<P> English is the official language of the Bahamas . A vast majority of the population speaks Bahamian Dialect, which is a dialect of English intermediate between Standard English and Bahamian Dialect . There are some minor regional differences from island to island in terms of pronunciation, but generally all are the same . </P> <P> In Bahamian dialect, some African words and expressions have been retained, such as: </P> <Ol> <Li> yinna - you (plural) (Yoruba) </Li> <Li> nanny - (v.n.) - feces or the act of defecation (probably of Kongo origin, from the word nene, of similar meaning) </Li> <Li> cut eye - an expression found in many Caribbean and Atlantic creoles, meaning to glare, literally squint or' cut' your eyes / roll your eye </Li> <Li> Jumbay - ghost, related to the Kongo word nzumbi of similar meaning </Li> <Li> Yam - to eat, still in use in some southern and eastern islands, related to the African word nyam' </Li> <Li> Bey - meaning boy or a young boy or young lady </Li> </Ol> <Li> yinna - you (plural) (Yoruba) </Li>

From where did most of our bahamian customs originated