Our catch phrase is on its way.

Dear Fellow Earthlings,

All human languages are subject to change. A case in point is the English used by Shakespeare compared to modern English: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” from Shakespeares’s Sonnet 18 would probably be more like this if the great poet/dramatist were to write it now:

“Here’s the impression you give me, okay?”

-- or something to that effect. Although the substance of the two lines here is the same, the artistic flair in them differs greatly. And the beauty of Shakespeare’s words are, of course, undisputed.

The Falkland Islands dialect is also beautiful. But, if not studied by its children, this dialect will lose out to eclectic World English due to the simple fact that eclectic World English is developing as globalisation progresses. If the trend toward globalisation continues, more and more people will dress similarly, eat similar foods, and live in similar homes. There is strength in numbers. It is good that the 4-through-9-year old students that I met at the Infant and Primary School in Stanley at the end of July are learning good, practical, eclectic English.

Not knowing how to speak English with a high level of expertise can definitley hamper one’s chances for success in the modern world.

But if the people of the Falkland Islands wish for their land to be recognized fully as one of the family of nations on this Earth, its people (adults as well as children) should be bilingual in the sense that they will be able to speak not only “World English” – but also Falklands English. If they can accomplish this, they will be better able to maintain contact with their island heritage. In tomorrow’s blog I list suggestions that can help this along.

Steve Walker, Earthsaver and Jingles Creator

© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.