Addressing transformation by giving voice to diverse languages
THE enforcement of language rights as a powerful lever to turn radical economic transformation from political rhetoric to reality took centre stage during a ceremony to commemorate International Mother Language Day, which was held at Sandton City, Johannesburg, yesterday.
Government institutions are required to lead the way in championing multilingualism as a national agenda and tool to ensure inclusive development, meaningful transformation, equality and poverty alleviation.
This comes against the backdrop of shocking findings that the majority of national government and provincial departments do not have language policies, thereby denying millions of South Africans the opportunity to transact in the language of their choice.
Defaulting departments may be hauled through the courts to enforce compliance with the constitutional requirement for the promotion of the use of mother-tongue languages, particularly in foundation stages.
While South Africa has many languages, 11 of which are legislated as official languages, the meeting felt that some languages were accorded dominance over others, thereby undermining social cohesion.
English was found to be unduly dominant in the South African business, political and social contexts to the exclusion of other languages such as the Khoi, Nama and San languages, and also sign language.
Organised by the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), the meeting was attended by close to 200 guests comprising those from government and academic institutions, pupils and rep- resentatives of the national language structures under the theme “Towards Sustainable Futures through Multilingual Education”.
PanSALB is an autonomous entity of the constitution which was formed in 1995 with the mandate to champion multilingualism across all communities in South Africa.
In an interview with Independent Media, PanSALB chief executive Dr Rakwena Monareng said: “This is about celebrating our identity, which is inscribed in our mother language. This is part of our concerted efforts aimed at giving value to these languages by providing them with effective and strategic space for expression.
“What we call the 11 official languages are artificial constructs to operate at a given domain – the formal domain. The actual languages are what the Western concept regards as dialects.
“When we talk of official languages, we talk of those occupying that domain. I must add that we are disappointed and dismayed that many government departments and institutions are not taking our constitution seriously because the cause of language diversity is mandated by the constitution.”
Other participants also noted that international platforms must be transformed to encourage diversity in the use of language. As it is, participants felt, the processes were skewed towards Western dominance and to push Western interests.
The example of the UK and the US having an advantage over other nations due to the dominance of English language in international platforms was also cited. Representatives called for the world to move away from the situation whereby knowledge-making seams are controlled by
superpowers.
One of the people who received an award for excelling in indigenous languages was Shihluke Mswanganye, who won R5 000 for being the best-performing pupil in XiTsonga for 2016 while in Grade 12.
“It is important for all learners to have access to education in their mother tongue and to be able to appreciate the lan-
guages of other people. That gives them an advantage,” Mswanganye said.
Meanwhile, Unesco director-general Irina Bokova used International Mother Language Day to appeal for a multistakeholder approach to tackle language diversity.
It was through mastery of mother tongue that reading, writing and numeracy were acquired.