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Cultural Etiquette
Cultural Dos and Taboos
1. Most of the North American hand and facial gestures will be understood in Trinidad and Tobago.
2. Any sort of gender blurring (transexuality, cross-dressing, and overt homosexuality) is frowned upon (although not forbidden) in this somewhat conservative culture. Despite conservatism in regard to gender roles and homosexuality, conventional sexuality is a topic of frequent discourse and ribbing within social settings. Similarly, gentle ribbing and joking about weight and other bodily issues are considered typical (called "giving fatigue" in the local dialect) and should not be taken personally.
3. Discussions of religion, ethnicity, gender roles, and politics are all freely allowed in Trinidad and Tobago; in fact, locals enjoy participating in these (sometimes controversial) topics. Note that such discussions, especially within the context of social settings, are apt to continue for lengthy periods of time.
4. Because Trinidad and Tobago is a multicultural and multi-religious country, in almost all social contexts, attention should be given to dietary restrictions (i.e. Muslims and Jews do not eat pork, Hindus do not eat beef, Muslims fast during Ramadan, meats must be of the Hallal or Kosher variety for Muslims and Jews respectively), as well as predilections such as the removal of footwear before entering a Hindu home. For the most part, it is advisable that entertainment and gatherings be sensitive to multicultural and multi-religious participants.
5. Be sure to greet others upon arrival at a meeting or social event and say goodbye when exiting. The phrase “good night” is used both as a greeting and an exiting phrase; “Season’s Greetings” is not only text in a Christmas card but also the popular way of greeting people in the holiday season.
6. People generally nod or politely greet one another as they pass in streets and in hallways. Handshakes among business associates is customary, while cross-gender cheek kissing is normative in social and familial settings. Indeed, cross-gender cheek kissing is a traditional greeting for business associates and acquaintances, as well as friends and family in social environments. The Americanized "hug" is reserved for highly emotive and special moments, as a gesture of close relations between the "huggers."
6. More formalized forms of address is customary in Trinidad and Tobago. Titles or insignias denoting authority or rank, such as "Professor," "Minister," "Doctor," or "Mr." And "Mrs.," are almost always used, unless explicitly invited to do otherwise. Among friends, somewhat more familiarity is employed so that children of friends or associates do not refer to their parents' cohorts as "Mr." or "Mrs.," but rather, as Aunt or Uncle, whether or not there is a familial connection. While locals are cognizant of the Americanized tendency to use first names freely (i.e. “Just call me Frank"), the local conventions remain somewhat more formalized and traditional.
7. The same sort of attention to authority and designations is also attributable to written correspondence. Letters, faxes and emails must adhere to the strictest standards of tradition, even if personal relations may be more relaxed.
8. Although standard English, delivered in conservative style, is the language of everyday communication, many people also communicate in the local dialect, using colorful colloquial phrases to pepper their speech. Trinidadians and Tobagonians are not, at all, offended when visitors adopt these habits and will happily teach visitors how to use local phrases and terms.
9. Elbows on tables, feet on furniture (or anywhere other than the floor), are considered inappropriate reflections of "para-language" (or non-verbal communication).
10. Dining is Continental style with the fork steadfastly in the left hand and the knife in the right hand. Elbows should remain off the table and flatware should be placed in the four o'clock position when eating is finished.
11. When invited to someone's home, it is customary to take a gift. Flowers to the wife of a business associate and quality liquor to one's cohort are suggested gifts. Rum is plentiful in Trinidad and Tobago, making a bottle of imported vintage wine, sherry or port preferable. In the case of a Muslim associate, one might forgo the flowers (since gender roles are highly conservative among Muslims), and omit an offering of alcohol (since traditional Muslims do not drink), and take fine chocolates or some form of artwork instead.
12. Dress appropriately; although casual self-presentation is customary in Trinidad and Tobago, slovenly dress, a lack of footwear in public places, walking in public without a shirt, and beach apparel in any venue other than on the beach, is considered to be in very poor taste.
Cultural Considerations (written by a Trinidadian on Trinidad):
“Fresh water fish” vs. “salt fish” … The “salt fish” will be cognizant of the following –
1. Trinidad is conservative in some respects while being simultaneously liberal in other regards. Carnival is an example of the liberal, uninhibited, creative, and sometimes “wild” side of Trinidad. Yet at the same time, there are other more conservative and traditional aspects of Trinidadian culture. This is not limited to the major Catholic and Anglican churches, but also encompassing the political structure, aspects of the education system, and dictates personal interaction.
