[LINK] "State must work to save our languages"
Solani Ngobeni, letter-writer to South Africa's Times, writes about the challenges facing South Africa's languages. Under various segregationist rules, first English then Afrikaans were imposed on the wider population. Why can't it be the turn of South Africa's other languages?
Given that we are now in power, can we use this leverage to develop African languages without unleashing violence on other language groups?
I think that in this election season an opportunity has been lost since, in most instances, the electioneering is conducted in English.
Aren’t our political belligerents excluding the majority through the fact that they are communicating their messages in English?
Furthermore, the Publishers’ Association report clearly illustrates that the majority of books published in African languages are to all intents and purposes school books, of which the Department of Education is the largest purchaser.
There is very little trade or general book publishing in African languages.
Given that the Publishers’ Association survey shows that there is very little market for books in African languages beyond the school, how do publishers publish for this market and still survive ?
Are we willing to be blunt with ourselves and concede that most of us do not buy and read books written in our own languages, despite our recognition that African language publishing is facing serious challenges?
Even better, can we read in African languages or can we just speak in these languages?
This letter was written in reply to this article, also worth reading.
Given that we are now in power, can we use this leverage to develop African languages without unleashing violence on other language groups?
I think that in this election season an opportunity has been lost since, in most instances, the electioneering is conducted in English.
Aren’t our political belligerents excluding the majority through the fact that they are communicating their messages in English?
Furthermore, the Publishers’ Association report clearly illustrates that the majority of books published in African languages are to all intents and purposes school books, of which the Department of Education is the largest purchaser.
There is very little trade or general book publishing in African languages.
Given that the Publishers’ Association survey shows that there is very little market for books in African languages beyond the school, how do publishers publish for this market and still survive ?
Are we willing to be blunt with ourselves and concede that most of us do not buy and read books written in our own languages, despite our recognition that African language publishing is facing serious challenges?
Even better, can we read in African languages or can we just speak in these languages?
This letter was written in reply to this article, also worth reading.