"Whay yuh tink use'a goin'? Translates to “Where are you are going?” English is the official language of the Bahamas. But they call it Bahamian English because of some “improvements” depending on your point of view. The “h” is often dropped, so it sounds like “ouse” for “house” or “t’anks” for “thanks.” For instance, if you hear “day clean” they mean “daybreak” and “first fowl crow” means the first cry a rooster makes in the morning. A very colorful language. This language is mixture of Queen’s diction, African influence and island dialect. There dialect and idioms were influenced by African slaves, English Puritans and other settlers. Because of this combination, you will hear a unique language found only on The Islands Of The Bahamas.
The word "Junkanoo" derived from an African slave master and trader named, "John Canoe" in the 17th century. These slaves were not allowed much freedom and would hide in the bushes when they had the chance. While in the bushes, they would dance and make music while covered in costumes that they made from various paints that they made and leaves that they found. This festival represented the slave's freedom from slavery.
The Bahamas has 29 islands, 661 cays, 700 atolls which only 30 to 40 are inhabited and 2,387 islets (rocks). It is located at the north-east of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean. It is northeast of Cuba, and northwest of the Turks and Ciaos Islands. Southeast of the United States of America, the nearest state is Florida. It has the total land area of 14,000 km². Bahamas capital is Nassau which is located at 25° 4’N and 77° 20’W on New Province.
The Bahamian economy is driven by tourism and financial services. Tourism and tourism-related construction and manufacturing provide an estimated 60% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Tourism directly and indirectly employs about half the Bahamian work force. In 2008, 4.6 million tourists visited The Bahamas, 85% from the United States. This was a 4.5% year-on-year decrease from 2007. There are about 110 U.S.-affiliated businesses operating in The Bahamas, and most are associated with tourism and banking. With few domestic resources and little industry, The Bahamas imports nearly all its food and manufactured goods from the United States. American goods and services tend to be favored by Bahamians due to cultural similarities and heavy exposure to American advertising.
