Making Parliament Inclusive through Creole Language Use

On Friday 21st March, an important meeting took place regarding the inclusion of Creole in Parliament, attended by Speaker Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra and Professor Arnaud Carpooran along with his dedicated team. This initiative aims to enhance the inclusivity of parliamentary debates through innovative technological and linguistic methods, even as various challenges loom on the horizon.

Professor Arnaud Carpooran, who serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Mauritius and leads the Creole Speaking Union, is at the forefront of a project entitled “Promoting Institutional Democracy through Language Access in Kreol Repiblik Moris and Digital Innovation.”

The session with the Speaker highlighted her commitment to integrating Creole into parliamentary discourse.

The question of Creole’s role within our institutions has emerged repeatedly in recent years, yet tangible progress has often been elusive.

Professor Carpooran stressed the vital importance of this project for democracy, articulating;

“A truly accessible democracy cannot exist if a segment of the population fails to comprehend what unfolds in Parliament. Incorporating Creole will empower all Mauritians to engage more fully in these discussions.”

During the meeting, various topics were explored, particularly the technicalities related to transcribing and digitising parliamentary debates in Creole.

Discussions also involved the National Assembly’s technical teams, particularly those responsible for transmission and archiving.

Among the critical issues addressed was the technological adaptation necessary to support the use of Creole.

“We are developing speech recognition software, based on existing English and French models. The goal is to create a version in Creole, a considerable undertaking.

However, once completed, it will represent a significant advancement in institutional accessibility,” he elaborated.

On the linguistic side, Professor Carpooran noted that a careful effort is being made to establish parliamentary terminology in Creole while identifying appropriate terms and expressions.

He stated, “It is essential to challenge the stereotype that views Creole as an inferior language unsuitable for formal debates.”

This linguistic project is paired with educational components, as many parliamentarians and officials still face challenges with the spelling and grammatical conventions of Creole.

Consequently, training sessions are planned to ease this transition.

Engaging MPs in this initiative is crucial. He encourages all members of Parliament who support this project to sign up for the forthcoming “Lir ek Ekrir Kreol Morisien” courses that will be introduced at the University of Mauritius.

This initiative not only offers a chance for personal development but also stands as a significant stride towards making democracy more approachable and inclusive for everyone.

Source: Defi Media