COMMUNICATION STUDIES IA

CANDIDATE NAME : Ashley Balgobin

CANDIDATE NUMBER : 1601260072

SUBJECT : Communication Studies

YEAR OF EXAM : 2022 - 2023

TITLE OF PROJECT : Pollution in the Caribbean

TEACHER NAME : Darius Balgobin

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE OF PAGE PAGE NUMBER

 General Introduction .……………………………………………………………………………………3

 Preface …………………………………………………………………………………………………………4

 Reflection …………………………………………………………………………………………………….5 - 7

 Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………………………………8 - 9

 Bibliography ………………………………………………………………………………………………….10

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 GENERAL INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this topic is to highlight strategies used to safeguard and lessen pollution

in Caribbean nations. Being passionate towards our home environment and the safety of our

country, I found it suitable that I base my portfolio on “Pollution in the

Caribbean.” Furthermore, I have been negligent in preserving the environment and I would

like to learn more about what I can do to assist and inspire others to do the same.

My reflection titled, “A lost paradise” a short story which examines the negative impacts

of pollution on the environment and different approaches used to save the earth. It

underlines how crucial it is to cooperate and promote environmental development. For my

exposition primary and secondary sources were used providing substantial evidence on the

percentage of individuals contributing to environmental improvement.

As a former CSEC biology student, I am aware that there are ways to address present

issues with excessive pollution in the Caribbean. Individuals need to take these solutions into

consideration and put them to work. As a current CAPE environmental science and biology

student, I will research the detrimental effects that pollution has on the Caribbean and what

can be gained if these issues were diminished. To advance my profession as a doctor, this can

help me better understand the health risks associated with environmental pollution.

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 PREFACE

Pollution is “the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause

adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy

(such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light).” The purpose of this short story entitled “A lost

paradise” written for my reflective piece highlights the main causes of pollution in the

Caribbean. The intention is to encourage all citizens to become mindful of the harm being

done to the environment and do thus part to protect it.

The target audience for this short story are all citizens of Caribbean countries. It is our

responsibility to protect and preserve all parts of the natural environment. Additionally, it is

expected that by reading this portfolio, people would become more informed and motivated

to participate in environmental meetings, social events, and school activities.

The most suitable context for this piece is the daily newspaper, national geographic, assembly

sessions at primary and secondary schools. The newspapers will be able to target a more

mature audience while assembly sessions will focus on the younger generation.

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 A LOST PARADISE

“Our Caribbean region is no longer as stunning as it once was”, I said to my doctor as

he replied “I am sorry to hear that, Miss Bethany.” I had just returned to Miami from a mini

summer vacation that had been completely destroyed. It all started as soon as I landed at the

Norman Manley International Airport in Jamaica, my birth country, a little Caribbean Island

where people once coexisted peacefully with nature. The airport was a dismal sight as I

glanced out the porthole. The runways were cracked and the buildings were crumbling. The

ground was covered in debris, and the air was thick with smog. It was difficult to breathe

because of the lingering fumes of chemicals and pollution.

The sun could hardly be seen through the haze, and the sky was a murky grey. The

airport was no longer filled with birds; instead, it was filled with the rumble of motors and the

occasional car horn. To protect themselves from the pollution, all of the airport employees

wore masks. That was a depressing sight, but also served as a warning about the effects of

environmental negligence. I glanced around the area and I rolled my eyes in exasperation as

there were countless heaps of bottles around the plastic recycle bin, as if the bin was invisible.

I jumped into a taxi and was heading to my Aunty Becka’s house. I decided to open

the window and stick my head out to be reminded of my childhood feeling of tranquillity,

when my lungs used to expand as though on auto-refill when I inhaled the fresh Caribbean

air. Instead, this time my eyes tightened and my nostril burned as I took a deep breath in a

pungent stench similar to rotten eggs irritated my nose, eyes, and throat.

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 As a former environmental science student, I could have identified the gases like

hydrogen sulphide, contributing to this odoriferous pollution. As I opened my eyes the air

became thick with smog. The air which was polluted by vehicle exhaust, filth, dust and toxic

gases from neighbouring industries. As I approached Aunty Becka's home, I noticed a bush

fire that appeared to have been sparked by an empty beer bottle that the light had been

reflecting off of.

During this dry season, I also observed numerous people burning plastic, papers, and

dry leaves, which sparked a significant fire and released smoke that resulted in the formation

of an unhealthy layer of fog in the atmosphere. I started to worry about my grandmother,

who is susceptible to lung cancer, severe coronary artery disease, and asthma as a result of

this uninhabitable environment.

I arrived at Aunty Becka’s house and greeted her. “How was yuh drive gyal?” Aunty

Becka asked.

