The Haitian Creole Language: History, Structure, Use, and Education

by Arthur K. Spears (Editor), Carole M. Berotte Joseph (Editor), Marc Prou (Foreword by), Elizabeth Barrows (Contribution by), Yves Dejean (Contribution by)

Overview

The Haitian Creole Language is the first book that deals broadly with a language that has too long lived in the shadow of French. With chapters contributed by the leading scholars in the study of Creole, it provides information on this language's history; structure; and use in education, literature, and social interaction. Although spoken by virtually all Haitians, Creole was recognized as the co-official language of Haiti only a little over twenty years ago. The Haitian Creole Language provides essential information for professionals, other service providers, and Creole speakers who are interested in furthering the use of Creole in Haiti and the Haitian diaspora. Increased language competencies would greatly promote the education of Creole speakers and their participation in the social and political life of their countries of residence. This book is an indispensable tool for those seeking knowledge about the centrality of language in the affairs of Haiti, its people, and its diaspora.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739172216
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	09/24/2012
Series:	Caribbean Studies
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	745,875
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Arthur K. Spears is Professor of Linguistics and Anthropology at The Graduate Center of The City University of New York (CUNY). He is also Chair of the Anthropology Department and Director of Black Studies at The City College, CUNY. Dr. Spears’s research is in the areas of African American English; pidgin and creole languages, focusing on Haitian and other French-lexifier creoles; language and education; race and ideology; and controversial words. In addition to being the founder and first editor of Transforming Anthropology, the journal of the Association of Black Anthropologists, he is the former president of the Society for Pidgin and Creole Linguistics, an international body devoted to the study of language contact worldwide.

Carole M. Berotte Joseph is the President of The Bronx Community College of The City University of New York. She serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of the New York State Association for Bilingual Education and Wadabagei, a journal dealing with the Caribbean and its diaspora. Born in Haiti, Dr. Berotte Joseph has lectured exten¬sively on educational policy issues facing Haitian com¬munities in the United States and in Haiti.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
A Tribute to Yves Dejean & Albert Valdman
Chapter 1. Introduction: The Haitian Creole Language
PART I: HISTORY
Chapter 2. The History of Haiti in Brief
Chapter 3. The Languages of Haitians and the History of Creole: Haiti and Its Diaspora
PART II: STRUCTURE AND USE
Chapter 4. Orthography
Chapter 5. Regional and Social Varieties of Haitian Creole
Chapter 6. Creole-English Code-Switching in New York City
Chapter 7. Creole and French in Haitian Literature
PART III: EDUCATION
Chapter 8. Education in Haiti
Chapter 9. Creole and Education in Haiti
Chapter 10. Creole in Education in Haiti: A Case Study
Chapter 11. Haitians in the U.S.: Language, Politics & Education
Chapter 12. Cultural Context, Cognitive Processes, and the Acquisition of Literacy
Chapter 13. Haitian Children's Education: Orality, Literacy & Technology

Editorial Reviews

This book could not be more timely, when so many observers worldwide are analyzing Haiti as they assist in the rebuilding of this long beleaguered nation. As it turns out, one of the fundamental impediments in building a better Haiti for all has long been a thorough misuse of language in its education system: French is still used as the major language of instruction even though it is, in effect, a foreign language for the majority of Haitians. These chapters will instill better knowledge and respect of Haiti and Haitian Creole and will promote Haiti's national language both as an indispensable language of instruction at all levels of Haiti's education system and as an important topic of research in Haiti and beyond. Such promotion of Haitian Creole will contribute to the socioeconomic betterment of monolingual Haitian Creole speakers-the vast majority of Haitians in Haiti. Altogether the contributors to this anthology are to be commended for their exemplary use of scholarship toward progressive social change. The book's lucid analyses of the impact of neo-colonial ideology on language policy are also relevant to language-related social struggles outside of Haiti (witness, say, the "Ebonics" debate in the U.S.).

This book presents a rich global take on language practice in Haiti and the Haitian Diaspora, especially in North America. The contributors, most of them established Haitian scholars, present informative perspectives on the colonial and post-colonial history of Haiti (focusing on the contacts of populations and of their languages, as well as on the consequences of the gradual demise of its formal economy since the Haitian Revolution). They also explore the emergence and structures of Haitian Creole, its ethnographic status against that of French, and issues regarding its graphic system and its use in education. Linguists and non-linguists alike will appreciate having so much useful information provided in a prose that is very accessible. Spears and Joseph have set an outstanding example that can be followed for other creole vernaculars.

From the Publisher

This book could not be more timely, when so many observers worldwide are analyzing Haiti as they assist in the rebuilding of this long beleaguered nation. As it turns out, one of the fundamental impediments in building a better Haiti for all has long been a thorough misuse of language in its education system: French is still used as the major language of instruction even though it is, in effect, a foreign language for the majority of Haitians. These chapters will instill better knowledge and respect of Haiti and Haitian Creole and will promote Haiti's national language both as an indispensable language of instruction at all levels of Haiti's education system and as an important topic of research in Haiti and beyond. Such promotion of Haitian Creole will contribute to the socioeconomic betterment of monolingual Haitian Creole speakers-the vast majority of Haitians in Haiti. Altogether the contributors to this anthology are to be commended for their exemplary use of scholarship toward progressive social change. The book's lucid analyses of the impact of neo-colonial ideology on language policy are also relevant to language-related social struggles outside of Haiti (witness, say, the "Ebonics" debate in the U.S.).

Michel DeGraff

This book presents a rich global take on language practice in Haiti and the Haitian Diaspora, especially in North America. The contributors, most of them established Haitian scholars, present informative perspectives on the colonial and post-colonial history of Haiti (focusing on the contacts of populations and of their languages, as well as on the consequences of the gradual demise of its formal economy since the Haitian Revolution). They also explore the emergence and structures of Haitian Creole, its ethnographic status against that of French, and issues regarding its graphic system and its use in education. Linguists and non-linguists alike will appreciate having so much useful information provided in a prose that is very accessible. Spears and Joseph have set an outstanding example that can be followed for other creole vernaculars.

Salikoko S. Mufwene

This groundbreaking volume has the principal purpose of substantiating that HC [Haitian Creole] is a legitimate language that is vital in the education of HC-speaking students.. . .The strength of The Haitian Creole Language is its examination of HC through multiple lenses, providing a broad scope of the language that substantiates the legitimacy of HC.. . .With this unprecedented volume, S[pears] & J[oseph] have provided the first book to introduce readers to an extensive range of information on HC. In addition, their work more broadly contributes to the conversation and research on creole languages worldwide and on creole languages in the Caribbean in particular, benefiting a wide range of audiences, including teacher educators, researchers on Haiti, creole linguists, and even readers with a general interest in Haiti.

Journal Of Pidgin and Creole Languages