St. Martin Talk took about three years of research and writing but the words and terms include those he heard as a child from his father, said author Robert Romney here on Tuesday, June 14.
Romney was speaking about his new book to a full house of about 60 book party guests in the conference room at the University of St. Martin (USM). While stressing that St. Martin Talk is not a dictionary, he pointed out that the slim volume is a useful guide to students, teachers and the average readers about how culture and material conditions of a people are expressed in language. Romney kept his audience in good humor, even having the audience complete sentences and phrases that he began reading from his book. An educator based in Guadeloupe since 1972, Romney made a few references about the discrimination in Guadeloupe against St. Martiners because of the way they speak and other cultural features. The author encouraged St. Martiners to be proud of their culture. He said that the idea for St. Martin Talk was sparked a few years ago at the airport in Trinidad when he bought a book of "Trinbagonese" words and phrases. He thanked his publisher House of Nehesi (HNP) and Dr. Rhoda Arrindell for pushing him to develop the book beyond the snapshot variety. Tuesday’s book party was organized by HNP and the St. Martin Book Fair Committee.