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Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
Wednesday, May 25, 2005 – Promoters of the French based Kwéyòl language
met in Martinique recently to examine emerging trends in the language. The
participants gathered under the umbrella of the “Standing Workshop on Kwéyòl,”
which is organised by the International Research and Development Institute, the
University of the French West Indies and the University of Haiti.
Two members of the St. Lucia Kwéyòl Committee represented the island at the
conference which focussed primarily on the Socio- Linguistic Status of Kwéyòl
Language. . The conference drew Linguists, Writers and Educators among many
other Kwéyòl professional practitioners to dialogue on the issues affecting the
growth and development of Kwéyòl in the Kweyolphone Caribbean.
One of the representatives Ms. Lindy Alexander says the conference served as a
platform for participants to increase knowledge and understanding of issues,
examine the reasons behind newly emerging trends of the language and renew or
build new contacts.
“The main items down for reflection at the workshop first of all an update on
the Linguistic and Socio Linguistic situation concerning French Kwéyòl in the
Caribbean area and looked at how the Kwéyòl has evolved both quantitatively and
qualitatively. We also looked at how the language is being normalised and
standardised.”
She says one of the concerns arising during dialogue refers to the trend of
borrowing words from the official language by persons when they’re supposed to
speak strictly in Kwéyòl. This practice was highlighted as a serious threat to
the preservation of the language.
The St. Lucian delegation reported on several progressive strides made in the
recognition and development of Kwéyòl, particularly in government business, the
media and the arts.
“Well we have a lot more good Kwéyòl programmes in the media especially. We have
the Government Information Service, we have the Konsit Kwéyòl and most of the
private stations have Kwéyòl Programming. The Kwéyòl is being spoken; it is now
in Parliament and that‘s a very big step - that the Standing Orders have been
modified in order to present the opening speech by the Governor General in
Kwéyòl.” Ms. Alexander said
Kwéyòl Language producer at the Government Information Service and Radio St
.Lucia Mr. Michael Gaspard was the other Saint Lucian representative at the
conference.
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