– Kalehia Johnson
The Caribbean is well known for its uniqueness, therefore it is no surprise that the Caribbean boasts an inimitable language situation. The word ‘boasts’ however is used with much caution as different sectors in different areas of the region view the language situation differently.
The Education Sector
For years experts have questioned the influence of the existing language situation on the effect of the CXC English Examination in particular, as well as other areas.
Mutabaruka has described the Jamaican language situation as one wherein we speak a language we do not write, and we write a language that we do not speak. In fact, in recent times in Jamaica, there has been an ongoing discussion on whether Patois (Creole) instruction should be implemented in the Jamaican classroom.
Grace Baston, principal of Campion College, which is one of the best high schools on the island, has been one of the many persons lobbying for Jamaican Creole to be a part of the education system. She has called for educators to be trained in the native tongue to engage students in the mother tongue.
Religion & Other Sectors
Additionally, there has been some progress too with sections of the Bible being translated to the Jamaican Creole. To date some churches in Jamaica have verses being read in both languages. In February 2023, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports’ social media pages shared similar readings to promote Jamaican Creole as a part of the culture of Jamaica.
Official Language in Jamaica
Similarly, calls have been made by interest groups to have the government recognize it as an official language of Jamaica. A petition was launched in 2019 to grant official status of Jamaican Creole, but ironically in a nation of over two million people and a very strong diaspora, obtaining the 15,000 signatures proved challenging at the time and closed with 4881 signatures.
Jamaican Creole continues to dominate the music scene. One cannot speak of the Jamaican Creole and not mention the progress of the language through art in the person of Louise Bennett-Coverley.
Other Caribbean Countries
With all that is going on in Haiti, Haitian Creole enjoys official status, which has been the case since 1987. Unlike Jamaica however, Haitian Creole is accepted in all public forums and likewise utilized in schools.
Curacao has also managed to embrace Papiamento as an official language since 2007. However, the language was being introduced in the education system as early as 1986. Therefore, students in Curacao have enjoyed being instructed in their mother tongue which speaks to the language maintenance plan from a government standpoint.
There are many other Creoles spoken in the Caribbean region which have not been given either national or official status. However, as languages continue to evolve, several proponents keep pushing for these changes. The reality is that the Creole languages are very much a part of the cultural identity and the rich history of the Caribbean people spanning hundreds of years. As the languages continue to be spoken by the populace and media continue to embrace it, the possibility exists that the status of many languages may change sooner than we think.
