The Editor, Sir:

I disagree with the number of people who believe that it is a good idea to translate the Bible into patois. What would be the purpose of this besides ego stroking? It is true that in non-English speaking cultures the Bible is best rendered in the language of that culture. Does Jamaica fall into that category? I do not think so.

If this is to legitimise Patois as a language then this would be redundant as Patois is already generally accepted as a bona fide language to many linguistic scholars. If this is to raise dollars using this Patois Bible as a souvenir item to tourists, this would be a cheapening of this important document. We already have the tourist tract: 'How to Speak Jamaican'.

Research purposes

Is this just an exercise then to do the translation and file the books away on library shelves for scholastic and research endeavours? This seems to be the best use of such a translation, because what the proponents are overlooking is that if one can't read English then definitely one cannot read Patois!

Patois is largely a spoken language. If you happen to be literate in patois you will also be literate in English.

Understandably, the King James version of the Bible presents some difficulty with its unique (and to some, beautiful) prose. However, there are other modern translations in standard English that are more readily understood. A person is not converted to Christianity by their ability to read, but rather through cultural influences and the spoken word. It is my contention that illi-terate individuals will benefit not from written Patois, but by spoken Patois as is now the practice.

I am, etc.,

LORENZO FORBES

lorforbes@comcast.net