FYI, this item from the "Country Boyi" blog may be of interest. (Fwd from lgpolicy-list) Don
What If We Blogged in Local Languages? Sunday, May 27, 2007 http://dennozbug.blogspot.com/2007/05/what-if-we-blogged-in-local-languages. html I've been thinking. It took a workshop on writing for children in Ugandan local languages to have me thinking: what clearly is the importance of indigenous languages, and would it add any value if we blogged in our home languages? With the new language policy fronting the use of native languages as the medium of instruction in lower primary school, and as subjects of study in upper primary school, has Uganda, like most analysts believe, taken the first step in defining its national identity in terms and words of its own languages? Do bloggers, like other writers, have a major stake in the development of writing and reading materials in the local languages, and what is in it for them considering the Ugandan society pays little attention to the written word? I don't have clear answers to these questions. However, the power of indigenous languages to infiltrate the thinking of the local people cannot be underestimated. When Ngugi wa Thiong'o , in 1985, resolved never again to write in a foreign language, English critics dismissed him as a joker, but he has since been writing in Gikuyu . Ngugi, who had long knocked off the English part of his name, "James" to become "Ngugi wa Thing'o" discovered the power of writing in his mother tongue when he co-authored with Ngugi wa Mirii , Ngaahika Ndeeba (I Will Marry when I Want). It was well received by the local audience that the panicky political establishment then jailed him before he fled into exile. Ngugi's gospel about us growing "our own roots in African languages and cultures" is what I want reaching all the African nations. When a colonial language subjugates our long-cherished mother-tongues to the point where men like Gerald Moore shamelessly brands it "the chosen tongue," then you know something is wrong somewhere. As Dr. John Kalema, a renowned linguist, based at the Institute of Languages, Makerere University, will tell you, in "1996 the OAU-Inter African Bureau of Languages was established by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government after realizing that much of Africa, politically independent though it was, still suffered from a linguistic problem whose epicentre lay in the continued overdependence on ex-colonial languages at the expense of the languages of majority populations in the conduct of public affairs. "A language Plan of Action (LPA) which was a comprehensive blueprint identifying a direction of development in favour of African languages, was ratified in 1976. Through this plan, a framework through which member states were to act in bringing about the much needed liberation and unity of Africa, that the continent still needed in the linguistic field, was provided. The current African Union (AU) has continued to champion the cause of African languages as evidenced by the declaration of the year 2006 as the year of the African languages ." Unfortunately, we have continued to busy ourselves 'mastering' foreign accents, and showing off how much English we can speak and write. Prof. Timothy Wangusa, who taught literature at Makerere University for a long time, regretting how English has sank in our psyche confessed to dream (sometimes) in very old English. More would rather not speak their mind than be derided by their 'learned' friends for mispronouncing a few English words. Yet for most of us, no language is understood better than the mother tongue for it is associated with the social and cultural norms we identify with. Finally, brogren, let's not be like Caliban, using his acquired language to curse his master. In fact, we can still utilise English to interact well with the wider world. But we must espouse all that is noble, true, right, pure, lovely, admirable and excellent about our indigenous languages for there the African heritage dwells. http://dennozbug.blogspot.com/ -- ************************************** N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal. (H. Schiffman, Moderator) ******************************************* 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/
