Carolyn Cooper | Gleaner fi talk plain an simple bout di PM

CHAKA-CHAKA SPELLING

Friday gone, Gleaner editor put out one column wid dis ya headline: “What the PM must do.” Dat did sound like seh di editor did a go talk plain an simple. Wen mi start read di first sentence, mi see seh a bait an switch: “Having been exculpated by the prosecutor at the Integrity Commission (IC) of unethically facilitating the award of contracts to a colleague and friend while he was education minister, Prime Minister Andrew Holness . . . .”

Mi did ha fi stop braps an draw fi mi dictionary. Mi did tink seh ‘exculpated’ an ‘exonerated’ a di same. A nuh so! Ascorden to Vocabulary.com, “When you exonerate someone, you clear a person of an accusation and any suspicion that goes along with it. Exculpate usually refers more directly to clearing the charges against someone. So if that judge exculpates you from the robbery charge, everyone in town might still think you did it.”

Seet deh now! Mi a wonder if di editor did mean exculpate fi true. Dat a di problem wid dem deh big word. It easy fi get mix up. If di editor did seh, “The IC cleared Andrew Holness’ name because of lack of evidence,” nuff a wi woulda understand. An nuff-nuff more a wi woulda ketch it if di editor did seh, “Ascorden to di IC, dem never have no evidence fi show seh di Prime Minister do nutten wrong wen im did help im fren dem fi get contract. So im get weh.” Wi might a aks if di IC right. But dat a one nedder story.

BRAADKYAAS JAMIEKAN

Tuesday, February 21 a International Mother Language Day. Fi 2023, di United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seh, “Multilingual education – a necessity to transform education.” It look like seh fi wi Ministry of Education no learn dat deh lesson all now. A full time Govament stop form fool an tek fi wi language serious inna school.

Pon Tuesday, di Jamaican Language Unit a University of the West Indies, Mona a go keep one talk show pon di Braadkyaas Jamiekan YouTube channel from 5 to 7 p.m. Prof. Hubert Devonish, Dr Velma Pollard, Dr Amina Blackwood Meeks, Mr Kam-Au Amen, Dr Nickesha Dawkins an mi a go talk bout di “Value of the Jamaican Language to the Cultural and Creative Industries.”

A nuh ongle inna dem deh business fi wi language have use. It a wi heart language. A fi wi culture dat. Mi hope seh one day, one day, Gleaner editor write one column inna English an Jamaican. An mi woulda exonerate Gleaner from di crime a use whole heap a big word all di time weh nobody nuh too understand.

PRAPA-PRAPA SPELIN

Fraide gaan, Gleaner edita put out wan kalam wid dis ya edlain: “What the PM must do.” Dat did soun laik se di edita did a go taak plien an simpl. Wen mi staat riid di fos sentens, mi si se a biet an swich: “Having been exculpated by the prosecutor at the Integrity Commission (IC) of unethically facilitating the award of contracts to a colleague and friend while he was education minister, Prime Minister Andrew Holness . . . . ”

Mi did afi stap braps an jraa fi mi dikshaneri. Mi did tingk se ‘exculpated’ an ‘exonerated’ a di siem. A no so! Azkaadn tu Vocabulary.com, “When you exonerate someone, you clear a person of an accusation and any suspicion that goes along with it. Exculpate usually refers more directly to clearing the charges against someone. So if that judge exculpates you from the robbery charge, everyone in town might still think you did it. ”

Siit de nou! Mi a wanda if di edita did miin exculpate fi chruu. Dat a di prablem wid dem de big word. It iizi fi get miks op. If di edita did se, “The IC cleared Andrew Holness’ name because of lack of evidence,” nof a wi wuda andastan. An nof-nof muor a wi wuda kech it if di edita did se, “Azkaadn tu di IC, dem neva av no evidens fi shuo se di Praim Minista du notn rang wen im did elp im fren dem fi get kanchrak. So im get we.” Wi maita aks if di IC rait. Bot dat a wan neda tuori.

BRAADKYAAS JAMIEKAN

Chuusde, Febiweri 21 a ‘International Mother Language Day.’ Fi 2023, di United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) se, “Multilingual education - a necessity to transform education.” It luk laik se fi wi Ministry of Education no lorn dat de lesn aal nou. A ful taim Govament stap faam fuul an tek fi wi langgwij siiryos ina skuul.

Pan Chuuzde, di Jamiekan Langwij Yuunit a University of the West Indies, Mona a go kip wan taak shuo pan di Braadkyaas Jamiekan YouTube chanel fram 5 tu 7 pm. Prof. Hubert Devonish, Dr Velma Pollard, Dr Amina Blackwood Meeks, Mr Kam-Au Amen, Dr Nickesha Dawkins an mi a go taak bout di “Value of the Jamaican Language to the Cultural and Creative Industries.”

A no onggl ina dem de bizniz fi wi langwij av yuus. It a wi aat langwij. A fi wi kolcha dat. Mi uop se wan die, wan die, Gleaner edita rait wan kalam ina Ingglish an Jamiekan. An mi wuda exonerate Gleaner fram di kraim a yuuz uol iip a big word aal di taim we nobadi no tuu andastan.

For an English translation, visit carolynjoycooper.wordpress.com

- Carolyn Cooper, PhD, is a teacher of English language and literature and a specialist on culture and development. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and karokupa@gmail.com