Language is what most distinctly differentiates man from animal. In his journey from slime to stars language has been the one essential tool that has accompanied man all the way. The forceful use of language has always been the mark of high achievement. The clear and exact use and understanding of language spread wide through any society from childhood is one absolutely essential requirement for rapid national progress. Nothing is more important than that we get this right in organizing education in the nation.
Let me emphasise that this is not for the sake of producing great literature – though that might be an excellent by-product – nor for the sake of a generally more cultured society – though that also would be no bad thing once you take care to define culture widely enough. The widespread ability to communicate clearly and concisely and to comprehend written and spoken messages is vital not for the sake of great literature or cultural sophistication but because it is essential in the daily working lives of the farmer, the businessman, the engineer or chemist, the administrator, the accountant, the agronomist, the banker and the thousand and one other movers and doers in society.
In addition, the ordinary citizen simply functions better as a citizen if he has ingrained in him the fundamentals of using language. All men and women without exception benefit in the ordinary course of their lives from the ability to understand a logical argument, comprehend the exact meaning of words and use language clearly in explaining things, describing events, solving problems and discussing his or her or the nation’s affairs. Quite apart from anything else, such an ability builds self-confidence in the citizenry and a self-confident citizenry enables a nation to function more effectively.
It is therefore dismaying to sense the decay in the proper use and comprehension of the English language in the nation. This is not just a feeling one has, derived from every day business dealings and social experience over the past few years. It goes back a long way. The study by David Cox of the University of Guyana on English examination results in seven Caricom countries, including Guyana, in the period 1960 – 1984 supplied proof of the precipitous decline in English language skills in that period. That study, by the way, is an important one. It should be brought up to date. I do not believe the trend towards semi-literacy has been reversed.
Let us be clear what we are talking about. The inability to use and understand language clearly and with precision handicaps a person for life. I do not think I am exaggerating. Such a disability is more serious than a deformed hand or leg for instance. Thousands of crippled and deaf and blind people have made outstanding contributions to mankind. Not one person useless in comprehending clearly what is communicated and inferior in using language has ever made his or her mark in the world.
In Guyana I do not believe that anything is more important than that this should be appreciated and acted upon. In recent years greater emphasis, I believe, has been placed on the teaching of English in the schools. Much more should be done. Emergency programmes to increase the number of trained teachers of English – or even import them – and to improve English teaching standards in the schools should be stepped up. The National Library should have its budget for new books and its extension services doubled, tripled and quadrupled. All such investments would be repaid to the nation and our society a hundred times in the coming generation.
