Introduction

In Dominica, children are at the center of a linguistic paradox. Two languages are in tension on their post-colonial island nation: English is the official language of government and schools, while an Afro-French creole commonly called Patwa (also Kwéyòl) has been the oral language of the rural popu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPlaying with Languages p. 1
Main Author Amy L. Paugh
Format Book Chapter
LanguageEnglish
Published Berghahn Books 15.09.2012
Edition1
Subjects
Adults
Applied linguistics
Behavioral sciences
Caregivers
Children
Creoles
Economic disciplines
Economics
Employment
Human behavior
Human populations
Human societies
Labor economics
Language
Language families
Language proficiency
Linguistics
Medical personnel
Mixed languages
Multilingualism
Occupations
Persons
Population studies
Psycholinguistics
School age children
Social behavior
Social dynamics
Social interaction
Social sciences
Socialization
Sociology
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Summary:In Dominica, children are at the center of a linguistic paradox. Two languages are in tension on their post-colonial island nation: English is the official language of government and schools, while an Afro-French creole commonly called Patwa (also Kwéyòl) has been the oral language of the rural population for centuries. In the past education officials and urbanites denigrated Patwa as the impoverished language of poor rural peoples and did not allow their children to speak it. Since independence from Britain in 1978, however, the state and an urban intellectual elite claim that Patwa is integral to the nation’s development and
ISBN:0857457608
9780857457608