The following item from the Yaounde paper, Cameroon Tribune, was seen on AllAfrica.com at http://allafrica.com/stories/200612130589.html . The Linguapax Afrika conference also served as a closing event for the Year of African Languages... DZO
Cameroon: African Languages Must be Promoted Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé) http://www.cameroon-tribune.net December 13, 2006 Posted to the web December 13, 2006 Elizabeth Mosima The first international Linguapax conference on the promotion and safeguarding of African languages opened in Yaounde yesterday. The African continent is richly blessed with a variety of languages and cultural diversities. Cameroon for example has over 280 local languages and two official languages, English and French. These linguistic resources, far from being a source of antagonism and identity confinement are rather a source of development, pride, cultural wealth and diversity of expression and serve in the promotion of social peace and harmony. However, majority of these languages especially those of minority groups are at the risk of disappearing due to the effects of globalisation. It is for this reason that the first International Linguapax Afrika Conference on African soil opened in Yaounde yesterday. Organised by the National Association of Cameroonian Languages Committee (NACALCO) in collaboration with the Institute Linguagpax-UNESCOCAT based in Barcelone, Spain. The conference brought together linguistic experts from African countries and Europe as well as eminent scholars from the six state universities. The two-day conference is taking place this year 2006, which has been set aside by the African Union as the year devoted to African Languages. For two days, top African personalities, language researchers and professionals are expected to exchange ideas on the promotion of national languages in all their diversities alongside foreign official languages. The purpose is not fight against European languages but to make Africans not to forget their mother tongue. Cameroon being a country with rich linguistic potentials where different communities cohabit in peace and perfect harmony was chosen to host the conference. The major objective of the conference is the putting in place of Linguapax Africa committee constituting delegates of different regions in Africa. Speaking during the occasion, Professor Maurice Tadajeu, President of NACALCO said a quick action must be taken to prevent African languages from disappearing. According to him African languages should be introduced in schools. Professor Bwelle Guillaume who represented the Minister of Higher Education congratulated Cameroonian universities for their efforts in the promotion of national languages in their institutions. He said particular effort should be made to train quality trainers and quantity appropriate to meet the demands of personnel in the other Ministries. The conference is one of the fall outs of another international event, notable the award of the Linguapax prize to the first African, Professor Maurice Tadajeu in recognition of his numerous and fruitful works in applied research in the development of national languages teaching. The conference is expected to come out with the creation of a regional committee for Linguapax for Africa which will be in charge of coordinating activities for the Linguapax Afrika network. Copyright © 2006 Cameroon Tribune, Route de l'aéroport, BP : 1218 Yaoundé, Cameroun (+237) 230-41-47/230-36-89/230-41-48 [EMAIL PROTECTED] **************************** Disclaimer ****************************** Copyright: In accordance with Title 17, United States Code Section 107, this material is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material posted to this list for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Content: The sender does not vouch for the veracity nor the accuracy of the contents of this message, which are the sole responsibility of the copyright owner. Also, the sender does not necessarily agree or disagree with any opinions that are expressed in this message. *********************************************************************** Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
