Young Professionals : the relevance of native Mauritian Creole

On the 21st February, the International Mother Language Day is being celebrated worldwide. In Mauritius, the Creole language has evolved over the years. It is now being taught as an academic subject in schools. Still, the language is used mostly as a vehicle for communication purposes only. Should the language be brought to another level?

Bibi Mehtab Sheik Abdoola : “There is not enough support for our native language”

Mehtaab argues that Kreol remains the vernacular language of most Mauritians. “The Mauritian Creole has undeniably evolved over time. Today, dictionaries and guide books are available on the market to provide a deeper insight, clarity and standardisation when it comes to writing in Creole. Additionally, more legislative support had been pouring in since 2012, whereby students in primary schooling could opt to study Creole as an academic subject. Be it at educational institutions (primary, secondary or tertiary levels) or within the workplace – just to name a few - the common languages used for written and/or spoken purposes are French and English, unless ‘informal’ conversations are being made between friends and colleagues in Creole.”

She further states that there is not enough support for our native language when it comes to communication at ‘formal’ places. “There is a need to preserve the uniqueness and beauty of our mother tongue. However, embracing different languages at various settings will simply give Mauritius a competitive edge at multifarious levels.”

Maoomar Hoota : “Creole language must been couraged”

Creole language stands as a link between different communities in Mauritius, highlights Maoomar. “Creole language must be encouraged as a child’s first language is critical to his or her identity. Maintaining this language helps the child to value his or her culture and heritage, which contributes to build a positive personality and sense of belonging. By encouraging the Creole language, parents can prepare the child to interact more easily with the native language community.”

He further adds that “students need uninterrupted intellectual development. When students, who are not yet fluent in English, switch to using only English, they are functioning at an intellectual level below their age. Interrupting intellectual development in this manner is likely to result in academic failure. However, when parents and children speak Creole language, they are both working at their actual level of intellectual maturity, as children learn and understand better in their mother tongue. Mauritians easily understand three languages: Creole, French and English, but Creole remains the most frequent spoken language in our daily life.”

Gujraz Soumesh : “Mauritian Creole stands firmly rooted”

The Mauritian Creole has been most predominantly present in the lives of the majority of people, says Gurjraz. “Our Mauritian Creole stands firmly rooted in the lives of Mauritians. With the high amount of literacy in Mauritius, we can find different types of Mauritian Creole throughout the island due to code-mixing and code-switching.”

He believes that the use of Mauritian Creole should indeed be encouraged since this language is a legacy from our ancestors, be it in our educational system or our social and cultural contexts. “The use of Creole is now present in our classes, where it acts as a mere facilitator for both teaching and learning. This language helps the teacher to put his students in comfort zones where they find it easier to understand and approach learning concepts.”

Ashna Somah : “Local language will be forever preserved”

Creole is indeed a delightful and colourful language, avers Ashna. “It acts a means of transmitting Mauritian culture, values and traditional awareness, therefore encourages national unity, and social solidarity based on mutual understanding, tolerance and conversation among locals, too. Mauritians use Bhojpuri, French and English languages to a certain extent in their daily lives. Creole, however, remains the most spoken language.”

She argues that Creole is verbally present at home, social gatherings or with friends, and also well appreciated in Sega, the local music. “Despite this fact, more importance is put on the use of English and French in our Mauritian educational system. Creole is now being taught, enabling better communication, facilitating greater understanding and higher academic performances among students. For example, it is easier to explain concepts in subjects that are more difficult to fathom in English or French. Creole language can act as a mediator  for bridging differences, therefore, bringing positive changes in future and should continue to be encouraged, even though there can be some hurdles along the way. In this context, a vital, contributing factor is well-trained teachers. As such, Creole as the local language will be forever preserved by our next generation.”