Teachers’ and students’ language attitudes in multilingual Dominica — The Association Specialists
  1. Schedule
  2. SESSION 7: Language and identity
  3. Teachers’ and students’ language attitudes in multilingual Dominica

Teachers’ and students’ language attitudes in multilingual Dominica (19953)

Dagmar Deuber 1 , Véronique Lacoste 2 , Anika Gerfer 1 , Lisa Jansen 1
  1. University of Muenster, Münster, Germany
  2. Université Lumière Lyon 2, Lyon, France

Dominica is a small island country in the Caribbean which was under French occupation and language influence before the English gained political power in 1763. Today, three main language varieties can be identified: (Standard) English (StE) as the official language and medium of formal teaching, Dominican Creolized English (DCE), and Kwéyòl (the local French-based Creole) (Bryan & Burnette 2003; Christie 1994, 2010).

This attitude study employs a direct approach consisting of guided interviews with teachers and students from two Dominican schools. Apart from inquiring about their own command and use of Dominica’s language varieties, the interviewers investigated associations with said varieties, particularly in the school context. The results demonstrate that, from an attitudinal point of view, StE and DCE are clearly separated from one another: StE, which is not associated with a particular exonormative role model, is described as proper and correct, while DCE is labeled as broken and improper. Moreover, the use of DCE is spreading, and some teachers state that it impedes their students from acquiring StE. Meanwhile, although Kwéyòl continues to diminish, it is viewed favourably as a part of Dominica’s French heritage and a language spoken among family and friends.

The interviews provide attitudinal information suggesting a shift in Dominica’s language situation. A possible prospect is that in future generations DCE will probably become even more prominent. Extra-territorial forces such as globalization and new media will strengthen the already high attraction and influence of English.

  1. Bryan, B, & Burnette, R. (2003). Language variation and language use among teachers in Dominica. In M. Aceto & J. P. Williams (Eds.), Contact Englishes of the Eastern Caribbean (pp. 141–153). Benjamins.
  2. Christie, P. (1994). Language preference in two communities in Dominica, West Indies. La Linguistique, 30(2), 7–16.
  3. Christie, P. (2010). From English for Dominicans to Dominican English. Caribbean Quarterly, 56(3), 55–69.