Sylvia Wynter's Dream

Based on the “Lovindeer” interview with Teach Dem style.

Note how the interviewer interacts with interviewee

How questions call for personal experonece

The journey of the message and the video itself

The preferred tone by this individual for an interview

In this interview we travelled from Kingston to Manchester on a surprise visit to see Rosheda Guy. As a English teacher who recently graduated Church Teacher’s College, I thought she might have some good opinions on how language works in our different institutions.

How do you view your language?

• Do you think that making Jamaica Patois an official language is beneficial to the country?

Yes I believe that it is beneficial to the country especially because if you should travel outside of Jamaica persons are so fascinated with out language. (And) They always want to learn it. They always want to come and experience our culture and be able to communicate with the regular Jamaican man that only knows how to speak Jamaican creole.

• What is your experience in institutions when it comes to speaking Patois freely?

Um, in Jamaica, the institutions that I’ve attended or happened to transact business at, I’ve realized that its not acceptable. What I realize through doing business in institutions or attending institutions, Jamaican creole is not accepted. As a matter of fact, we only accept standard Jamaican English, um, as being our common Jamaican language. (And) So when you go to conduct business you cant talk to business persons in creole. It’s as if they don’t understand you and its not acceptable. (And) Sometimes, they look at you as if you are beneath them just by using a language that is our own and is unique to Jamaica.

•  Do you believe that patois is not marketable or has you at a disadvantage in the working world?

In relation to Jamaica, yes. As I said before, when you use it to conduct business, when you use it to interact with educated persons, most of the time they look at you as if you’re beneath them. However, when you go outside of Jamaica, then persons crave the creole. They want to learn it. They want to know it. They want to be able to speak it and all a dat. So, it would bring persons to Jamaica but, as it relates to being in Jamaica, um, no its not marketable.

• Can you see a successful society with Patois being spoken and taught in schools by our teachers?

Yes, yes, yes. However, we need to have more persons embracing the language, promoting the language, loving the language.

• Does the love of language reflect on love of self and country?

Yes. Because for me personally, when I travel outside of Jamaica, I want the world to know, I want persons that I interact with, persons I have an influence on. I want them to know that I am from the great Jamaica. That I am from the country where Bob Marley was born. Um, where reggae was created, was born. Um, the country that put reggae on the map. I also want them to know that I am from the country where the great Louise Bennett-Coverly is from. That lady that is always doing those exciting poems and informative poems in creole. I want persons to embrace the language just as much as I embrace it. I am a proud Jamaican and I am proud of the Jamaican creole.

This is just the opinion of one person but every opinion counts. As a nation it is important to listen to the voices around us and take into account their experience. The Jamaican patois is a beautiful language that adds to our rich history. Let us all love and appreciate it.