Patois in Jamaican schools, the debate by star writer

By Elgin Taylor, JAMAICA STAR WRITER

Much public discussions have been taking place recently about whether we should embrace Patois as a first or second language, or whether we should confine it to the dumps of linguistics where it has been.

Those who are lobbying for the elevation of patois, have argued that it is the first language spoken by us Jamaicans, and the chief means of communication. They are saying too that it is ingrained in our culture, and that we should embrace it instead of being ashamed of it.

Persons like Professor Hubert Devonish of the University of the West Indies have put forward the suggestion that it should form part of the curriculum in our schools, certainly in the lower grades.

On the other hand there are those who argue that it has its place but in an informal setting. Patois they argued, should not be used in a public, formal setting. In such instances the standard English (also called Jamaican Standard English) should be used instead. They further contend that patois has no real structure, it is difficult to read, and so could not survive if attempts were made to formalise it.

Still, some argue that it is not the language that we write on examination paper, nor the language we do commerce or communicate with, locally and internationally. They believe it should continue to be a locally, spoken language.

Contradictions

But the experts have contradicted some of the claims made by others about the language. For example, they say that it is untrue to state that the language has no form or structure. One language student made the claim that Patois is more than a language, and that she was convinced that being exposed to it makes the learning of other languages easier.

The government of the day after listening to the pros and cons, including the experts, concluded that it has its place but not in the formal education system.

You be the judge if this is the right path to be taken. I believe a listening ear should be given to the experts especially when backed by empirical evidence.

By the way how could we forget the cultural icon Louise Bennett-Coverly who has, against all odds, helped to popularise the language both here and abroad?

Yamekyah

And, talking about our culture, maybe we missed a golden opportunity this 50th year of our independence. We have been such a disappointment, an unfortunate and ‘salt’ country, that perhaps it is time for a change.

Perhaps we need to go back to the Tainos and rename Jamaica, Xaymaca. Or better still, since we claim to be a Christian country, with more churches per square mile than anywhere else in the world, we should rename our island, ‘Yamekyah.’ This as the original Hebrew language, in which the Bible was written did not have the letter J, but I digress. At the end of the day I believe we need to give out Jamaican language the chance to be formalised and develop and putting it as part of the school curriculum will be a start.

Questions, comments, observations? You can email me at elgin1225@yahoo.co.uk

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