammar and oral histories before valuable knowledge disappears.
Their concern is not simply about preserving vocabulary. It is about preserving memory.
Language carries stories. It records how people lived, worked, laughed, argued and survived. It contains traces of farming communities, fishing villages, boat builders, salt pickers and generations of families who shaped the island into what it is today.
The discussion also raised important questions about education.
Anguillian children were often encouraged to speak Standard English at school and in formal settings. Adams reflected on growing up during a period when speaking “proper English” was often associated with education and opportunity.
That belief still exists today, particularly among parents who want their children to succeed professionally.
However, embracing Standard English should not mean rejecting Anguillian dialect. Instead, students should learn both. Understanding the structure of their own dialect can actually strengthen their ability to master Standard English while allowing them to maintain a meaningful connection to their cultural roots.
Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from the conversation was the recognition that language is far more than a tool for communication.
It is a living archive.
Every unique pronunciation, every village expression and every piece of dialect poetry carries traces of the generations that came before.
As we continue to grow, welcoming new influences while navigating an increasingly globalised world, the way we speak will undoubtedly continue to change. That is the natural course of language.
What matters is that we recognise its value before parts of it disappear.
By Janissa Fleming
