JG - Why they want a Patois Bible

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Gleaner

Why they want a Patois Bible

published: Sunday June 22, 2008

Yorke (left) and Popjes

Mark Dawes, Religion Editor

The people at the Bible Society of the West Indies and Wycliffe Bible Translators Caribbean have been beside themselves with glee. Why? They have never had it so good. Their Patois Bible project is getting a lot of publicity in the news media. That's publicity these faith-based organisations could never pay for. The Patois Bible project began in the early 1990s. It was spearheaded by the Bible Society of the West Indies. Partners in the project included Wycliffe Bible Translators Caribbean and the University of the West Indies.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"The main concern of opponents of the project is that there has been a severe deterioration in the average Jamaican's ability to speak proper English, and the promotion of Patois will not help that process.

Some of those opposed to the Patois Bible project feel that there are enough understandable English translations of the Bible - accordingly, there is no need for another version - especially the scriptures in Patois."