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- i
- I'm, I am
- Ibo
- icening
- icening sugar
- icicle
- idle bob
- if
- if God spare my life; if God give life
- Igbo
- ignorance
- ijittimy
- Ilathera
- ill-convenient
- in
- in quest
- in-a
- in-and-out
- Inagua
- Indian arrowroot
- Indian corn
- Indian spinach
- ingranant
- inherit
- Injun
- ink bush
- ink-berry
- insertion
- inside
- instead
- intelligent
- interbreed
- into
- Irish potato
- iron
- iron critter
- iron taw
- iron-rubber
- ironing stove
- is (1)
- is (2)
- is (3)
- island
- island bean
- island boy (girl, man, people); islander
- island grits
- islandish
- it
- it is
- itch
Tags
Definitions starting with I
is (2)
/is/ introducer 1. [Atlantic; although lexically derived from a contraction of it is, the source of the syntactic function is Proto-Creole *da or *na; cf. Twi na idem (Alleyne 1980:89); cf. A2, DA3, THA'S1, LE'S ] highlighter: Is now where you does find we corn coming (Shilling 1977). 1954 Thank you. Is true (Crowley 227). 1966 Is funny name (Crowley 82). Hey man, i's like this: this mines an you ain't get none, so hands off (Nassau). Is all my generation live round here (Andros). (Black)
2. [lexically derived from is before a subject to indicate question word order, converging with the syntactic function of African sentence-initial question markers, e.g. Mandinka kóri or Yoruba njé (Holm 1978:245); cf. AIN'T', UN] question marker: Is your name is dilly tree? (Andros). 1940 Is you buzz? (Dupuch 120). (Black)
3. [cf. IT IS] there is (are, was, were): 1966 Once upon a time, you know, is two men (Crowley 100). 1977 Is only one big boss, you know (Shilling 35). You can't go barefeet there—is too much biting ants (Nassau). (Black)
Tags: grammar, introducer
Related entries: -
Author: Holm and Shilling, DBE, 1982
Revision: 1.0
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