The Editor, Sir:

My main objection to having the Bible in patois is that it is a waste of time if it is meant for people who speak patois - giving them the Bible in their own language, so to speak. The problem is that the masses for whom such a text is intended cannot read it. Patois, with its inconsistent orthography, is difficult to read, even for those who are good readers of Standard English. With the illiteracy level what it is in the nation, the project would certainly miss its target audience.

I am also aware that many people treat the Bible as just another book, but it is not. It is the word of God. It is not to be lightly tampered with. People who 'translate' the Bible into patois should be versed in the original biblical languages so that they can render a true translation and not just a paraphrase or a transliteration of the text. They should not be merely taking the King James version and changing the words into patois. Linguistic scholarship is required.

I am, etc.,

JUDITH P. NEMBHARD

jpnemb5@aol.comChattanooga, TN

Via Go-Jamaica