Playing with Languages
Playing with Languages

Author: Amy L. Paugh

Publisher: Berghahn Books

Published: 2012-09-01

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13: 0857457616

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Over several generations villagers of Dominica have been shifting from Patwa, an Afro-French creole, to English, the official language. Despite government efforts at Patwa revitalization and cultural heritage tourism, rural caregivers and teachers prohibit children from speaking Patwa in their presence. Drawing on detailed ethnographic fieldwork and analysis of video-recorded social interaction in naturalistic home, school, village and urban settings, the study explores this paradox and examines the role of children and their social worlds. It offers much-needed insights into the study of language socialization, language shift and Caribbean children’s agency and social lives, contributing to the burgeoning interdisciplinary study of children’s cultures. Further, it demonstrates the critical role played by children in the transmission and transformation of linguistic practices, which ultimately may determine the fate of a language.

Language Education in the Caribbean
Language Education in the Caribbean

Author: Dennis R. Craig

Publisher: University of West Indies Press

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 170

ISBN-13: 9789766404970

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Dennis Roy Craig (1929?2004) was one of the most outstanding Caribbean linguists of the twentieth century. The Society ofCaribbean Linguistics honoured him in 2000 for what was described as ?an academic career at once awesome and inspiring?, for his devotion to Creole linguistics and his tremendous contribution to language education in the Caribbean. He was also an outstanding figure in educational leadership in the region and a poet.In this collection, eight of Craig?s most representative articles have been chosen to demonstrate his understanding of the language situation in the English-official Caribbean and the breadth of his vision in relation to the spheres of language teaching and language learning in the English-based Creole speaking societies. Although most of these articles were written between the 1970s and the 1990s, the problems and issues that they treat are what we continue to face in the twenty-first century. Language Education in the Caribbean will prove useful to language teachers, creolists, and practitioners and researchers in the field of Caribbean language education.

Language, Culture and Caribbean Identity
Language, Culture and Caribbean Identity

Author: Jeannette Allsopp

Publisher: University of West Indies Press

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 9789768125927

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This timely and insightful publication, thought-provoking and highly educational, is dedicated to the memory of outstanding Caribbean linguist, Richard Allsopp. The contributors, many of them leading authorities on language variation in the Caribbean, explore various aspects of language, culture and identity in the region, focusing on themes that engaged Allsopp in his lifetime: Creole linguistics, Caribbean lexicography, language in folklore and religion, literature, music and dance, and language issues in Caribbean schools."This landmark tribute to the Caribbean's pioneering lexicographer brings together contributions that span the encyclopaedic interests that Richard Allsopp would have pursued in his journey through Caribbean English usage. The volume is at once provocative and informative - an excellent read for both the specialist linguistic scholar and the curious layman." --Lawrence D. Carrington, Emeritus Professor of Creole Linguistics, University of the West Indies"This anthology offers a refreshing and novel look at the linguistic and cultural practices of Caribbean societies, from the perspective of leading Caribbean scholars. Its coverage ranges from linguistic analysis, to lexicography, to folklore and religion, the arts and literature, and issues of language policy in education. Every contribution provides fresh insights, and together they constitute a treasure trove of new scholarship that celebrates the great legacy of the Caribbeanist par excellence, Richard Allsopp. The book will be compulsory reading for all students of the Caribbean." --Donald Winford, Professor of Linguistics, Ohio State University, and Editor, Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages

The Political Languages of Emancipation in the British Caribbean and the U.S. South
The Political Languages of Emancipation in the British Caribbean and the U.S. South

Author: Demetrius L. Eudell

Publisher: Univ of North Carolina Press

Published: 2003-04-03

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 0807860123

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This comparative study examines the emancipation process in the British Caribbean, particularly Jamaica, during the 1830s and in the United States, particularly South Carolina, during the 1860s. Analyzing the intellectual and ideological foundations of postslavery Anglo-America, Demetrius Eudell explores how former slaves, former slaveholders, and their societies' central governments understood and discussed slavery, emancipation, and the transition between the two. Eudell investigates the public policies--which addressed issues of labor control, access to land, and the general social behaviors of former slaves--used to execute emancipation. In both regions, government-appointed officials (special magistrates in Jamaica and agents of the Freedmen's Bureau in South Carolina) were crucial in implementing these policies. While many former slaves were fighting for the right to be paid for their labor and to own land, many officials came to view their role as part of a new civilizing mission whose goal was to eradicate the psychic damage supposedly caused by slavery. Eudell concludes by examining the 1865 Morant Bay rebellion in Jamaica and the retreat from Reconstruction in South Carolina, part of the larger movement of Redemption that occurred in 1877. Both of these occurrences represented the incomplete victory of emancipation, Eudell argues, and should provoke scholarly questions regarding the persistent thesis of U.S. exceptionalism.

