Jamaican culture represents a rich blen of cultures that have inhabited the island. The original Taino settlers, followed by their Spanish conquerors (who were in turn conquered by the British), all made major contributions. However, it is the West African slaves who became the dominant cultural force as they suffered and resisted the harsh conditions of forced labour. After the abolition of slavery, Chinese and Indian migrants were transported to the island as indentured workers, bringing with them ideas from the Far East. The official national language is English, heavily spiced with local idioms and Elizabethan usage. The primary local language is patois, or Jamaican Creole.