The University of the West Indies, Mona

Previous Surveys

The Jamaican Language Unit conducted an island wide survey of language attitudes across Jamaica October-November 2005. The survey sample was 1,000 men and women between the ages of 18 – 80+ years, from rural and urban centres in 3 Regions of the country (Western, Central, Eastern). In terms of spread, variability and inclusiveness this was a representative sample of the island’s population.

Survey respondents were selected at random through what is commonly known as “mall” intercepts, although these took place in the markets and busy shopping areas such as: Parade, Cross Roads, Half Way Tree, New Kingston, Devon House, Liguanea, Constant Spring, Papine, Stony Hill, Castleton, Port Maria, Highgate, Brown’s Town, May Pen, Santa Cruz and Montego Bay. The project team consisted of 100 staff and students from the University and data were collected over one weekend.

The results of the survey are now available:

• The Language Attitude Survey of Jamaica — Data Analysis
• The Language Attitude Survey — Summary of Results
• The Language Competence Survey of Jamaica — Data Analysis

Language Attitude Survey of Jamaica Summary of Results  Language Attitude Survey of Jamaica Language Competency Survey of Jamaica