English is the official language of Jamaica.

Patois ("pat-wah"), which is a combination of the African languages twi and kwa but based on the English language, is generally used in informal speech.

Answer:

Although English is now the official language of Jamaica, most citizens possess the ability to speak a strong underlying local language that represents the country's multicultural and multi-ethnic history. Jamaica is also well known for a patois or pidgin language spoken by 90% of the residents and formed as a result of 500 years of intermingling languages. Jamaicans refer to the language as "Jamaican Patois." The development of the patois stems from the English and Spanish colonization and enslavement of people from many countries in West Africa, and forced labor of people from India and China, and the indigenous native Arawak (Taino) people.

Patois is a French term meaning "very local language." Jamaican patois is spoken by most Creoles of Jamaica. The term, creole, was originally applied to descendents of Europeans born in colonies in order to separate them from high ranking well-to-do citizens of the mainland, either of European or mixed ethnicity and race. Jamaican patois is derived from old English (British, Irish, and Welsh English), Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Tamil, Arawak, and the tribal dialects of numerous West African nations.

While followers of the Rastafarian religion also speak a version of Jamaican patois, the groups' longstanding residency and isolation in the high mountains of Jamaica has created a separately evolved version of the dialect that incorporates terms of the native languages of Ethiopia, Amharic and Ge'ez. The Rastafarian movement initiated by Marcus Garvey follows a combination of Semitic beliefs and the principles and philosophies of Ras Tafari Makonnen who was crowned king of Ethiopia in 1930. It is reported that upon coronation, Makonnen claimed the titles of "Emperor Haile Selassie (Power of the Trinity) I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God and King of the Kings of Ethiopia."

It must be noted that unless the intent is to fully insult a citizen of the country, Jamaicans do not speak "Rastafari" as this is NOT a language, and should not be used as a general term. Followers of the Rastafarian religion constitute less than 7% of the country's population.

Jamaica prides itself on not mixing politics and religion and does not claim an official religion of the country. Citizens enjoy the freedom of religion in the privacy of their own homes and religious dwellings. The majority of the population is Catholic, followed by Episcopal, Methodist, Baha'i, Seventh Day Adventist, Jewish, Hindi, Islam, and others. A true melting pot.

Jamaican's Speak ' Jamaican Creole ' But Not All People speak it ... && Trust Me They SERIOUSLY dont be saying ' MON ' ! Some people prefer to speak ' Enqlish ' Than Creole / Patois . '!!

English is Jamaica's principal language.

Answer

English is the official language. However, locals typically speak Jamaican "Patois" (pronounced "patwah") which is a combination of (mostly) English, along with the African languages Twi and Kwa.

All official business is done in English, and most locals know and speak Patois (very few don't). Less educated Jamaicans know only Patois, but more educated Jamaicans are fluent both in English and Patois. Some upper class Jamaicans will look down on Patois, while others just see it as appropriate in certain arenas, and inappropriate in others, where only or mainly English is appropriate.

Patois has not been standardized, though many are attempting to standardize it, and to have it taught in schools [some primary/ elementary level experimental schools use it now - English is taught in these schools as a second language, and it is easier to learn that way.

The Bible book of Luke is now translated into Patois {audio and print}, and the whole New Testament is being translated now, too]. The words that have been used in print vary in spelling from location to location (e.g. "kyaan" or "kaan" or "cyaan" or "caan" or *kyaah" or "kyaa" are variant spellings for the Patois version of "can't.").

Most Jamaican Patois words are English-based, but words such as "nyam" for "eat" are African-based. The exact accent and the pronunciation of most Patois words vary somewhat from parish to parish across Jamaica (just as different states in the USA have a variation in speech and accent), and experts can usually tell which parish someone is from by the accent (e.g. the Kingston drawl vs the more hurried speech in Western Jamaica).

English is the national language, but when most people think of "Jamaican", they are thinking of the dialect known to Jamaicans as Patois (and to linguists as Jamaican Creole, not to be confused with Haitian Creole). It is heavily based in English thanks to the history of British rule, but has influences from western African languages due to slavery. Although the Spanish ruled the lovely island nation before the British did, it appears their influence remains mostly in the names of cities such as Ocho Rios and Spanish Town.
Jamaica's official language is English.

english

English, at least the people did when I went there.
Officially English

informally we speak patois
patwa or broken English
Creol is the native language of Jamaica.
English.
According to Jamaica Guide.com, "While the official language of Jamaica is English, native islanders typically speak in a regional patois, which is a combination of Spanish, English, and assorted African tongues."
jamaicans speak "patois" (patwaw) NOT CREOLE !!
spainish
The primary language in Jamaica is English.
English is the official language of Jamaica.

Patois ("pat-wah"), which is a creole combination of the African languages twi and kwa but based on the English language, is generally used in informal speech. But Patois has no official status.
No. Jamaica has only one official language, which is English. It also has a National language, called Jamaican Patois.
JAMACIAN
Patoi
jamiacans speak English they have an accent

jamiacans speak English they have an accent
Jamaicans speak mostly English
Jamaican people speak English officially.