We may call this one an amalgamation blog. Over the last few weeks or months rather, we’ve been discussing various concepts and how they relate to the Caribbean. Now we’ll combine them and see what we are able to come up with.

The Caribbean is a region which consists of plurality and diversity and this is due to the different colonial powers that were present as well as the mixing between different ethnic groups during times of slavery. This is one of the reasons why there is so much controversy surrounding a single identity because how can there possibly be a single Caribbean identity when there is so much diversity sometimes even within a single territory. However, there still remain common grounds on which the Caribbean may be identified as one and that is a common historical experience of slavery and an adoption of the plantation society model such as the whites being traditionally at the top of the social ladder who possess the means of production and political power.

What also exemplifies diversity but is linked with identity is culture. This is expressed most notably through language; the use of various creole languages as well as local vernaculars. Creole languages are so integral to the Caribbean because many of them emerged as a result of contact between the colonisers and the colonised (Europeans and Africans). Do you know what this means? Slavery yes creole languages were born in slavery and what is one of the common grounds on which the Caribbean may be viewed as a single entity? A common historical legacy of slavery.

Therefore, creole languages may be said to be indicative of Caribbean identity and culture. Unfortunately, these very same creole languages are being changed as a result of global and social pressures. A process known as decreolisation is taking effect and it refers to when a creole loses its creole features and becomes more like the standard language from which it was derived. But why would a Jamaican want their Jamaican creole to sound like English?

Well, globalisation has resulted in the precedence of world languages; those with universal appeal. So a Jamaican man may be pressured to change the variety he speaks so that it approximates to English; the language from which Jamaican creole was derived. The result is a loss of Jamaican creole features and adoption of English features. Moreover, this precedence has resulted in emphasis being placed solely on the learning of world languages to the extent of formal disregard of creole languages or local vernaculars in spite of research pointing to their usefulness as instructional tools.

Despite heavy influences from the outside world, the Caribbean remains a highly coveted destination for tourists as it offers a truly unique experience which may not be attained elsewhere. This is expressed through communication. Often times when the Caribbean islands are being advertised, there is the use of palm trees, the sun, sea and sand. The desired message is that the Caribbean is the perfect place to immerse oneself with nature. This message is then decoded by travellers who will now see the Caribbean as a way to escape the hustle and bustle of abroad. In other words, this perfect escape constitutes the representation of the Caribbean which is portrayed by the media as well as the images conjured by travellers upon viewing the adverts.