Latest update November 22nd, 2024 12:03 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

The Creole language versus Standard English

Apr 08, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
On Thursday March 31, 2016, Guyanese Hubert Devonish, distinguished professor of Linguistics at UWI (Mona), was our guest in the Department of Language and Cultural Studies, Turkeyen Campus, UG.  The event was an informative and inspiring Language Conversation. Many truths came to the fore, both in his presentation and in responding to questions from the audience.  I took home the profound reality that many ‘bright students’ end up in ‘wasteland’ because of the notion that they are ‘not bright.’ In reality, it is the educator who has failed them, teaching them in their (the teachers’) English Language, which is mistakenly taken to mean our native tongue.
It is very well established that our native, mother and natural first language is Guyanese Creolese. This however is still unfairly stigmatised and its users are seen as ‘less than.’ This pervasive and longstanding false perception that those who can only use the Guyanese Creolese are ‘not bright’ has naturally stymied the educational and social progress of these ‘lesser than.’ Professor Devonish is all for making education, especially at the incipient stages, available via Guyanese Creolese.
This approach is not novel, nor within the Guyanese context, is it a push to displace current English mode education. It is really a belated effort to accept the reality of at least a bilingual Guyana, where the Guyanese Creolese is much more prominent. Hence, if Professor Devonish only succeeded in enlightening me, I am more than glad, and his visit was a huge success; we do need more.
Henry Singh
Lecturer in the Use of English,
University of Guyana

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

 D-Up Basketball Academy Training camp brings Hoop Dreams to Life with Region 3 Jamboree

 D-Up Basketball Academy Training camp brings Hoop Dreams to Life...

Nov 21, 2024

Kaieteur Sports – The D-Up Basketball Academy is gearing up to wrap its first-of-its-kind, two-month youth basketball camp, which tipped off in September at the Tuschen Primary School (TPS)...
Read More
Campbell Eyes Eighth Men’s Physique Title in Final Amateur Outing

Campbell Eyes Eighth Men’s Physique Title in...

Nov 21, 2024

Alphonso, Fung-a-Fat, Munroe among top performers as Stena Drilling Junior Skill Level Tournament concludes

Alphonso, Fung-a-Fat, Munroe among top performers...

Nov 20, 2024

Guyana’s finest Physiques to battle for Glory at Mr. Guyana National Seniors Championship

Guyana’s finest Physiques to battle for Glory...

Nov 20, 2024

CWI names West Indies Test Squad for home series against Bangladesh

CWI names West Indies Test Squad for home series...

Nov 20, 2024

Georgetown romp to 292-run win over Select XI 

Georgetown romp to 292-run win over Select XI 

Nov 20, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]