The following column from the Harare paper, The Herald, was seen on AllAfrica.com at http://allafrica.com/stories/200703070130.html . Here's a key observation applicable in many parts of the continent, it seems: "Sadly, very little co-operation has taken place among neighbouring countries to enhance the status of [cross-border languages]" ... DZO
Zimbabwe: Promote Minority Languages The Herald (Harare) http://www.herald.co.zw/ OPINION March 7, 2007 Posted to the web March 7, 2007 Laura Chiweshe Harare ZIMBABWE joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Mother Language Day on February 21, and it was a time to take stock of the state of languages in the country today. The linguistic map of the country is as a result of numerous factors, among which is the legacy of colonialism. Colonialism relegated indigenous African languages to an inferior status that saw them associated with backwardness and, in some instances, paganism. Some Africans even began to despise their own mother languages. The vernaculars, as they were pejoratively called, remained the languages of traditional institutions - themselves looked down upon - such as the chieftainship. Recently Shona and Ndebele joined English as the national languages. In addition to these three, there are no less than 10 local languages usually referred to as "minority" languages. With the exception of one African language, Tswawu, which is Khoisan spoken in the remote parts of Bulilima District, the rest are Bantu languages. The latter category includes the following: Kalanga, Tonga, Sotho (Birwa), Venda, Nyanja/Chewa, Shangani, Hwesa, Nambya, Chikunda, Barwe, Sena and Xhosa. Large populations speak some of the so-called minority languages across the borders. Tonga, which is also spoken in Zambia, Kalanga and Birwa, also spoken in Botswana, and Venda (also spoken in South Africa) are some of the languages that can be considered international. Sadly, very little co-operation has taken place among neighbouring countries to enhance the status of the same languages in Zimbabwe where they are marginalised. Masvingo State University is understood to have sent some students to a university in the Limpopo Province of South Africa to study Tsonga, Shangani and Venda. Hopefully, when the students come back they will undertake the teaching of the "minority" languages that they would have studied. However, what is needed in Zimbabwe today is the political will, which should translate into the release of funds for use in developing teaching materials for the so-called minority languages. Policy is also needed to ensure teachers of the same languages are admitted into teacher training colleges so that upon completion of their courses they may be deployed to teach the languages in which they will have been trained. Half-hearted efforts were made to teach the "minority" languages in primary schools up to Grade Seven. It, however, does not appear that the programme will be pursued beyond Grade Seven. This makes a mockery of the introduction of the languages at primary school level in the first place. Pupils who would have one of these languages at primary school level would have to start doing Shona or Ndebele at secondary school. Such pupils are obviously disadvantaged. The efforts by Masvingo State University, while laudable, will need tangible political support and meaningful resource allocation for them to be sustainable. Impediments to the introduction of the teaching of minority languages include lack of teaching materials and competent manpower to handle the subjects at secondary school level. The publishing industry operates along business lines and will certainly not publish materials that will not, on account of small print runs, enable the business enterprises to break even. It is Government that has the responsibility to subsidise the production of learning materials. A clear-cut language policy that will be taken seriously should be put in place, if that has not been done already. One hopes that grandiose imperial motives will not stand in the way of development and nurturing of the so-called minority languages. Our seriousness in and commitment to promoting our cultures will be tested through our performance in the matter of "minority" languages. Language is the embodiment of a people's culture and identity. This is why soon after independence there was heightened interest in matters of language. Pressure organisations such as VETOKA, led by Millie Nsala-Malaba, came into being. Even now there is such a pressure group led by, among others, Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu. Silveira House in Harare has been trying to assist in the development of the "minority" languages. Mrs Tisa Chifunyise had also been working tirelessly to develop teaching materials for the Tonga language. Following her death, the efforts seem to have come to naught. Well-wishers and non-governmental organisations may assist as much as they can, but in the absence of political commitment their efforts will be stillborn. By celebrating the International Mother Language Day, Zimbabwe ought to engage in some introspection and sincere soul-searching to find whether it speaks from the heart or the mouth. The continued existence of languages, even the so-called minority languages, is one of the fundamental human rights that all democratic nations should uphold. Copyright C 2007 The Herald. All rights reserved Herald House, George Silundika Ave/Second Street PO Box 395, Harare, Zimbabwe 263-04-795771 **************************** Disclaimer ****************************** Copyright: In accordance with Title 17, United States Code Section 107, this material is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. 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