Is it true most Jamaicans can't read Patwah?

[Tafadzwa Twabam]

Although many Jamaicans, that is, the ones born and bred there, (not the ones in the diaspora) are fluent and eloquent when it comes to speaking Patwah; I have heard on numerous occasions that many (but not all) Jamaicans are illiterate if given an entire article, or a short story written in Patwah.

Any thoughts on that?

 

[Nolwazi Kwayedza]

I tell you what, your question may trigger som piipl, das fo' sho'. However, in reality, yeah it is true that most Jamaicans can't read nor write an essay entirely in Patwah. It's a language that's mostly spoken than written.

 

[Tafadzwa Twabam]

I tell you what, your question may trigger som piipl, das fo' sho'. However, in reality, yeah it is true that most Jamaicans can't read nor write an essay entirely in Patwah. It's a language that's mostly spoken than written.

Why is that?

 

[Nolwazi Kwayedza]

Why is that?

Today most countries—if not all countries—in the world do business using international English. Even important legal documents in Jamaica are written in formal English. Therefore, most parents and some teachers, lecturers, politicians, etc insist that more emphasis should be put on making sure a pupil is more eloquent in English as opposed to Jamaican Creole so that in the near future if ever they go abroad they can fit in without struggling too much to articulate themselves e.g. a job interview in foreign "Country X."

 

[Scorpio]

@Tafadzwa Twabam E soun laik yu lisn fi rege an daansaal tew moch.

 

[Tafadzwa Twabam]

@Tafadzwa Twabam E soun laik yu lisn fi rege an daansaal tew moch.

What do you mean?

 

[Scorpio]

What do you mean?

Many people assume Patois is also an official language in Jamaica whilst reality says otherwise just like @Nolwazi Kwayedza shi don rait deh for tap.

The major problem with Jamaican Patwah is that there are so many non-standard ways of writing or saying something. I guess we could probably say the same thing about Nigerian Pidgin. There are so many variations. So how will say, for example, an average person understand Jamaican Creole in the midst of confusion?

By the way, to be able to read/write a lengthy piece in Jamaican Patwah, one has to be extremely good in written English. If you can't read/write English and have a strong understanding of English grammar, forget it. And we all know for a fact that even when it comes to most people whose first language is English their grammar skills are terrible. So you can figure out the rest.

Nevertheless, in comparison, Nigerian Pidgin English is less challenging while written Jamaican Creole will give you a headache. But how many people around the world want to read an academic paper written in Jamaican Creole or Nigerian Pidgin? I am just asking.

 

[Lenard]

Watch dis...

 

[Dave Jameson]

It's an English dialect, not a language.