The Editor, Sir:

I agree totally with Janice Lindsay on the issue of the Patois Bible. One of the problems facing Jamaicans is the fear and being ashamed of having and using anything Jamaican. Not only should there be a Bible and other books in our language but I advocate that it should also be taught in schools. In the UK, our Jamaican language is accepted and respected.

Afraid of it

Why are Jamaicans in Jamaica ashamed and afraid of it while most cannot speak, read, or write English properly, but scared of the language they use daily.

Let's promote and support our own cultural heritage. Our language has evolved, using a mixture of words or root of words from many other languages, example, Spanish, English, other European (even Latin a dead language), various African languages and the older local or indigenous population, Caribs, Tainos etc.

The world has accepted Esperanto, a language created by Dr.L.L. Zamenhoff as an international language. We should realise that we have created our own language and be proud of it. Our language is still evolving, as does English, which a few hundred years ago, was totally different from what it is today and still changing.

My daughters, born and living in the UK, can speak Jamaican, write it and read it fluently.

I am, etc,

LES FRANCIS

ashfran2@yahoo.com

Mandeville

Via Go-Jamaica