Definition of Terms and the Origin of Caribbean Standard English

Definition of terms

It is necessary to understand the meaning of the terms to be used in this unit. Please record these terms and their extended definitions.

(a) language

(b) culture and dialect

(c)  creole

(d) communication

(e) Standard and Non-Standard English

(2) Origin of Caribbean Standard English

Caribbean Standard English is mutually intelligible with standard varieties of English all over the world in grammar and syntax. However, it is possible that there will be a difference in pronunciation and in the lexicon. What becomes the standard language of a country usually starts off as a regional and social dialect, usually of an influential group in society, and their dialect is gradually accepted by the populous.  In the Caribbean, that would be the colonisers whose dialect was chosen as the standard even though the non-English speakers in the society had their own language. This placed the non-English speakers in the Caribbean at a disadvantage because they had to learn the dialect of the colonisers. Even today, many children who attend school for the first time find themselves at a disadvantage because prior to attending, they had not mastered the standard variety used in schools. These children are required to learn the standard and they are at a much greater disadvantage than those children whose speech is much closer to the standard variety or who is capable of switching.

Standard and Non-Standard English

For the linguist, there is no conflict between standard and non-standard language. All language varieties are identified as dialects, and this categorisation includes the standard variety. The terms ‘dialect’ and ‘language’ will be used synonymously in this discourse. So there is the Barbadian Standard dialect or the Barbadian standard language (English), the Jamaican standard dialect or the Jamaican standard language (English) and so on.  All dialects of a language which are different from the standard, are referred to by the linguist as non-standard. When the word ‘dialect’ is used by the linguist, it is used objectively, simply to mean ‘a language variety.’ 

The standard variety of a language enjoys that important designation because in society it is accorded special privileges. For example, it is the subject of more literary work and the medium of more literary work than any other variety. As a result of its constant subjection to the written medium, it has acquired more rules than any other variety. As a result of its use as an instrument of mass education, it has acquires a greater amount of rigidity and uniformity to ensure wider comprehension, than any other variety. In addition, it has acquired a more technical vocabulary because of its use as a medium of instruction throughout the educational system.

In the Caribbean terms such as dialect, patois and creole conjure up ideas of the non-standard. They are viewed as the language of the uneducated, language of the older generation and the language used in conversation instead of the language used for writing.

(Writing in English, A course Book for Caribbean Students. Hazel Simmons-McDonald, Linda Fields, Peter Roberts. 1997).

QUESTIONS

(For class discussion)

(1) Explain how language can be used to identify people.

(2) Give examples of different terms used by Caribbean people to represent a single entity.  (Eg. In Jamaica, ‘sweet sop’ is the same fruit that Barbadians call ‘sugar apple.’

(3) Why would a Caribbean child who is not proficient in Standard English experience difficulty in school?