Language identifies a culture and helps to shape its identity; the forcible removal of one’s language can cause low self-esteem and an inauthentic identity. Unfortunately, this is a common experience I have come across in Guyana. I often hear parents admonish their children to “speak properly.” This means speaking the language of our former colonisers; it is laced with underlying meanings and is not something that many people think deeply about. Or maybe they do and are protecting their children from the prejudice of speaking Guyanese creole.
‘Speak properly’ suggests that the speaker of Guyanese creole is improper; that their mode of expression is not suitable for the ears. A person’s language is a naturally acquired tool and to assimilate to another language is denying a language the means to express and showcase its people’s culture and uniqueness. Of course, there are times when we have to assimilate. If we need to speak to a foreigner who might not understand creole, then code switching can be appropriate. But to assimilate because the society is prejudiced against it is problematic.
If speakers think they are improper, then it can lead to them feeling inadequate. They will hide parts of themselves to fit in and believe themselves to be inferior to those who ‘speak properly’. Inferiority can result in low self-esteem where speakers can believe that they are not good enough. This means that their mode of expression will be in a language that was not acquired at birth, but taught in schools.
This mode of expression is often rewarded and creolese is often punished. Whenever we go to job interviews, we try our best to ‘speak properly’ to secure the job. If we were to speak creole, then the interviewer might deem us not educated and perhaps not suitable for the job. The fact is that jobs should be measured based on competence and not on the language an interviewee speaks. But so embedded is language prejudice in our society that both the interviewer and interviewee have accepted this unsaid rule. It is a form of control and it erases the person’s identity. Of course, the affirmation of one’s identity outside of structure is a tool I have noticed exploited by businesses and politicians.
Businesses know how to manipulate language, especially when they are trying to secure customers. I did not give this much thought until I worked on a film called Kriiyoliiz (creolese) written by Janice Imhoff and it was evident that many billboards use creole when communicating with potential customers. I captured billboards that leaned into creole, but there is the rule that creolese must not be spoken in professional settings. Creolese is for the usage of the common man, but those businesses need the common man to stay afloat. As soon as the common man realises his language has power and can take him places he can embrace it and see its value. Of course, politicians are smart enough to exploit this known fact about creolese. Government workplaces also have that unspoken rule, a person must “speak properly” at an interview. Yet, at political rallies when the ministers are being rambunctious and blasting their opponents their tongues fully embrace creolese, because they understand that this language can reach the people easily and they exploit it to capture votes. It reaches the people for personal gain but is also used to diminish their value.
Whenever I think of embracing creole, my mind inevitably goes to Jamaica. The country has produced great musicians who have embraced their sound and did not try to assimilate the sounds of other landscapes. There is only one Jamaica and its musicians and their language make an impact around the world. It is one of the most recognisable accents and languages because people saw its value and exported it.
There is a portion of the population which ridicules popular figures when they do not “speak properly” and it is assumed the person is unintelligent. But language has nothing to do with intelligence; maybe education and class. But anyone can reason and have logical arguments irrespective of their language. So, perhaps I can understand why parents would shelter their children and tell them to speak properly. They do not want them to be ridiculed by society. This might be a good intention, but children will not understand the power their language has. Respect for one’s language creates a sense of value in oneself and everything is interconnected.
When people value themselves and their culture, they can believe in their dreams. It is important for Guyanese to see our language represented in a way that does not invite ridicule.