Caribbean Literary Discourse
Caribbean Literary Discourse

Author: Barbara Lalla

Publisher: University of Alabama Press

Published: 2014-02-15

Total Pages: 294

ISBN-13: 0817318070

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A study of the multicultural, multilingual, and Creolized languages that characterize Caribbean discourse, especially as reflected in the language choices that preoccupy creative writers Caribbean Literary Discourse opens the challenging world of language choices and literary experiments characteristic of the multicultural and multilingual Caribbean. In these societies, the language of the master— English in Jamaica and Barbados—overlies the Creole languages of the majority. As literary critics and as creative writers, Barbara Lalla, Jean D’Costa, and Velma Pollard engage historical, linguistic, and literary perspectives to investigate the literature bred by this complex history. They trace the rise of local languages and literatures within the English speaking Caribbean, especially as reflected in the language choices of creative writers. The study engages two problems: first, the historical reality that standard metropolitan English established by British colonialists dominates official economic, cultural, and political affairs in these former colonies, contesting the development of vernacular, Creole, and pidgin dialects even among the region’s indigenous population; and second, the fact that literary discourse developed under such conditions has received scant attention. Caribbean Literary Discourse explores the language choices that preoccupy creative writers in whose work vernacular discourse displays its multiplicity of origins, its elusive boundaries, and its most vexing issues. The authors address the degree to which language choice highlights political loyalties and tensions; the politics of identity, self-representation, and nationalism; the implications of code-switching—the ability to alternate deliberately between different languages, accents, or dialects—for identity in postcolonial society; the rich rhetorical and literary effects enabled by code-switching and the difficulties of acknowledging or teaching those ranges in traditional education systems; the longstanding interplay between oral and scribal culture; and the predominance of intertextuality in postcolonial and diasporic literature.

Language in Exile
Language in Exile

Author: Barbara Lalla

Publisher: University of Alabama Press

Published: 2009-03-15

Total Pages: 277

ISBN-13: 0817355650

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"An important addition to studies of the genesis and life of Jamaican Creole as well as other New World creoles such as Gulla. Highlighting the nature of the nonstandard varieties of British English dialects to which the African slaves were exposed, this work presents a refreshingly cogent view of Jamaican Creole features." --SECOL Review "The history of Jamaican Creole comes to life through this book. Scholars will analyze its texts, follow the leads it opens up, and argue about refining its interpretations for a long time to come." --Journal of Pidgin & Creole Languages "The authors are to be congratulated on this substantial contribution to our understanding of how Jamaican Creole developed. Its value lies not only in the linguistic insights of the authors but also in the rich trove of texts that they have made accessible." --English World-Wide "Provides valuable historical and demographic data and sheds light on the origins and development of Jamaican Creole. Lalla and D'Costa offer interesting insights into Creole genesis, not only through their careful mapping of the migrations from Europe and Africa, which constructed the Jamaican society but also through extensive documentation of early texts. . . . Highly valuable to linguists, historians, anthropologists, psychologists, and anyone interested in the Caribbean or in the history of mankind." --New West Indian Guide

The Haitian Creole Language
The Haitian Creole Language

Author: Arthur K. Spears

Publisher: Lexington Books

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 0739172212

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The Haitian Creole Language is the first book that deals broadly with a language that has too long lived in the shadow of French. With chapters contributed by the leading scholars in the study of Creole, it provides information on this language's history; structure; and use in education, literature, and social interaction. Although spoken by virtually all Haitians, Creole was recognized as the co-official language of Haiti only a little over twenty years ago. The Haitian Creole Language provides essential information for professionals, other service providers, and Creole speakers who are interested in furthering the use of Creole in Haiti and the Haitian diaspora. Increased language competencies would greatly promote the education of Creole speakers and their participation in the social and political life of their countries of residence. This book is an indispensable tool for those seeking knowledge about the centrality of language in the affairs of Haiti, its people, and its diaspora.

Educational Innovation to Address Complex Societal Challenges
Educational Innovation to Address Complex Societal Challenges

Author: Segarra, Jacobo Roda

Publisher: IGI Global

Published: 2024-02-26

Total Pages: 334

ISBN-13:

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In modern education, students and teaching methodologies face many challenges that hinder smooth development. The digital age presents students with information overload, impeding the cultivation of their critical thinking skills. Traditional language teaching methods must be revised to prepare students for the intricacies of a globalized, multilingual world. The rise in academic demands contributes to heightened stress levels among students. Despite the urgency of environmental challenges, educational systems need a cohesive focus on eco-conscious practices. The abrupt transition to virtual learning during crises has exposed challenges in adapting to and fully realizing the potential of virtual environments. These interrelated issues underscore the imperative for a comprehensive solution that aligns pedagogical practices with the demands of contemporary society. Educational Innovation to Address Complex Societal Challenges begins by dissecting pedagogical renewal and educational innovation, illustrating their expansive reach and adaptability in addressing the diverse educational challenges of our time. It emphasizes that these innovative elements extend beyond mere educational enhancements, presenting many opportunities to catalyze substantial societal change. A crucial aspect highlighted is the reciprocal relationship between educational practices and social reality, creating a symbiotic circle that adds meaning to the educational process.