THE EDITOR, Sir:
PLEASE ALLOW me space to advance my views in support of those of Faith Linton on the subject of "Patois and English" as published as a letter in The Gleaner of Thursday Novem-ber 25, 2004.
Jamaican patois has African roots. As a language, it is unlikely to be of value to anyone other than Jamaicans and such value will always be minimal.
For those who consider it expedient to include patois as a language subject in the curriculum for schools I can only express despair and disappointment.
It is common knowledge that for several years now, the academic performance of our students in external examinations has been on the decline, so that the results for the last two years are no less frightening than hitherto.
What everyone who advocates this new language has failed to show is how its introduction will enhance the performance of students.
The hard facts are that the English language embraces over eight languages among them Greek, Latin, French etc. The language, therefore, occupies the unique position of being universally accepted for all categories of training and learning.
For this purpose, the world's major languages are translated into English and vice versa.
It follows that if a Jamaican child is at all to advance to a position from which he or she can offer the competitive service demanded by a global economy, a good command of the English language in preference to all other languages should be advocated for teachers and students alike, a degree in English being a prerequisite for all teachers.
Our children are overburdened with irrelevant classroom material, please do not further aggravate this already chronic situation.
I am, etc.,
LUTHER A. BROWN
Box 75 Spaldings P.O.
Clarendon
