Quick and Informal Play

This is the simplest way to play. If you would rather play the more official way, please read the Standard Rules. If you don't speak Jamaican, try the International Rules.
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Objective: Help people guess the Jamaican Word (no need for scoring)
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1. Hand cards to people around the room
2. Say to them: "It's time to be Speaky Spokey... explain each Jamaican word on the white side of this card in standard English".
3. Play moves from person to person to see how fast they can help the room guess the word.
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The more "official" rules are below:

You are viewing the standard rules.
⭐Most fun for speakers of the Jamaican language (updated Dec 22, 2020). We recommend the International version for Non-Jamaican speakers.
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Objective

Teams attempt to guess a Jamaican word or phrase. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

Number of Players

5 to 11 players

Setup & Equipment

👄 A Speaky Spokey deck
⏱️ A 60 second timer (use your phone or computer).
👨🏾⚖️ Appoint a referee.
🤼🏾 Split into two teams (each team should have between 2 and 7 players).

Game play

Rounds
A complete game consists of 2 rounds.
A round involves both teams having a turn.

The 3 no-nos
The game has 3 "no-nos":
(1) No use of Jamaican words or phrases
(2) Rhyme - No saying that the word, phrase or part of the phrase rhymes with or sounds like something else,
(3) Spelling or Saying - No spelling or saying the word, phrase or part of the phrase.

Selecting which team plays first
The team with the youngest player or the least Jamaican player goes first.

Playing a turn
• A turns begins when a team sends forward a speaker
• The referee draws a card from the deck and hands it, to the speaker.
• The referee starts the 60 second timer and the speaker may then go.
• The speaker must select one of the 4 words or phrases on white side of the card.
• The speaker gives clues, ONLY in standard English, to help their team guess the word or phrase. The speaker must also avoid the 3 no-nos.
• If a speaker does a "no-no" the referee interrupts and the speaker must go to another word on the card.
• A speaker is only allowed one card per turn.

Completion of a turn
A turn can be completed in the following ways:
1. When a speaker "blurts" out a complete word or phrase this action immediately terminates the turn and the referee takes back the card.
2. The 60 second timer is finished.
3. A speaker gives up before the end of the 60 seconds.
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Scoring
1. 1 point is awarded for each correct answer
2. If the current team guesses the item correctly AFTER the timer is finished, the opposing team is awarded 1 point
3. If a member of the opposing team guesses an item correctly when it is not their turn, 2 points are awarded to the current team

Winning
The team with the most points after 2 rounds wins

You are viewing the International rules.
⭐ Most fun for non-Jamaican speakers.
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Objective

Opponents compete to convince each other that their definition of a Jamaican word or phrase is the correct one.

The winner is the individual to amass the most points at the end of the game.

Number of Players

3 to 11 players

Setup & Equipment

👄 A Speaky Spokey deck
🗒️ Notepads or sheets of paper for each player (make sure everyone uses the same type of paper)
🖊️ A pen for each player
🤓 Appoint a reader (see instructions below).
🤼🏾 Appoint teams, two players per team (If there are less than 4 players then play as individuals)

Game play

A game consists of 4 rounds. Players/teams sit in a circle and play passes to the left.

Naming the teams
When playing as teams, combine the names of the team members to create a fun name.
For example, Joel and Kara might choose the name "Kajorel".
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Appointing the reader
Select the reader for the game, usually the person who is most Jamaican or most recently ate something Jamaican (they will be the reader for the entire game).
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Playing a round
• A round begins when the reader draws a card from the deck. They should not let anyone see the card.
• The reader selects an item (word or phrase) from the white face of the card. Item selection is determined by the stage of the game. If this is the first round, the reader must select the first item. If this is the second round, the second item must be selected etc...
• The reader reads the item aloud and then spells it
• Each team/player writes the item down at the top of their paper. They must then write down a definition (made up or real) for the item.
• The reader also writes the item and the correct definition on a piece of paper
• Each team/player places their name at the bottom of their paper and hands their paper to the reader
• The reader removes any definitions that correct (ie. are the same as, or close enough to, the real definition). The team/player that gets a definition correct is awarded 2 points.
• The reader shuffles the remaining papers and reads the definitions one by one to the teams/players.
• After hearing all definitions teams/players vote for a definition.
• The reader keeps a tally of the selected definition by ticking (adding a check mark) for each vote.

Ending a round
The round is completed by tallying the scores (see scoring below).
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‍Scoring
• A team/player gets 1 point for each vote, by another player, for their definition
• If a team/player votes for their own definition that vote does not count and no points are awarded
• A team/player gets 2 points for writing down the correct definition

⭐Most fun for speakers of the Jamaican language

Objective

Teams attempt to guess a Jamaican word or phrase. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

Number of Players

5 to 11 players

Setup & Equipment

⏱️ A 60 second timer (use your phone or computer).
🔨 A "gavel" (we recommend a wooden or plastic spoon).
👨🏾⚖️ Appoint a referee.
🤼🏾 Split into two teams (each team should have between 2 and 7 players).

Game play

Rounds
A complete game consists of 2 rounds.
A round involves both teams having a turn.

The 3 no-nos
The game has 3 "no-nos":
(1) Patois - No use of Jamaican words or phrases
(2) Rhyme - No saying that the word, phrase or part of the phrase rhymes with or sounds like something else,
(3) Spelling or Saying - No spelling or saying the word, phrase or part of the phrase.

Selecting which team plays first
Flip a coin or discuss and agree on which team should play first.

Playing a turn
- A team sends forward a speaker
- A turn begins when the referee draws a card from the deck and hands it, to the speaker.
- The referee starts the 60 second timer and the speaker may then go.
- The speaker must avoid the 3 no-nos while helping their team to guess the word or phrase.
- If a speaker does a "no-no" the referee hits the table with the gavel and the speaker must choose another word.

‍Skipping words
A speaker is allowed to skip an item (word or phrase) at anytime. If they choose to "skip", the referee must immediately reveal the next item to them. A speaker cannot go back to a skipped item. They can skip until they have reached the 4th item on the card. Once an item has been skipped it cannot be guessed on that turn. A speaker is only allowed one card per turn.

Completion of a turn
If a speaker "blurts" out the item or part of the item the turn is complete.
If the timer is finished the turn is complete.
If a speaker skips all 4 words on the card the turn is complete.
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Scoring
- Every time a speaker does a "no-no" 1 point is awarded to the opposing team.
- If a speaker "blurts" out the the opposing team is awarded 1 point.
- If the current team guesses the item correctly they are awarded 1 point.
- If the current team guesses the item correctly in less than 15 seconds, they are awarded 3 points.
- If the current team guesses the item correctly after the timer is finished, the opposing team is awarded 2 points.
- if a member of the opposing team guesses the item when it is not their turn, 2 points are awarded to the current team.

Rules

Quick and Informal Play

Objective

Number of Players

Setup & Equipment

Game play

Objective

Number of Players

Setup & Equipment

Game play

Objective

Number of Players

Setup & Equipment

Game play

Get your deck

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