Dear Editor,
Let us not kid ourselves. Guyana is not an English Language speaking country. We all grew up using the Guyanese Creolese, so unless we will stay in school, and complete secondary level, and in good standing too, we will always have problems with Standard English at every level, that is, speech and writing. Even so, our learned ones manifest language blunders, so profuse, they have ‘standardised’ the ‘incorrect’ and the ‘inappropriate.’ First example please, (and barring a few) when we listen to the Members of Parliament, Government Officers, and employees of the Voice of Guyana, we get a ‘barrel full’ of ridiculous pronunciations, and I am not talking about foreign names and places alone. This lot have not become accustomed to, nor are they trained in the ‘finer’ forms of pronunciations, such as the occurrences of ‘th’, ‘thr’, ‘ing’ (as against ‘in’) etc., so what we get are things like ‘torty’ (for 30), ‘torty tree’ (for 33), ‘tree’ hundred (for 300), ‘singin’ (for singing) etc.
Worse is when we get and accept ‘immEEdate’ (for imme-di-ate), ‘cerTINITY’ (for certainty), and ‘sovereignIty’ (for ‘sovereignty’). I can go on and fill a book with these fundamental language follies. Believe me, I heard ‘vissectitude’ (for vicissitude). But like I just stated, these forms have become the ‘standard’ to the point that even our teachers and lecturers instinctively speak without adhering to the British and American versions (except when they ‘sound off’ their ‘d’ sounds in place of the ‘t’ in words like ‘Peter’ (becoming ‘Peeda’), ‘shout out’ (like ‘shoud-out’), ‘say it out loud’ (as though it is ‘say-id-oud’ etc.). By the way, Dave Martins’ “Copy Cat” prophesied on this years ago. Just the other day, our cricket commentators were overdoing ‘sorta’ (for sort of), ‘a lodda’ (for a lot of), ‘gonna’ (for going to) and ‘wanna’ (for want to).
Editor, when Munesh Dutt viciously and vociferously complains (in his Oct 10 Letter- “Live cricket commentary in shambles-a lost art), I am with him, but in a different and sympathetic manner. He desires “… some level of change … noting that under Minister Kwame McKoy’s present watch … (inclusive of) four (high-paying) experts in the basic use of language (and he goes on to name them), that “… quality and professionalism are far removed from international standards and expectations”. He opines that, “Maybe the very heads need reassessment and placements.” Well! Well! If we are to go along with him, then what will we have? For one, we will end up with far ‘too much’ editing work where Government Ministers and Officials are concerned. The writing may be rectified, but what of the audio in terms of basic grammar and pronunciation?
I amusingly posit that in the ‘disgusting’ and ‘ever-repeating’ “Information for Nation Building,” we can get a repository of ‘language flaws.’ Then, unless these strategic positions are ‘rightfully’ and ‘carefully’ filled by Presidential edicts, then there is the potential for grave danger (as was possibly the case with the Attorney General, in the leaked judgement of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)). Let us remember that in today’s world of reality, when politics is buttressed by expertise and qualifications, it is great. Other than that, ‘politics’ rule at the expense of ‘education, qualifications and expertise.’ That will never change, and hence, the Dr. Irfaan Ali Government media will always be with the Kwamees and their ‘strategic’ lot. (Never mind proficiency and professionalism). After all, Guyanese care little for effective and accurate language use and standards, as these do not necessarily foil the intent of communication.
Finally, who cares about ‘cricket commentary and commentators’? The world has changed. Time is more exacting and most people pick up the scores most readily, even in the most première of competitions. The phone is now the avenue for most people and for everything. Yes, Naim Chan, indeed may be for some, Guyana’s premiere radio cricket commentator, and he may even be so at the regional level, but who cares, and who will pay him as a ‘professional’ and a ‘well-trained’ employee? I guess that is why he is absent or being kept away. His level is clearly above the rest. Take notice please at what are the happenings at National Communications Network Inc. There are the unprecedented rapid disappearances and numerous staff-turnovers; the transitory nature of the ‘newbies’; and the untrained ‘fit-ins’ (family, relatives and friends of the Government coterie). So, there will be ‘no change’ or ‘a change for the worst.’
Sincerely,
Carlessa Debreu