2. In verbal conversation, expect to be harassed and teased, even insulted. People will sometimes begin conversations by commenting on one’s appearance, which will invariably include how much weight has been gained or lost. Expect to be joked with and even made into the subject of the joke. The abuse is generally well-meaning and denotes familiarity and friendliness.
3. Trinidadians make up names for one another and those names can sometimes be insulting. A rather robust man can be referred to as Fatty John or Harry or Mike etc. A short person may be referred to as a “SAM” – the shortened term for “short ass Moses.”
4. Gossiping is part of the culture. Taken to the extreme, it is referred to as “mauvais langue” or “bad talking.”
5. Trinidad is not Barbados, or Antigua, or the Virgin Islands, or any of the tourist-type Caribbean islands where people are smiling happily and functioning in hospitable bliss with foreign nationals. Expect the opposite. Expect slow service, poor customer service, and occasionally, price-gouging of unsuspecting foreign nationals. This is the subterranean way of making it clear that colonialism is over. It is also a subtle reminder that Trinidad is to be distinguished from the rest of the touristy Caribbean. Expect scowling and “attitude” from Trinidadians reminiscent of New Yorkers.
6. One should also expect pushiness. Lines and queues may seem like mystery concepts to Trinidadians.
7. The “whine” is a lambada-style dance, which occurs at Carnival and at other social events. If approached to join in the “whining” and one is not receptive, smile and move away. The “whiner” will move in search of another – possibly willing – soul.
Language and Idiomatic Expressions:
In terms of language, there is a Trinidadian-Tobagonian patois (local bona fide language made up of African, Spanish, French and indigenous linguistic roots, now spoken mostly by elder members of the population); a dialect (of sorts) in Trinidad; and certain idiomatic terms and phrases using English words in conjunction with French or Spanish syntax. There are also words simply borrowed from other languages such as Hindi.
A sampling of terminology follows –
Bacchanal – wild party (see “fete” below); can also refer to an argument or dramatic altercation
Back back – to reverse; can also refer to a sexy dancing
Bazodee – crazy, confused
Bol’ Face – pushy
Boof – to chastise
Chupidee – a stupid person (from the dialectic term “chupid” which is related to stupid)
Crapo (crapaud) -- frog
Doo Doo (doux doux) – sweetheart, can also be used with darling as in “doo doo darling”
Doughtish – stupid
Eh eh – an explanation of surprise or indignation expressed to emphasize feeling
Fatigue – to “give fatigue” is to harass and insult another jokingly; it is similar to “picong” (noted below) and likely comes from the normal definition of fatigue as weariness or being tired. That is to say, the excessive amount of joking presumably tires out the recipient.
Fete – party
Lime – hang out; can also refer to loitering or partying
Maco – busybody (can also be used as a verb – to maco would be akin to minding other people’s business)
Make style – “to make style” is to show off
Mauvais Langue – literally means “to bad talk” and denotes speaking ill of someone
Picong – see “Fatigue” above
Teef – literally means ‘to thief” and denotes stealing or theft
Thick (pronounced “tick”) – means thickness in girth and refers to being somewhat overweight
Vex – vexed or angry
Wee – means yes, from French “oui” and is added at the end of sentences for emphasis
Local differences in syntax –
Someone might say that “it is making hot,” which denotes that the weather is hot. The phrase is a mixture of English words and French phraseology from “it fait chaud”.
Regularly, the words “her” or “his” will be replaced by “she” or “he” as in the case of the sentence “I went to she house but no one was there.”
Note also –
Trinidadians and Tobagonians regularly omit the pronunciation of “h” in words with “th”. Thus, “thick” is pronounced “tick” and “thing” is pronounced “ting.”
Trinidadians and Tobagonians make a sucking noise when they are frustrated or upset called a “steups.” The "steups” is a throwback form of expression derived from African slaves.
Local idiomatic expressions are exemplified by the following –
“Behind Gawd Back” – literally means behind God’s back and denotes great distance
“What sweet in the goat mout does sour in de bam bam” – literally means what tastes good to the mouth can become sour or foul later; denotes that what may seem good may not actually be good in the long run
“It need two hands to clap” – along the lines of “it takes two to tango”
“Crapo go smoke he pipe” – “crapo” is a disgusting frog; phrase is similar to the idiomatic expression “the fat lady sings” meaning that when the frog smokes – or the fat lady sings – it is all over
“Cat don’t make dog” – along the lines of “the apple does not fall far from the tree”
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