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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Nadine White

What a viral speech in Ireland reveals about colonial history and Caribbean English

Thomas Gould celebrating being re-elected
Thomas Gould celebrating being re-elected in 2024. He said he was overwhelmed by the response from Jamaicans to a speech he gave in January. Photograph: Jacob King/PA

When the politician Thomas Gould rose to speak in the Irish parliament recently, few expected a lesson in colonial linguistics.

Yet clips of his speech began circulating online last week, with some viewers saying he sounded unmistakably Jamaican. The reaction was animated, particularly among Jamaican heritage communities.

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