Carolyn Cooper | Jamaica language inna Parliament fi Miss Lou

CHAKA-CHAKA SPELLING

Big tings a gwaan fi Miss Lou fi her 100-year birthday. Gordon Town Square a go name after her. An fi 100 day, different-different event a keep all bout. Church service, concert, lecture! Petition a go launch pon November 1 pon Jamaica House website fi mek fi wi Jamaica language official side a English. Oonoo fi sign it!

Pon November 20, di Jamaican Language Unit a di University a di West Indies a go send people outa road fi find out wa oonu tink bout making fi wi Jamaica language official. Oonoo fi look out fi dem an seh, ‘Yes’! Pon International Day Fi Stop Violence Gainst Women, November 25, big conference a go keep fi talk bout Miss Lou writing dem pon man an woman story.

Di birthday party fi Miss Lou a go done pon December10. Dat a Human Rights Day. Ascorden to United Nation “Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights,” everybody got a right fi get information from govament office inna fi dem owna language. Dat nah gwaan inna Jamaica.

 

POLITICIAN A BEG AN BUY VOTE

Me tink seh di politician dem shoulda talk inna fi wi Jamaica language inna Parliament fi one a di 100 day fi big up Miss Lou. A ongle when politician outa road a beg an buy vote dem know how fi chat Jamaican. But dat deh language no good enough fi Parliament. Wa mek? Dem no want di whole a wi understand wa dem a seh.

Monday gone, Gleaner publish one front page story wid dis ya headline: ‘It saddens me’ – Holness says JLP embarrassed by Reid’s arrest, insists no interference to come from party’.

Hear weh Holness tell him supporter dem:

“You play a very important role in holding Government to account. And what I know about the delegates and workers of the Jamaica Labour Party is that dem love dem party bad, but dem love dem country more. And dem will defend dem party, that dem nah go change, but dem not going to sit down and watch the country mash up”. Fi true?

Then oonoo see how Holness switch inna di miggle a di sentence! Im want mek sure everybody understand seh im a seh im nah defend Ruel Reid. Same so im fi use fi wi language eena Parliament. An a no ongle fi honour Miss Lou. A fi gi respect to all a wi inna Jamaica weh entitle to language rights. \

PRAPA-PRAPA SPELIN

Big tingz a gwaan fi Mis Lou fi ar 100 ier bortdie. Gordon Town Square a go niem aafta ar. An fi 100 die, difran-difran ivent a kip aal bout. Choch sorvis, kansort, lekcha! Pitishan a go laanch pan Novemba 1 pan Jamieka Ous websait fi mek fi wi Jamieka langgwij ofishal said a Ingglish. Unu fi sain it!

Pan Novemba 20, di Jamiekan Langgwij Yuunit a di Yuunivorsiti a di Wes Indiiz a go sen piipl outa ruod fi fain out wa unu tingk bout mekin fi wi Jamieka langgwij ofishal. Unu fi luk out fi dem an se, ‘Yes’! Pan Intanashanal Die Fi Stap Vaiyalens Gens Uman, Novemba 25, big kanfrans a go kip fi taak bout Mis Lou raitn dem pan man an uman stuori.

Di bortdie paati fi Mis Lou a go don pan Disemba 10. Dat a Yuuman Raits Die. Azkaadn tu Yuunaitid Nieshan “Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights,” evribadi gat a rait fi get infamieshan fram govament afis ina fi dem uona langgwij. Dat naa gwaan ina Jamieka.

 

PALITISHAN A BEG AN BAI VUOT

Mii tingk se di palitishan dem shuda taak ina fi wi Jamieka langgwij ina Paaliment fi wan a di 100 die fi big op Mis Lou. A ongl wen palitishan outa ruod a beg an bai vuot dem nuo ou fi chat Jamiekan. Bot dat de langgwij no gud inof fi Paaliment. Wa mek? Dem no waahn di uol a wi andastan wa dem a se.

Monde gaan, Gleaner poblish wan front piej stuori wid disya edlain: ‘It saddens me’ – Holness says JLP embarrassed by Reid’s arrest, insists no interference to come from party’.

Ier we Holness tel im sopuota dem:

“You play a very important role in holding Government to account. And what I know about the delegates and workers of the Jamaica Labour Party is that dem love dem party bad, but dem love dem country more. And dem will defend dem party, that dem nah go change, but dem not going to sit down and watch the country mash up”. Fi chruu?

Den unu si ou Holness swich ina di migl a di sentens! Im waahn mek shuor evribadi andastan se im a se im naa difen Ruel Reid. Siem so im fi yuuz fi wi langgwij iina Paaliment. An a no ongl fi ana Mis Lou. A fi gi rispek tu aal a wi ina Jamieka we entaikl tu langgwij raits.

 

Carolyn Cooper, PhD, is a specialist on culture and development. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.