What transfers between the two languages
- “Tink” for “think” and “dis” for “this” are predictable transfers, not speech errors.
- Kreyòl marks the past with “te” rather than an -ed ending, so a child may say “yesterday I walk.”
- Kreyòl places plural after the noun (“liv yo”), so “two book” is grammar transfer.
Difference or disorder?
If the same pattern appears in Kreyòl too — very few words, hard to understand in both — that points to a disorder. If Kreyòl is strong and only English shows the pattern, it is a difference.
About code-switching
Mixing Kreyòl and English in one sentence is expected in Haitian households and is a sign of two systems working, not confusion.
How we assess it fairly
We interview caregivers about Kreyòl use, sample language in both languages, and score English-only test items separately rather than counting transfers as errors.
Still unsure whether what you're seeing is typical?
Talk to the Care GuideThis tool provides educational guidance and does not replace evaluation by a licensed healthcare professional.