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Caribbean Langauge Charter

CHARTER ON LANGUAGE POLICY AND LANGUAGE RIGHTS INTHE CREOLE-SPEAKING CARIBBEAN

The Charter on Language Policy and Language Rights in the Creole-Speaking Caribbean promotes linguistic equality and protects the language rights of people in Caribbean societies where Creole languages are widely spoken. The Charter recognizes that Caribbean Creoles are legitimate languages and should be respected alongside official languages such as English, French, or Dutch.

Its main purposes include:

  • Protecting Language Rights
  • The Charter affirms that speakers of Creole languages have the right to use their language in education, government, the courts, media, and public life without discrimination.
  • Promoting Equality and Social Justice
  • It seeks to reduce the stigma attached to Creole languages and challenges the idea that only European languages are suitable for formal or academic use.
  • Improving Education
  • The Charter encourages educational systems to use students’ native Creole languages as part of teaching and learning. This helps improve comprehension, literacy, and academic success.
  • Preserving Caribbean Cultural Identity
  • Creole languages are viewed as an important part of Caribbean heritage and identity. The Charter supports their preservation and development.
  • Encouraging Language Development
  • It promotes research, writing systems, literature, and official recognition for Creole languages so they can function effectively in all areas of society.
  • Supporting Multilingualism
  • The Charter does not reject official European languages; instead, it supports bilingualism or multilingualism, where Creole and official languages can coexist and complement each other.

Overall, the Charter aims to ensure that Creole-speaking people are treated with dignity and that their languages are valued as important tools for communication, education, and cultural expression.

You may READ or DOWNLOAD the Policy below.

 

 

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