Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Outcry over ‘sick in brain’ sign
THERE have been complaints about Xhosa translation for psychiatric hospitals’ signs across the province.
An official at Stikland Psychiatric Hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media, said there had been several complaints about the phrase “isibhedlele sabantu abagula ngengqondo”, loosely translated as “a hospital for people who are sick in the brain”.
He said the hospital had engaged with the Department of Health, which promised to collaborate with the Eastern Cape health department on a name change.
The official said the hospital had spoken with the department this week on the matter.
Human Rights Commissioner Chris Nissen said that after having received numerous complaints, he had approached the department to consider a more suitable phrase.
The department promised him it would look into the matter.
Bomikazi January, a language specialist, said if the phrase or words in the phrase were standardised by the Pan South African Language Board, then it was acceptable.
She could not verify whether it had been standardised, and the board did not respond to Weekend Argus by the time of going to print.
Stikland Psychiatric Hospital’s spokesperson, Bianca Carls, said the department had encouraged those who wanted the Xhosa translation changed to consult the language board, which oversees the process.
Carls said the wording on the hospital’s signs had been approved by the board.
“We would like to apologise for any perceived negative connotations associated with translations and are willing to make adjustments if need be and after the appropriate institutions are consulted,” she said.
“We would like to clarify that terms viewed as offensive by some individuals, are not viewed as offensive by others.
“Therefore, finding an equilibrium which is understood and sensitised has always been the objective for any translation within the department.”