Rasta Dialect

Rasta’s are often trying to make their speech sound very powerful and grateful. The Rasta’s speech reflects how they often think literally.  Their speech uses a literal translation of words, just like their beliefs use a literal translation of biblical readings.  Their speech reflects their protest against oppression, as well as their protest against authority. When the Rasta’s speech is analyzed, it shows how the Rasta’s are always trying to think positively. The Rastafarian rhetoric changes the English language in a way that helps them make more sense of the world, as well as to protest against what the Rasta believe to be unjust. Rasta will often change word from a negative meaning to a positive meaning.  The changing of the word understand to “overstand” is an example of this. This is a great reflection on how the Rasta always sees things positively.