Letter of the Day | Promoting Patois as national language is counter-productive

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I read an article in the New York Times by Simon Romero outlining a proposal to make Patios the official language of Jamaica. While Jamaica should celebrate its linguistic diversity as a source of strength and pride, this suggestion is based on a flawed understanding of the linguistic and social realities of the country and is ill-conceived and should be rejected. Instead, Jamaica should invest in improving its population’s education and literacy levels, especially in rural areas, where Patios speakers face more disadvantages and challenges.

Patios, also known as Jamaican Creole, is a vernacular variety that emerged from the contact between English and various African and Asian languages during the colonial era. It is not a standardised or codified language, but a dialect continuum that varies according to region, class, education, and ethnicity. Based on the British vernacular, Jamaican standard English is the official language for government, media, and business. The island’s English is not a foreign or imposed language but rather a native and legitimate variety of English that reflects the history and identity of Jamaica. Further, the English language dictionary is a source of reference for Jamaicans. Jamaican English also has its grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary that differs from standard English. Conversely, there is no legitimate or widely accepted source reference for Patios.

The proposal to make Patios the official language would seriously negatively affect Jamaica’s social and economic development. It would place Jamaicans at a disadvantage in a global economy where English is broadly spoken and accepted. It would create a linguistic divide between the urban and rural areas, where Patios is more prevalent and less influenced by English. It would also undermine the quality and accessibility of education, as most teachers and students are not proficient in Patios, and there are no adequate materials or curricula for teaching it. Moreover, it would isolate Jamaica from the rest of the world, as Patios is not widely recognised or understood by other countries, especially those that are important trade partners or sources of tourism. No serious foreign investor wants to communicate with someone in the Jamaican dialect. Multinational companies operating call centres in Jamaica will not hire Patois-speaking Jamaicans to interact with international customers. Further, the suggested actions would erode Jamaica’s cultural diversity and richness, as Patios is only one of the many languages and dialects that coexist and interact on the island.

My advice to politicians and influencers who support this drive to make Patois the national language instead is to use their energies and influence in finding adequate funding for the schools to promote and enhance the English curriculum. This proposal is unnecessary, expensive, and counter-productive. Just listen to the Sandals and the old Air Jamaica advertisement, and you will appreciate the virtue of good English.

ADRIAN LAWRENCE

adrianlawrence@verizon.net