LITERESI BILENG AVANSE - boukie banane

MAURITIAN CREOLE, IDENTITY AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
There seems to be some misunderstanding which should be cleared.
A pidgin becomes a Creole language when it becomes the mother tongue of a group.
In the very early days of European colonialism there was, according to scholars, a nautical
pidgin/lingua-franca spoken by seafarers based in the Mediterranean. Most probably this
rudimentary language was adopted and adapted by slaves and slave masters for basic
communication. When children of slaves were born it became their mother tongue. Consequently it
is true to say that Mauritian Creole in its earlier form was/is the ancestral language of the
descendants of slaves.
The indentured labourers who arrived later adopted the language and influenced its growth in terms
of phonology, grammar and vocabulary. It is not surprising that Mauritian Creole is now the mother
tongue of approximately 80% of the population. The remaining 20% use it as a second language. This
is why we can safely say that it is the de-facto National Language of the Republic of Mauritius.
It is to be noted here that the belief that a Creole language is a debased, corrupt form of French
(broken French) is sheer nonsense. All experts agree that English, this most prestigious language, is
in fact a highly developed Creole language. Who would dare call it “a debased, corrupt form of
French”?
The request made by FCM to introduce Mauritian Creole as a subject in primary schools is perfectly
legitimate and in no way reduces the importance of our National Language as a vital instrument of
nation building. Eventually Mauritian Creole will become Morisien and will enter the curriculum as
medium and language of higher studies. It's just a question of time. Mauritian Creole as a subject at
primary level will reinforce the 3 R's, improve knowledge of grammar and allow for a smoother
passage to English, the other Creole language which is our official language.
03.02.10
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