Viewers express preference for Kriol on news transcript
If you’re watching this newscast on television or streaming video then this next story may not mean much. The fact is, however, that thousands of viewers rely on the printed transcript of the news which appears on our website, channel5belize.com. And while the site is among the nation’s most popular, over the last ten years a small corps of readers has consistently complained about the transcription of Kriol in our stories. It is too difficult to read they say, and prefer that Kriol speech be paraphrased in English. We too have wrestled with the problem of how to preserve the flavour and emotion of Kriol speech while at the same time translating the meaning into what is admittedly a cumbersome read. In an effort to resolve the problem last week we asked internet viewers to express their preference on the issue. Over the course of four days we were swamped by close to a hundred replies, ranging from a single sentence to several pages. The mail ran over two to one in favour of keeping the Kriol and on both sides people were surprisingly passionate.
Here are some samples:
“I enjoy the news in Kriol, please noh change it!”
“I say continue printing the news just the way it is. I was born in Los Angeles but my parents are Belizean and I enjoy reading the Kriol language.”
“I love the written Kriol! I had the pleasure of living in Belize City for two years with the Peace Corps. I enjoy trying to pronounce the language I loved to hear daily in Belize.”
“I’m a Belizean living in Costa Rica. I really think that you should type the news in English and not Creole. And furthermore, instruct the reporters to stop asking questions in Creole. Every Belizean understands proper English. To look at me and speak Creole because that is all you think I understand is almost as insulting as using baby talk.”
“Everyone in Belize reads English. Not everyone in and outside of Belize can transcribe Kriol. The simple solution is to use English.”
“Hi, I’m in Canada but in my heart a Belizean. In fact, I’m born in Belize and even though I don’t speak much Creole, I love to read it. Keep the Belizean taste in there.”
“I say leave the Kriol flavour in the news. I love to translate it to my son so he can get a real understanding of his roots.”
“I think the first language in Belize is English; the news should be written in English.”
“Eliminate the Kriol quotes and report in proper English please.”
“Leff de Kriol as is! Dat ah one ah de main reason why me always come read de news!”
“If they can’t read it, they need to keep reading until they get it. Read it out loud. I did and enjoy reading. It makes me feel like I am home. PLEASE DO NOT STOP.”
And, based on those reactions, we will not stop, although we will try to keep the Kriol quotes short and easily digestible. As for spelling, we rely on the Kriol Dikshineri recently published by the Belize Kriol Projek, which is available at bookstores nationwide. We’d like to thank all those internet viewers who responded to our request and please feel free to keep the comments coming on any subject of interest.
