The Evolutionary Journey of Language through Various Lenses

ENG 2100 might be my first introductory writing class that I took in college, but it offered me so much in terms of a broadened perspective of the world via a diverse range of languages and literature. This class gave me a platform and became my safe haven to express my version of English which I once thought was ‘broken.’ For instance: My “Research Based Argumentative Essay” was based on refuting creole’s title as being a “broken language” and instead argued that it was rather a language of connection. I achieved the course’s objective number four: Identify and engage with multiple sources in your writing. By using three sources, I have employed a diverse range perspectives which helped me to identify contrasts and connections between them. This helped to strengthen a nuanced explanation for my stance that creole is a language of connection through, culture identity and evolution. I first analyzed a non-academic source by Catherine Ramlakhan titled “Hindi’s Influence on Guyanese Creole” which was published on the CUNY Academic Commons website. This source provided me with some insights on the origins of creole specific to my native country, Guyana. “Linguistic fusion occurred as Hindi speakers were exposed to English, incorporating English words and phrases into their Hindi centered communication” (Ramlakhan). It also portrayed creole as a language which evolved into everyday communication in Guyana today. “Many West Indian people to date, utilize the Hindi name of vegetables in our day-to-day cooking” (Ramlakhan). In general, analyzing this source helped me to prove my stance on creole’s evolutionary nature simultaneously dismissing its title as being “broken.”

The second source I used deviated from language experiences that were confined to the locality of Guyana. It extended to another Caribbean island, Martinique. In this scholarly source, A French poet from Martinique Patrick Chameiseau explores the way language, most specifically creole, lends authenticity to his characters in his literature pieces. “Creolization involves expressing a vision of the world such as mine, like the one [Martinicans] use here to describe a character, a situation” (Chamoiseau). This source helped me to reiterate the idea that language has evolved into people’s identities and transcends the label of just mere communication. I further synthesized this source with my third source. This was a course reader titled “3 ways to speak English” by Jamila Lyiscott. Here Lyiscott explored the struggles of someone alternating between different versions of English and in the process suppresses their creole language. This source expands on the reception and purpose of creole beyond the Caribbean region. However, Lyiscott feels empowered by this alternation because for her, it is a symbol of being articulate. “And my answer is tainted with a connotation of urbanized suggestion / There’s no misdirected intention / Pay attention ‘Cause I’m “articulate” (Lyiscott). When synthesizing sources two and three, I was forced to arrive at a consensus by identifying common themes between Chamoiseau and Lyiscott’s opinion. I argued that both sources emphasized the connective nature of creole. It helped to expand my claim of an evolved and not ‘broken’ creole by integrating the opinions and personal testimonies of various writers. I also learnt to cite the works of other authors to reflect writings that are not mine. This helped to broaden my point of view and closely examine the opinions reflected in many different writings and literature pieces. I was also not confined to just a visual text where you can read the entirety of it word by word. One of my three sources used was a video: Lyiscott’s “3 Ways to speak English.” This TED Talk made it possible for me to have an auditory sense of Lyiscott’s emotion and have a better understanding of the message she was conveying. Holistically speaking, ENG 2100 made me identify and engage in credible sources which lent a nuanced structure to my essay. This helped me to convey my message with ease and left almost no room for ambiguity. It helped me to express myself on a topic which I have really underestimated its impact before.