THE EDITOR, Sir:
IT IS interesting to note that quite a number of persons in our society have been advocating for patois to be taught in school and one wonders why when every Jamaican from inside the very womb is able to speak patois. It is the heart of us. We don't need to be taught patois. (Were you ever taught to speak patois, but can you not speak it fluently?).
Where the difficult lies with patois is in writing it because there are so many variations in the way words are spelt. A number of reports have been coming out about the poor performance of Jamaican students in the various external examinations (CXC etc.) Don't you wonder why? Well I will tell you: some of the reasons are because our Jamai-can children cannot read or write English. They spell and write just as how they speak. They are unable to interpret/comprehend what they read and they cannot formulate or structure proper sentences etc.
If we wish to have exceptional students in our school we must go back to the days when the use of English was emphasised and its relevance noted. Surely, the prominent and well-educated persons in our society do not speak patois on the job (except at lunch). Better yet for our students, as the world becomes more globalised, what is needed is for greater emphasis to be placed on learning other languages, that is make it compulsory from infant school that children are taught Spanish and/or French. When they get older should they desire, they can always choose to do any other language.
Let us not forget our patois. It too has its place and we can never ever lose it. It is in the heart of every Jamaican. Who can really get the essence of a joke if it is not told in patios? Today it is impossible to tell the difference between a child from the country versus a child from town. Patois does have its place in our society as a language, our language. It can also have its place elsewhere.
Many Jamaicans are getting into difficulties abroad and often end up in courts where there is a dire need for an interpreter in this case. The HEART Training foundation can develop a programme where Jamaicans can become certified in speaking patois and can act as interpreters in the courts abroad or for other occasions.
I am, etc.,
JOAN MORRIS
mikjosalroj@yahoo.com
