Tantie Talk
>Your trinidiary is very interesting and has a lot of good comments and views
>however, why do we Trinidadians continue to portray ourselves as illiterate
>and uneducated people. We may speak using pigeon english but we certainly dont
>write in it. Please encourage your contributors to use proper english, what sort
>of example is this for younger viewers that read the diary. No wonder our younger
>generations have such a problem getting through school and passing exams.
Is what I go tell de author of de above? I know where dey coming from,
an' while I could unnerstan' why, de sad ting is I feel dey doh really know
demselves.Lewwe start wid de meaning of de word 'illiterate'.
Illiterate:
Noun: A person unable to read
Adjective: (1) Not able to read or write
(2) Ignorant of the fundamentals of a given art or branch of knowledge
Now I ent see where any of dat does apply to yuh Tants, because I could
not only read an' write, but I could do so in at least 2 languages: Trinidadian
an' English, an' being a Trini, de bonus language Obscene does be free. All joking
aside, what de writer doh seem to understan' is dat Trinidadian IS a language. It
is not broken English, it ain't corrupted with the spelling, grammatical and myriad
other linguistic foibles that those in the USA pass off as 'American English' (oxymoron
fadder!) and em orait orait stap no Pidgin/it certainly is not Pidgin (which BTW, IS
the correct spelling of that language's name). Pidgin like Trinidadian, may have
been derived from English, but they are now arguably languages on their own. An'
being literate, schooled and educated, I could slip from one to de nex easy, easy. I
ent have no problem wid we language bein' m written...we done losing we nex odder
language Patois, mainly because it is oral & aural wid few if any transcriptions dat an
interested party could learn from.
Now allyuh wondering where it is I wandering off to...I go tell yuh, de
mindset dat we language 'not good' is what keeping we back. Chirren go to school in
dis country an' dey expected to speak, use an' fully comprehend a foreign language
dat dey never had was to use before in dey life. English is to Trinidadian what
Spanish is to Portugese, if yuh know one yuh could get by in de nex one...but dey
still furrin' to de non-native speaker. We doh expect chirren to enter Primary School
spouting Spanish, even though we should really be doin' jes dat seeing as how South
America is jes dey an' we was a Spanish speaking country fuh most of we
post-Colombian existance. We need to recognise where we language come from, as it mirrors almost perfectly
de history of Trinidad where yuh had a European (Spanish/French) culture wid
English governance, all influenced by the masses of slaves and indentured labourers. Out of
dis melange de culture dat is accepted, admired an' embraced as 'We Own' was born,
but dere was also a nex chile of de affair, We Language. English vocabulary wid
Spanish/French grammar and many nuances contributed by said slaves and indentured
labourers.
Som wid all dat said, is why we still shame of WE language? Tantie not
saying we doh have to learn to speak, read and write English, at all...but what I
saying is dat what we need to understan' is dat is a FOREIGN LANGUAGE an' we need to teach
it to we chirren along wid de odder furrin' languages dey go need in today's world. An'
most inportantly we NEED to recognise, accept an be proud of WE language dat WE did
create in de same way we proud of WE Pan, WE Mas an' de res of WE culture dat make Trinis what
we be.
If after 41 years of Independence we still shame 'bout we language, how
we expect to be anywhere, do anything as a country in years to come? All we have to
hold up to de world an' be proud of is still de sweat an hard work of a few
individuals, we all too to ready to give up because some criminals decide dey could do what de
want. Doh hide yuh lights T&T, believe in yuhself an' WE as a nation bong to thrive
an'prosper. Look to de bright sparks like Darrell Brown an' remember de Nation's
Watchwords:
Discipline, Tolerance and Production
Enjoy yuh Independence an' have a lil lagniappe...
http://www.georgecarlin.com/georgecarlin/home/monthly.html
:+:+:+:+:+:+:+::+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:
BACKCHAT: Issue 32
Just a word of caution to the( proud trini in hotlanta) we have the same
thing happening up here in Canada only its with our first nations (indians) it seames
the more they get from the people who are trying to help them the less they do for
themselfes please try not to let this happen to you what you are doing is worth while and in
closing I have to say (THE LORD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEM SELFS)
//Trini in Canada
I am so glad that I am not of "a certain age". Just taking a break from
trimming the apple tree with a bowsaw, and will be replanting the hostas tomorrow.
Honey, I believe one is as old as one acts! Seriously though, I enjoyed the read, my
girlfriend in Nassau sent it last week.
//Hotmail user
In vol4 Issue 32 I noted California, USA sent his/her view on the attitude of some trinis
on the issue of crime, to quote "it does not bother me, so "why bother".
//Hotmail user
Your trinidiary is very interesting and has a lot of good comments and
views however, why do we Trinidadians continue to portray ourselves as illiterate and
uneducated people. We may speak using pigeon english but we certainly dont write in it.
Please encourage your contributors to use proper english, what sort of example is this for
younger viewers that read the diary. No wonder our younger generations have such a problem
getting through school and passing exams.
//Trinidad
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THE UWI GUILD OF GRADUATES
invites you to experience the INDEPENDENCE FIREWORKS
from aboard the Sea Prowler on Sunday August 31st 2003.
It's the ANNUAL FUN CRUISE!
Check in Time: 5.30p.m. at PIER ONE.
Cruise ends at 9.00 p.m.
CONTRIBUTION TT$100
(Includes light refreshments
and complimentary drink)
Cash bar available.
Call Frederick: 684-9147 or Maxine: 637-2281 for tickets |
Michael
Baker's (CMB) apartments, Tobago. Self contained, kitchenette,
hot & cold, cable TV. TT$75 per person. Two hour show, World
class entertainment (calypso, reggae, ballads, oldies) One man
band.
Michael Baker's CD 2002 "one Aspiration" available.
Call 868-639-8243(home) ... 868-681-9717(mobile)
EMAIL: mbaker@visittobago.gov.tt
Daneil Trace Carnbee,
Tobago W.I. |
Danielle Gibson Displays 'Serendipity':
Friday 29th - The public is invited to the artist's latest collection of
handcrafted, personally designed ceramics from 6:00 to 8:00pm at 12
Fondes Amandes,
St. Ann's. Viewing until Friday 5th. |
Bingo at People of Praise:
Saturday 30th - Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Talparo is trying to raise
funds to
repair the church through a Bingo at People of Praise in Arima starting
at 4:00pm.
Tickets are $10. |
Sacketteers Hike to
Mammoral/Trinity Falls:
Sunday 31st - Assembling from 7:00am, cor. E.M.Rd. & Maturita Rd., Arima.
Contact Garth: 675-1742; Ricardo: 674-8969/682-8577; Lennox:
625-9814/674-1350;
Amde: 624-5328 |
Harvard Independence Day Brunch:
Sunday 31st - Post Independence Parade brunch from 9:00am till...at
Harvard Club,
Serpentine Road. Entertainment provided by 'Kaiso Stars'(Wayne Dopson &
friends)
and popular DJ. Brunch: $25. |
Kids & Junior Golf Competition:
Monday 1st - The Kids and Junior Golf School Association is holding its
First Annual
Independence Golf competition at the Queen's Park Savannah from 7:00am.
The public is invited. |
SAT Lessons Begin:
Tuesday 2nd - SAT lessons at the International School of Port of Spain
begin on
Tuesday 2nd for 6 weeks, twice a week from 3:00 to 6:00pm. Cost: $1300.
Call 625-2945 or 632-4592 for info. |
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