Name: Nicholas Kristopher Charles

School: Cowen Hamilton Secondary

Teachers Name: Miss Placide-Nicholas

Country: Trinidad and Tobago

Centre Number: 160016

Candidate Number: 160016262

Topic: Alcohol Abuse

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Table of Contents

Introduction page

Acknowledgements page

Preface page

Reflective Piece: A Captive Soul page

Analysis page

Bibliography page

Conclusion page

Appendix page

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Introduction

This portfolio is based on the topic of Substance Abuse; the theme chosen is The Effects of

alcohol abuse on the family. The study conducted was done on how it affects family life as well

as the emotional, physical and psychological effects on both the family and the person themself.

The Oxford Dictionary states that alcohol abuse is the excessive use of alcohol. The portfolio

incorporates an original piece, in the form of a narrative, a preface which looks at the intended

audience, the circumstance and the basis for selecting them and gives an analysis of the purpose

of writing the story entitled A Captive Soul. There is an analysis that evaluates the narrative,

amidst detailed emphasis on language resisters, dialectal variations, communicative behaviors

and attitudes to language.

An Exposition where the researcher discussed the challenges faced in investigating this pertinent

issue , the effectiveness of the source and analyzed the context and medium on the reliability and

validity of the information was also included. Academically, the portfolio satisfies the criteria of

the internal assessment of the Communication Studies course. I chose this theme because of

personal family experience and it can be informative to the reader. As a future psychologist it is

imperative that I am aware of these issues that can affect members within a family.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher Miss Placide Nicholas and

Miss Jaggessar as well as our principal Miss Small who gave me the golden opportunity to do

this wonderful project on the topic of Alcohol Abuse and by extension Alcoholism which also

helped me in doing a lot of research and i came to know about so many new things.

I am really thankful to them.

Secondly i would also like to thank my parents and friends who helped me a lot in finishing this

project within the limited time.

I am making this project not only for marks but to also increase my knowledge.

THANKS AGAIN TO ALL WHO HELPED ME.

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Preface

For my reflective piece I have written a narrative entitled A Captive Soul.

I have chosen this genre because I believe that it is the most appropriate medium in which the

experiences of Uncle Kyle and how alcohol affected him and his decisions could be effectively

presented.

The purpose of the piece is to further emphasize and show the influence of alcoholism on the

family and the alcoholic, through the persona of Uncle Kyle. Although slightly comical, it is

meant to highlight effects and influence that alcohol has on alcoholics.

My intended audience is firstly, families with alcoholics and secondly young and upcoming

members in the community who may be exposed to alcohol.

The piece would be most effective if presented at a seminar to educate the public about the issue,

it can be used in newspapers to warn the general public about the use of alcohol. It can also be

used to start effective discussions within classes.

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Reflection: A Captive Soul

God grant the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can

and wisdom to know the difference.- Alcohol Anonymous Prayer

My family was one that enjoyed great laughs and limes*. Sports, family days and beach limes

were occasions you didnt want to miss. Though all were at the expense of alcohol finishing the

lime, they were pleasurable.

Then in the summer of 2015, things changed. My Uncle Kyle was an alcoholic. Just about all my

childhood memories of him revolved around his drinking. To fuel his addiction hed often

borrow money from people to purchase alcohol. One day one of the persons whom he borrowed

money from drove up to the yard calling his name.

Person: Kyle ah wah meh money boi.

Uncle Kyle: Boi ah go give yuh your money when ah get pay.

Aunt Janet: Aye whappen to alyuh boi?

Person: Yuh bredda have meh money, ah wah meh blasted money.

Aunt Janet: Buh wait nah, how much money he have fuh yuh?

Person: 500 flickin dollars he borrow from meh, he is a dutty teef!

Uncle Kyle: Ah getting pay soon boi ah go get yuh money fuh yuh.

Person: Eh-heh yuh have til Friday to get my money, or else!

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The man then went up close to Uncle Kyle and whispered something in his ear. I could tell from

the grim look on his face that it was something serious. On many occasions his brothers and

sisters pleaded with him to stop drinking. Often hed be seen passed out in the living room or

vomiting after a long night of drinking. Three days after he decided to stop drinking, my

grandfather woke up hearing Uncle Kyles voice. Granddad walked nimbly tiptoeing to Uncle

Kyles room. He listened to Uncle Kyle as he was having a conversation with someone in the

room. He cautiously opened the door and saw Uncle Kyle staring into space and talking to

himself. When granddad called him he frantically took newspaper and padded his lower

extremities saying someone was trying to get him and he went in a corner rocking back and

forth.

Granddad: Whappen boi, who yuh talking to?

Uncle Kyle: He comin fuh meh, yuh see him?

Granddad: Who comin fuh yuh boy?

Uncle Kyle: You ent see him, the green man, he was right dey.

Granddad: Boi wah chupidness yuh talkin , go an sleep!

