The Jamaican Language Unit at the University of the West Indies, Mona is set to release its first major commercial publication, a book titled, “Writing Jamaican the Jamaican Way/ Ou fi Rait Jamiekan”. The book launch takes place on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 6 pm at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, UWI, Mona.

The launch will be hosted by an animated personality, Emcee Jamtik and will be presented in an edutainment format. It features a combination of digital and live performances, including budding dancehall artiste Nickesha Dawkins a.k.a. Gem Sto:n.  She will perform the specially written dancehall song titled, ‘Writing Jamaican the Jamaican Way’.

The book covers several areas including the fundaments of Patwa such as the alphabet, vowels, nasalised vowels and consonants, grammar and use of the language in various settings.  It is designed to teach users how to write the Jamaican Language using the Cassidy standard writing system.  

The book was produced with the help of funding from Carreras Limited as part of a grant made to the Jamaican Language Unit for a series of projects involving the promotion of the Jamaican language.

The public is invited to attend.