Dear Editor,
Like many Guyanese I mourn the loss of a great son of Guyana, Professor Richard Allsopp. I have a great appreciation for his work as a linguist who chronicled the history and importance of the Caribbean speech which has given an identity to the Caribbean people. It is fascinating to read Allsopp’s work of word origins of Caribbean, and more so Guyanese vernacular, such as ‘matie’ and ‘vamoose,’ and his critique of non-verbal communication, such as the ‘suck-teeth’ and ‘cut-eye.’
The many things we say and do that serve to give Guyanese nationals an identity, Prof Allsopp took the time and patience to study for our benefit and edification. His contribution should be treated with great respect and appreciation from scholars to the common man. His work should instil in us a sense of pride about who we are, and our uniqueness within the Caribbean community of nations.
Prof Richard Allsopp is to Guyana what Ms Louise Bennett-Coverley, commonly called Ms Lou, is to Jamaica for deconstructing creolese and patois respectively, to inspire the necessity of embracing one’s identity and culture. I believe the time has come to make his work on ‘Guyana talk’ available for all Guyanese to access, along with other relevant literature to remind us of our identity and culture that is diminishing with time and Western cultural penetration.
Yours faithfully,
Jermaine Grant
