I am with you and Mw. Golooba-Mutebi on the national language issue.
Beside satisfying some emotional needs (you know, the 'we're one nation with one language' sort of talk), I really don't see the priority or practicability in this.
Let's take Swahili, for example. In this era of globalization (yes, whether we loathe it or we don't), what important role is Swahili going to play in trading with other countries in the future ? I think minimal.
Also taking into account that the largest part of our national budget is spent on the military, isn't it fair to say that it is increasingly our official language English that will play a role in Uganda's trade dealings ? I mean, Uganda is hardly going to purchase its bicupuli military hardware from any of our Swahili-speaking neighbours! Consequently, Swahili is not going to be used to buy this bicupuli hardware from the Belorussians, Ukranians, Israelis, et cetera. It is English that'll be used. So, why all the hassle with the national language ? And this just but one area of trade.
Netters, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we shouldn't nurture our indigenous languages. All I'm saying is that we shouldn't spend so much of our precious time on this national language issue. As I said before in an earlier round of discussion on this very issue, we should let nature take its course.
Kasangwawo
From: "J Ssemakula" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: ugnet_: Re: [FedsNet] More on language Date: Thu, 06 Feb 2003 00:31:00 +0000<< message3.txt >>
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Netters,
Personally, I think UPE is an unmitigated complete waste of of money, at this time, and only serves to highlight Kaguta's myopia and mediocrity. Like all white-elephant projects, it has its beneficiaries. But, that is another story.
It is pure fantasy for ne to even dream that " UPE to succeed so it can produce functionally literate graduates (hopefully) in English". In fact, I think that ostriches will fly before this happens.
As for English, national languages, etc I think the forum is simply misguided, very badly too. We are just wasting time.
A stupid and/or illogical idea in Luganda, is still a stupid and/or illogical idea in English, and also -- surprisingly -- even in Swahili. I suspect that the same may be true, if the language happened to be Mandarin or even French. What an astounding idea!
I do not see how the ability to insulting each other in Swahili is going to help us. We are doing fine in English.
This might come as a surprise to some, but the fact is that there is no language on earth or anywhere else -- not even in heaven for those who believe in Judeo-Xtian myths, that will ever do anything about our poor (inter-tribal) relations, suspicions, jealousies, pettiness, etc. About the only exceptions to this simple truism, are folks who live on mars or some other dreamland.
Again I ask, why do we need a national language? Is it worth it to continue spinning our wheels on this? Or is it that we just like rubber cookies?
Some souls have this silly notion that, if we speak Swahili, all of sudden we'll be able to trade with each other, just like that, as if by magic. I do not know where or how such naivety arises. There is absolutely no emperical evidence to support it, not even a scintilla -- other than an incapacitating dose of wishful thinking and pipe-dreams. Little wonder that just about any idiot can rule Uganda for donkey's years!
Who or what says that at this time trade between Kenya and Uganda or Uganda and TZ is hampered because Ugandans do not have Swahili as their national language or cannot speak Swahili? Or even that Kenya and TZ are doing roaring trade (on which poor Uganda is necessarily missing out) because they both speak Swahili?
Does anyone on this forum know that right after the collapse of the EA Community, the two SWAHILI speaking countries and former partners -- Kenya & TZ -- closed their borders to each other, and that this went on for YEARS? What had happened to this magical Swahili then?
If Swahili, why not Lingala (a Bantu Language, with no hatred baggage, that's likely be popular in ie E & Central Africa)?
ssemakula
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"WB Kyijomanyi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> |
Mr. Odong:
Pray for UPE to succeed so it can produce functionally literate graduates (hopefully) in English, the official language of instruction. If that happens then English could become both the official and national language but do not count on it.
The assumption being that all Ugandan children will go to school, learn english under UPE and then the wishes of those who favour a national language will be met. You should therefore concentrate your efforts on making UPE work for all.
But even if that were to happen (sadly it won't) we would still have the Kenyan situation Matovu's dreams notwishstanding.
Do you think English has helped to move us closer to unity as a country? Is it not true that the chaps who are actually detribalized are those who can't speak English? Is it not true that the elite, the english speakers are the ones who incite those folks against their fellow ugandans? You go to Owino /St. Balikudembe market, or any local brew joint be it in Mbuya, Masese, Kabale, Mbale or Gulu and you will find Ugandans from all over the country happily sipping away their brew without much thought to where one comes from. They are happy together, but then enter the english or swahili speaking types and hell breaks loose. That happened in Kenya under Moi's watch in the now infamous "ethnic cleansing" clashes, clashes I may add were fully backed by the Moi regime. Infact some of the leading proponents were Cabinet Ministers.
Don't you find it paradoxical that the elites, us, the english speaking types are the ones working against the unity of the country? If that is true and it is, what then would be the merits of a national language? What will a national language do what English the official language (the national language of the elite) has failed to do in Uganda?
Over to you.
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