The Editor, Sir:

Please allow me to reply to the writer who wrote about keeping patois at bay. If patois is so demeaning, why is it now being taught as a language in the University of Birmingham (UK) and a diploma awarded? Are we so ashamed of our language, of who we are and where we are coming from?

English language was not taught to us by the English. They didn't want us to understand them. Slaves picked up their language and taught it to the other slaves.

The Africans are proud of their native tongue and the Asians ensure that their language is passed on from one generation to the next, so what is so wrong with identifying ourselves with patois in our schools? It is the language of our people, it's our identity and if it's the way children communicate in most of our schools we should be able to communicate with them in that way too.

I taught for seven years in British schools and the English loved my accent. They love our language and, by the way, we speak standard English better than the natives of the country, who introduced English to the world.

Let us learn to accept our heritage. It is what makes us who were are. Patois has it place in our schools and people must learn to accept this.

I am, etc.,

Nen Miles

miiles4@yahoo.co.uk

Dagenham, London