Home »

[intruder]

I was just thinking about this. Not too long ago I realized that one of my distant cousins did not speak kreyol or barely understood very little of it.

Now at first I didn't see anything wrong with it until one day we were at a party and he felt left out by everyone speaking kreyol and he being the only person present that didn't understand any of what was going on or very little.

That made me think and then I realized something: All the years I knew his mother I never once heard him speak kreyol to any of her children.

In fact it seemed to me that the only time she spoke kreyol was when speaking to my mother and a few others. Even when I myself would speak to her in kreyol she had this habit of responding in English. I didn't make much of it at the time but I guess as they say "only time will tell" and it did because even nowadays my cousin kinda feels she did him a disservice.

Now i know i'm not the only one who has come accross parents that do this.

[kabaret]

ignorant haitian are being stupid for not teaching thier kids kreyol .they think amerika is thiers i'm sorry for them

[panoramix]

This hapenned to my nephews and neices not on purpose but mostly because once they started daycare and kindergarten they would only speak english.

[devildogg92]

you are right pana, my daughter understand cannot speak it, she is never in the house and I am always away. one thing some parents do not want their to speak creole I know that for a fact at the same they hardly speak English them self, I am doing everything to make sure my daughter speaks French, creole and Japanese.

[bana2166]

Haitian family are not the only one facing that issue ... Spanish, Asian and African families are facing the same issue when they migrate to Foreign Country (or US) ...

its up to the parents to impute Haitian family value and Haitian family culture into their children .. .instead of whether what language they speak or don't

I have to admit also my sons does not speak Kreole either but man do they love haitian music (Carimi, Zin, Tabou and Etc) ... ..You should hear them signing Kreole Songs and dancing to the beat .. ...

Me & my Wife died laughing and explaining to them what the songs is saying ..

Look ... Language is a complicate issue for US (Haitian) in our community .... We even have that issue at home (Do we speak Kreole or French in Haiti)

I am not saying its an excuse but everybody try to do the best they can with the situation ... I am more interested in in stealling Haitian values & culture into my son then whether he speaks kreole, french or english .. but that is my opinion

I know people are going too disagree but thats my opinion ..

[Ambrosia]

The fact that most Haitians are ashamed of Haiti, themselves and each other they don't feel proud to teach the kids about home, the language, the cultures etc... but it's not too late to start.

[haitiwebs]

That has nothing to do with shame. Pano has it figured out. If the kids are more comfortable in English, which is normal, then we speak to them in English if we want to be heard.

[Lei Lei]

I think there is a difference between parents who purposely do NOT teach their kids Kreyol and children who simply do not pick of the language or children who just feel more comfortable speaking another language "English" for example. A parent who purposely does not teach their child or kids to speak Kreyol in my opinion is doing them an injustice. Nationality is where we or our kids are born. Race is who we are. And we as Haitian have a responsibility to our kids to let them know who and where they come from. We have a responsibility to teach them the customs, traditions and language. Now if they chose not to use the information supplied to them, or exercises and practice the knowledge given that's on them. If they feel more comfortable speaking English in the home, that's on them too. But they can't make me speak it. LOL. Oh and best believe if I speak they will answer. I don't care if it's in English or kreyol. But they will answer. Many kids growing up now, start school and most of their friends speak English. Mine are a prime example. However, I speak kreyol to them. They understand, what I am saying, requesting or telling them to do. Remember, before the kids went to school, they were home. Back to the basics, it starts at home. Teaching them "values and culture" we have to ensure they can understand the roots to it all. Why the slave owners' couldn't understand the language? Why some of our words, are a French, Spanish or English derivative. At the end of the day, our kids are our kids and we try and raise them the best way we see fit, for what we think is a better outcome for them. The language situation here in the states English vs. creole is a little different from the language debate in Haiti Creole or French. Now I might be wrong, but in Haiti Creole or French is more of a social class issue. if you went to school and you are educated you speak French. Those less fortunate speak kreyol. I mean don't get me wrong and I am not trying to be insulting but from what I've seen, it seemed to be true. Verses, here in the states, English is the primary language, so its more of a majority rule, that's just what gets spoken here and if you want to be able to communicate unless you are also fluent in Spanish you will have to learn it.

[mezanmi]

Great point Lei Lei.

I haven't heard from u for a long time. How are things?

[Lei Lei]

I'm better thanks for asking.

I'm ready to get in the swing of things now. I am going to get my head right and the lessons out.