“Not like d old times, it more polluted. Aunty becka inna orda tuh prevent dis air

pollution yuh should tell di neighbas dat dem should deliberately avoid burning trash or oddah

items. Everyone should even start carpooling or use public transportation radda dan private

vehicles it cya help tuh reduce di emissions of dangerous gases dat simply exacerbate di

issue.” Early the next morning I decided to take a jog along the beach.

“Ay, wha just chook meh under meh foot ?” I whined in pain as I sprinted across the

rough sand, cutting my exposed feet on a sharp piece of broken glass. Little rivers of blood

ran down my bare feet and onto the sand. My heart was racing, my long hair covered my

eyes, and the sun was hammering down, pouring strong beams of light over my scorched,

visible back. I could make out the far end of the trash-filled beach, where debris washed

ashore during terrible wind gusts.

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 White froth was everywhere as the turbulent waves crashed down. The trash was

dragged out into the open ocean by the strong current where the old pirate ships sailed. Our

Caribbean beach' waters were once perfectly pure, but now they are brown and tainted by

chemical fertilizers, industrial waste, sewage, wastewater from mining operations, and

marine dumping.

The next couple of days before returning home, I was coughing, wheezing and had

skin and eye irritation due to the pollution. I told Aunty Becka the serious damages pollution

has caused and everyone must embrace change. People need to start cooperating because

resolving this problem will take a group effort. These human actions result in the loss of

innocent animals and possibly human life.

The Caribbean can be improved by simply alleviating the excessive use of motor

vehicles, avoiding the disposal of any form of plastic or food wastewater material in water,

and avoiding the purchase of hazardous chemical items that could contaminate water. We

must all take a stand and speak out for the voiceless in order to keep this planet pollution-

free.

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 ANALYSIS

The reflective piece is a short story titled "A lost paradise," featuring two people of

different ages and social backgrounds. Linguistic features like registers and dialectal variation

can be analysed. Caribbean Standard English and Jamaican Creole were utilised. The three

main categories of dialectal variation highlight the diversity of languages utilized. On the

Acrolect end of the spectrum, Bethany spoke Caribbean Standard English in Miami.

This is depicted by Bethany to her doctor: "My Caribbean region is no longer as

stunning as it once was." Caribbean Standard English used by Bethany to communicate with

her doctor ensured she is understood and eliminated any miscommunication. Standard

English creole reflects their professional capacity and creates a feeling of cohesion and

connection between them.

On the other hand, Basilect is seen throughout Aunty Becka’s conversation with Bethany:

“How was yuh drive gyal?” By Bethany when she arrived at Aunty Becka’s house: “Not like d Commented [DB1]: This is confusing please fix.

old times, it more polluted…”, lines 32 - 36. This form of Creole substitutes “th” with “d”. It

includes the omission of the auxiliary verb and the Jamaican Creole pronunciation "gyal" as

opposed to Caribbean Standard English "girl." The normal use of Basilect by Aunty Becka

reveals her upbringing and current circumstances. Jamaicans often use Basilect during

conversations with their families, when they feel comfortable. Aunty Becka and Bethany

speak Basilect with ease, indicating that this dialect predominates in their family as opposed

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to Caribbean Standard English, and as a result, they speak Jamaican Creole to effectively

express themselves.

Language registers have varying degrees of formality. Linguists have given the five

levels: frozen, formal, consultative, casual, and intimate. When speaking to her doctor,

Bethany adopted a formal tone. Bethany said, "My Caribbean region is no longer as stunning

as it once was," the doctor responded, "I am sorry to hear that, Miss Bethany." Demonstrating

the degree of education and mutual understanding. However, intimate register was detected

when Bethany spoke with Aunty Becka, when Aunty Becka used the word "gyal," a simple

slang term for "girl," conveying the intimate register. Dialectal variation and registers were

effectively used to convey the purpose of the piece.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

SECONDARY SOURCES

Holistic assessment of plastic pollution in the Caribbean. (2021, August 21). ScienceDaily.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210802223917.htm

Ewing-Chow, D. (2019b, September 20). Caribbean Islands Are The Biggest Plastic

Polluters Per Capita In The World. Forbes.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/daphneewingchow/2019/09/20/caribbean-islands-are-

the-biggest-plastic-polluters-per-capita-in-the-world/?sh=448b9ef9774b

T&T among most polluted in world. (n.d.). T&T Among Most Polluted in World - Trinidad

Guardian. https://www.guardian.co.tt/article-6.2.418650.c0ffe42b4d

Unhealthy air quality in both Trinidad and Tobago—EMA. (2020, June 26). Unhealthy Air

Quality in Both Trinidad and Tobago—EMA - Trinidad Guardian.

https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/unhealthy-air-quality-in-both-trinidad-and-

tobagoema-6.2.1144988.59096acfbe

PRIMARY SOURCES

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfH1jtGhTGckvMymlXmjkzzmftXhDnYyM

nOjPtP

Untitled form - Google Forms

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