2021 - Carribean Languages Conference
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=317795366040097&ref=watch_permalink
The range of Caribbean languages is an area of study on it's own.
One of the aims is to showcase the work of Professor Devonish and the Society of Caribbean Linguists, which is based at the University of the West Indies. The work of the Jamaican Language Unit, their Jamaican Bilingual Project and their latest publications also needs to be wider known about, and also in the UK, the work and achievements of the ‘Jamaica 2K team’ who supported Jamaican to be offered as a language for the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting administered by the IoL Educational Trust, a recognised awarding organisation and an associated charity of the Chartered Institute of Linguists and Awarding Body Consortium.
The first Conference on Caribbean Languages was held at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies 50 years ago. The University of the West Indies has taken the lead for the last 50 years into the investigation of the range of languages spoken across the Caribbean. The University of the West Indies is hosting the “International Conference on Language Policy in the Creole-speaking Caribbean in January 2011.
Many of the languages of the Caribbean were created during the centuries when European countries engaged in the trading triangle that involved enslaving and shipping millions of Africans to work in the harshest conditions in South America, the Caribbean islands and the Southern States of the US. However due respect has still not been accorded to these languages which are spoken by millions of people across the globe today and little recognition is given for the bilingual skills of people with Caribbean heritage.
The languages of the Caribbean are amongst the most modern languages in the world and bring grammatical features from languages in Western and Central Africa, with vocabulary from the European sailors, enslavers and plantation overseers mixed with local Caribbean and African words. It is essential that as some of the most modern languages in the world and languages which had such traumatic origins, that these languages are now recognised, respected and studied.
In the UK, Jamaican has gained official recognition from the Chartered Institute of Linguists and an accredited Practical Language course was offered by the Awarding Body Consortium, this is now the time to fully recognise, respect and accept these languages.
We are working towards developing training and resources that:
- outline of the development and range of languages in the Caribbean
- explore the implications of developing bi-lingual skills with a continuum between the new language developed and the European language which was combined with African languages to create the languages used by peoples from the Caribbean today.
- sharing examples of use of bilingual teaching in schools (Jamaica)
- Exploring the requirement in UK National Strategy for recognition of Caribbean Languages: see “Excellence and Enjoyment”
- researching the issues around the development of English Language Support for Caribbean Language Speakers (UK)
- exploring the implications of the new requirements for the Citizenship Test
- researching the translation and interpretation requirements in legal, health and other services
- undertaing exploration of self esteem and mental health issues in the UK’s Caribbean Community, related to disrespect and misunderstanding of the “heart languages” spoken by the community.
Check the Charter on Language Policy and Language Rights in the Creole-Speaking Caribbean This link doesn't seem to be working - so just google this.
Jamaican: check http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16285462 for an update about the translation of the Bible into Jamaican
