I have neglected to post about a big controversy in Nigeria about a
decision to remove currency denominations in Hausa written in Ajami
(Arabic script). Instead, new Naira notes will have the amounts in
Hausa written in Boko (Latin script), as well as Yoruba and Igbo.

There are at least two broad issues from what I understand:
1) The portrayal of the Hausa Ajami denominations as "foreign." That
argument ignores the fact that people were writing Hausa in the Arabic
alphabet long before European colonization. There is a *lot* written
about this Naira topic. One point of view is articulated here
http://arewanci.blogspot.com/ .
2) The addition of Yoruba and Igbo denominations to the currency
notes, which is positive. 

In fact a lot of countries have inscriptions on their currency notes
in multiple languages and scripts. Sometimes prominently, or sometimes
along the margins - all sorts of solutions. 

Anyway, I won't attempt to get into this in detail, and forwarding
articles would run into the dozens so I will refrain on that.

Don



There has been a l

551



 
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/
 

Reply via email to