The next morning granddad told everyone what had happened that night. Uncle Kyle relayedthe

story to everyone and said that he saw a green man. His behavior was mistaken by some

members as one struck by obeah. Everyone present had confused facial expressions. Uncle Kyle

was very distraught, his brothers and sisters hugged him and assured him that hed be ok. They

decided to take him to Mayaro hospital, while there he kept asking who he was and continuously

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stared into space. He was then sent to San Fernando hospital. He was restrained by the doctors

due to his erratic behavior.

Aunt Janet: Whats wrong with him?

Doctor: He tried to stop alcohol so suddenly that it affected his brain.

Aunt Janet: So what do we need to do doctor?

Doctor: Hed have to be hospitalized for a few days for observation then we can decide if he

can leave or if he needs more time to recover.

Aunt Janet: Ok doctor, thank you so much!

Everyone came during visiting hours to see how Uncle Kyle was coming along. He was

progressing as time went by. After few days of treatment, Uncle Kyle was discharged but things

werent normal as before. Uncle Kyle wasnt the same anymore. Everyone had to make

adjustments. AA meetings were on Sundays at 6 pm at the Mayaro Government School. The

entire family had to get together so that Uncle Kyle could get better.

*lime- to socialise

(650 words)

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Analysis

I have chosen to analyze my reflective piece A Captive Soul in terms of dialectal variation and

communicative behaviors which are found therein.

The term dialectal variation refers to a persons conscious choice of dialect which in this case can

be any variation of Creole or the Standard English. Choice of dialect is determined by factors

such as the speakers social status, educational background, emotional state and attitude towards

dialect. In this narrative there are many instances when both Creole and Standard English were

utilized by the speakers. When aunt Janet speaks when there was the confrontation in the yard

she used Trinidadian creole Aye whappen to alyuh boi? when speaking with Uncle Kyle and

the stranger while witnessing the confrontation in the yard however she was able to codeswitch

when speaking with the doctor in accordance to recognition of his authority Whats wrong with

him? This implies that aunt Janet was educated enough to use variation according to whom she

was conversing with.

Communicative behaviors associated with language, the non-verbal aspect, are used by speakers

to emphasize their words and they can also be used to interpret how the speaker truly feels.

Within the narrative there was evidence of fear when the man then went up close to Uncle Kyle

and whispered something in his ear. I could tell from the grim look on his face that it was

something serious which indicates that the man had said something very grim to cause such a

response, in addition to when he frantically took newspaper and padded his lower extremities

and went in a corner rocking back and forth, this shows the mental conditioning of the alcohol

on his brain causing him to be fearful. His brothers and sisters hugged him and assured him that

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hed be ok, this showed that they were concerned of his wellbeing. The looks from family

members suggest that they were puzzled and concerned and even afraid.

Dialectal variation and communicative behavior are but two of the elements used that make for

effective analysis and doing so has added immensely to my portfolio.

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Bibliography
Websites Used

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0104-11692008000700005&script=sci_arttext

http://www.ijhssnet.com/journals/Vol_3_No_15_August_2013/16.pdf

https://www.cnsproductions.com/pdf/casestudies.pdf

Hermann Hesse.http://cape-commstudies.blogspot.com/2011/02/language-
registers.htmlWikipedia, The free encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Register_(sociolinguistics)

Hermann Hesse.http://cape-commstudies.blogspot.com/2011/01/language-dialectal-
variation.htmlCAPE-Communication Studies Blog. Language (Dialectal) Variation.

www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_abuse

https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/alcohol-abuse

BOOK Communication Studies for CAPE Examinations.. Veronica Simons, Sandra Osborne
OTHER The Economic and Social Society Jamaica (ESSJ) The Statistical Institute of Jamaica
(STATIN)

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Conclusion

In my portfolio Alcoholism and how it affects the family, I have explored the various issues

that come up with this topic including the psychological, physical and mental effects of

alcoholism, the link of alcoholism and the family and when alcoholism becomes a major issue.

Through research I have included my oral presentation, reflective and analytical pieces pertinent

information on the theme of my portfolio. Throughout each section I have shown how

alcoholism affects the victim as well as their families tremendously. In the end, I came out with a

greater knowledge and insight into alcoholism and the effect it has which I hope through my

portfolio, will also be shared with my intended audiences.

Overall, the making of this portfolio has given me skills for future research projects having

taught me the importance of time-management, commitment and being a hardworking person.

This has been nothing short of a really wonderful yet sobering experience.

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Appendix

Interview Questions:

How were you introduced to alcohol?

How old were you when you started drinking?

What was the cause of this behavior?

What did this urge feel like?

Did this continue on into adulthood?

Where did you get the funds to fuel your addiction?

How was your family affected by this behavior?

How many children do you have?

Describe your relationship with your wife and children.

How did you drinking affect the already strained relationship with your children?

Have you in any way physically or verbally abuse members in your family?

How did you feel when your wife and children leave you?

What motivated you to get help?

If you had one wish, what would it be?

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