Language Awareness A presentation by Charlene Wilkinson and

“Language Awareness” A presentation by Charlene Wilkinson and Kencil Banwarie University of Guyana School of Education and the Humanities Department of Language and Cultural Studies

Use of English is a foundation course required for students who are largely from Creole speaking backgrounds. The course introduces students to language as it is used in academic settings and targets the development of reading and writing skills required for tasks at the university level.

Say whether you agree of disagree with the following questions.

“Creolese” is bad English. People who speak Creolese are not as intelligent as people who speak English. University students should not be allowed to speak Creolese in their classes. The Use of English course should aim to erase your Creolese. The Use of English course should aim to get you to discredit persons who speak Creolese.

OOL TAIM GAIYNIIZ SEEYIN GUYANESE PROVERBS Tiif fram tiif mek Gad laaf. Wan wan doti bil daam. Aal skin tiit a no laaf. Duu fu duu a no obiya.

Guyanese Creole English Han wash han mek han kom kliin. When one hand washes the other, both become clean. Tiif fram tiif mek Gad laaf. Stealing from a thief makes God laugh. Wan wan doti bil daam. We build a dam by patiently adding a little dirt at a time. Aal skin tiit a no laaf. Translatable? Maybe. Duu fu duu a no obiya. Translatable? Maybe.

How do we know when someone is speaking “correctly”?

4. Mi a go maakit. A gaiyin maakit. A goin to di markit. Ai goin to di markit. 5. I am going to the market. 1. 2. 3.

Talk to the person sitting near you. Share some language information about yourself. …………………………………. . Ø Where are you from in Guyana? Ø Where are your families from? Ø How would you say the same thing where you are from? Ø What language are you speaking to your classmate right now? Ø Think of a language experience you have had where you were made to feel ashamed about how you speak. Ø Share this experience with your classmate.

�The Basilect The Mesolect The Acrolect

Creole Continuum Acrolect Urban Mesolect Basilect Rural

Acrolectal English/ Guyanese Standard English Acrolect Mesolect Urban I was goin Basilect Rural ah de goin me bin a go

Continuous tense English > is/are + -ing + verb Guyanese > a + verb Past Tense English> -ed, [several] Guyanese > bin Plurality English > -s, -ee-, [several] Guyanese > dem

A dialect is a VARIETY of a language. A dialect has its own vocabulary, accent, and grammar. Guyanese is a language with various dialects (Essequibian dialect, Berbician dialect, Linden dialect, Georgetown dialect. Standard English is even a dialect of International English. There is British Standard English, Australian Standard English, Indian Standard English, US Standard English, etc.

Isogloss Pancake Sweet roti Chota Dosay Granny belly skin

Mi a go maakit.

A gaiyin maakit. A goin to di markit.

Ai goin to di markit.

“Creolese” is bad English. People who speak Creolese are not as intelligent as people who speak English. University students should not be allowed to speak Creolese in their classes. The Use of English course should aim to erase your Creolese and replace it with English. The Use of English course should aim to promote respect for both languages.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. I expect the lecturer ……………. I expect the objectives of the course ………. I I I I I expect expect expect the course ………………. the lecture …………. . the tutorials …………. the materials …………. the students ……………. the questions …………. the work load …………. the tasks or activities ………………… the assignments …………… my ………….

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