By Subraj Singh

Language is one of the most obvious things that set humans apart from other animals. It is a form of communication that is varied and manifests itself in hundreds of forms and yet, all those different languages retain the same features which make “language.”

One such feature, it might be argued, is that language is often reflective of the culture from which it emerges. So, language can teach us a lot about the way of life of certain peoples, the beliefs and philosophies of certain societies, and the things that are most valued and appreciated by a certain culture.

In short, if you know the language then you will know the people. For example, if a language contains six different words for “rice”, then surely it indicates that rice has an important place in the culture from which that language emerged.

Similarly, if a language has no word to describe “rice”, then we can assume that rice is relegated to an inferior position in that culture and society or that rice may not even be found within such a society.

Of course, these are hypothetical examples, but they do reflect the way in which language and culture are often connected. In fact, we do not need to look very far in order to see how language reflects what is happening in a society.

Take the words used in our very own Caribbean to denigrate homosexuals, for example: “antiman,” “chi-chi man,” “fish,” “battyboy,” “fag” and so on. Does this range of discriminatory words not highlight the homophobia that runs rampant throughout most of the Caribbean?

Similarly, think of why Guyanese people would need to create the word “backtrack” to describe illegal entry into other countries, or the word “gyaff” to describe a particular kind of chatting done in this part of the world.

We made those words, and many others, because those are things are prevalent in our society and our need to name them and to allocate particular words to those particular actions tells a lot about Guyana and the Guyanese society. The point being made here is that words and language are crucial to knowing and to understanding a society and the culture of that society. Words, and even the lack of them, can be very telling.

The Confucius Institute (named after China’s greatest philosopher) is a school that thoroughly understands the importance of language and how language-learning is tied to learning about societies and culture.

The school, coming out of China, has partnered with several universities and learning institutions around the world in order to teach Chinese language (Mandarin) to non-native speakers, as well as showcase to the rest of the world various aspects of Chinese knowledge and culture. The branch of the Institute that is found here in Guyana is tied to the University of Guyana (UG), where the Director of that particular branch is Ms. Janet Ma, and has been in existence since 2013, offering courses in Chinese language, Tai Chi, and many other activities in order to expose Guyanese people to China and things Chinese.

The Institute is known for hosting exhibitions, stage performances and fairs in an effort to get more Guyanese interested in the activities being put on by the Institute. Importantly, the Institute takes part in the World Storytelling Day and World Poetry Day activities, where Chinese tales and poems are relayed to the Guyanese audience.

Earlier this year, a production was held at the National Cultural Centre where Chinese folk forms, such as dance and music, were showcased for the local audience. As recently as the end of September this year, another exhibition was held on the Turkeyen campus of the University of Guyana where students were allowed to view traditional Chinese clothes and crafts, and were also exposed to ancient Chinese performances, such as the playing of musical instruments, Chinese folkdances, and the ancient art of pouring tea.

As discussed earlier, language is the main focus of the Confucius Institute. However, according to Al Creighton, the local Director of UG’s Confucius Institute, the Institute has plans to explore a number of other exchanges in Chinese culture and other academic disciplines, where experts from China can be brought in to teach in different areas, as well as teaching people in Guyana the language so after they have achieved a certain level of prowess and achievement in Mandarin, they would be able to go to China and further their studies.

Mr. Creighton also highlighted that it is possible for people through the Institute to get scholarships to go and study at Chinese universities, with the possibility of academic exchange for research. Without a doubt, it does seem as though the act of learning a language, while, as we have discussed earlier, can be reflective, on a holistic scale, of societies and cultures; the act of learning Mandarin at the Confucius Institute, on an individualistic level, seems to bring about other rewards that the students of the classes will definitely find beneficial to their own goals and academic ambitions.

For example, last summer, a group of students from the Institute’s Mandarin classes were taken on a trip to China where they were able to get a first-hand experience of Chinese language and culture.

Mr. Creighton also pointed out that there are existing relationships between China and Guyana and that the Institute offers an opportunity for Guyanese people to get to know and to understand Chinese people instead of adhering and promoting the many stereotypes which exist.

The dismantling of stereotypes, which is aided by the learning of Mandarin and the exposure to Chinese culture being offered by the Institute, is something that can help to reinforce the links between the two countries while simultaneously allowing the local populace a chance to gain a better understanding of an entire nation of people.

While some may not regard language-learning as an agency for change, the whole concept of language and its purpose, rooted in communication, proves that language is an important tool, whether political or social, and that it is powerful enough to help bridge the gap between locals and the Chinese.

The Institute is also important because of Guyana’s historical connection to China. Of course, anyone familiar with Guyanese history should know that there were Chinese immigrants who came to Guyana as indentured labourers.

However, because the local Chinese population has always been so small and, in some ways, rather reserved, it has been difficult throughout the years for people to get a thorough understanding of Chinese culture by being immersed in it, in the same way that, on a daily basis, we are immersed in African and East Indian culture.

The Confucius Institute offers Guyanese people, then, a chance to experience a culture that is a part of their own history. Although there have been other efforts over the years, the Confucius Institute remains a strong avenue for Guyanese people to learn more about the Chinese component of our history.