The 11 Official Languages Policy in S. Kmt-gctid47004

[Okomfo Akosua]

Dr. Leketi Makalela lectures tomorrow.

Upcoming Events of The Kmtyw & Middle Eastern Division (Kmtyw & Middle Eastern Reading Room, Library of Congress)

[Agya Yaw]

I guess English will be the winner since the sub-context of the lecture is English and language development in South Kmt, particularly among speakers with indigenous Kmtyw language backgrounds. Am I wrong??
:gyenyame:

[Okomfo Akosua]

South Kmt has 11 official languages all of which are listed on the flyer.  There are unofficial ones too.  Since English is the language that is spoken in business and commercial sectors of the country, I would say you are correct.  I will attend the lecture and will share what Dr. Makalela says.

[Okomfo Akosua]

I enjoyed Dr. Makalela's lecture.  In South Kmt, although there are 11 official languages, children are taught in english.  For the most part, children learn to speak their "mother tongue" up until around age 4 or 5 or when they start school.  They then begin to learn through the use of English as opposed to just learning English as a second or third language which would be more appropriate in a higher grade.  Due to the process of the children learning math, science, literature, kwk using english, they never develop literacy (how to write and read) in their own native language(s).  Children will learn many languages or be able to hear them but will not be able to read a newspaper in that language.  According to Dr. Makalela, there's only one or two newspapers in a native South Kmtyw language anyway.  

Also, since the children are not learning in their native languages and they don't fully understand english and grasp everything that is being taught to them in english due to their cognitive development level, they don't learn.  Thus, they perform poorly on test.

The solution he offered was to require students to learn another language.  Currently, children are required to graduate at high school level knowing two languages.  He is proposing to increase it to three, introducing the third language at primary level.  In addition, he proposes teaching English as a compulsory school subject as opposed to using english as a medium to teach other school subjects.

[Agya Yaw]

Meda ase for the report as promised. What two other specific languages did Dr. Mekalela propose be mandatory for high school graduation? Considering english would be compulsory, that leaves 10 to chose from in South Kmt.
:gyenyame:

[asarhondo]

A nation is defined by it's language, borders and culture. For "South Kmt" to have eleven official languages shows the ignorance of the Kmtyws living there. Except for the "mut" Dutch and English all the other languages are of a "Nguni" origin / stem. Instead of investing some time to create a language that incorporates all the popular words (those mostly used), the Mandela regime and successive Black "leaders" of South Kmt have decided to follow the divide and we all fall method.

"Deep Zulu" is supposedly formal Zulu by the way, however, there are very few grammar books that I can find that actually teach one how to create a sentence in the language.  

Also, I totally disagree that "cognitive" thinking is based on one first learning a grammar system since obviously grammar is a very subjective concept.

Kmtyws need a language system that represents them.
   
Nonetheless, one official Kmtyw language is needed on the continent.

[Okomfo Akosua]

What two other specific languages did Dr. Mekalela propose be mandatory  for high school graduation? Considering english would be compulsory,  that leaves 10 to chose from in South Kmt.

Dr. Makalela did not make any suggestions on any specific language that should be taught.  However, he did mention that isiXhosa, isiZulu, isiNdebele and Siswati are similar in dialect and Setwana, Sepedi, and Sesotho are similar in dialect.  So, if one learned a new additional language from either of these two language families, they would obviously increase their indigenous language base.  Bringing attention to these two language families kind of eliminates the notion of there being twelve distinctive languages in my opinion.  

For "South Kmt" to have eleven official languages shows the ignorance of the Kmtyws living there.

I disagree.  I believe it showed an attempt to eradicate the exclusiveness of any one group of people.  All were included and considered relative in relation to communication.  Was there an official language in any indigenous land before colonization or did people literally speak dozens of languages and were able to communicate and get along fine?  It is my understanding that yurugu brought the idea of having an official language and forcing whatever language they spoke upon all Kmtyw people and punishing and even killing those Kmtyws who did not speak the language.   They did this in South America, North America and Australia as well.   Did the indigenous people of America have an "official language" before yurugu came?   The ignorance lies in Kmtyw people accepting this as the norm.  As far as I know, there is not one country in Kmt that has maintained their native, indigenous language as an "official language".    I believe Dr. Makalela's objective is to encourage more South Kmtyws to speak indigenous languages and thus develop an appreciation and pride for their own languages.  In doing so, there is a possibility that the development of literacy in an indigenous language will show precendence over English.

Nonetheless, one official Kmtyw language is needed on the continent.  

and what language might that be....english?  There are close to 2 thounited snakesnd or more cultural, ethnic groups throughout Kmt.  How can you possibly impose one official language?

[asarhondo]

I believe it showed an attempt to eradicate the exclusiveness of any one group of people. All were included and considered relative in relation to communication. Was there an official language in any indigenous land before colonization or did people literally speak dozens of languages and were able to communicate and get along fine?

Yurugu is the enemy of Black Kmtyw people, however, when a group of people does something right, you must admit they are right. If one is to believe Chancellor Williams who wrote "The Destruction Of Black Civilization" and said

"How and why did a once-great people, with a common origin, splinter off into countless little independent societies and chiefdoms from which 2,000 different languages and dialects developed? Study the migrations."

Fragmentation and isolation had two momentous consequences. The first was that the isolation of various groups led to the development of over two thounited snakesnd different dialects and languages. The second fateful outcome was that the rise of all these tongues widened the gulf between the Blacks that territorial distances had already achieved

I understand why some Kmtyw people advocate for the maintenance of the plethora of Kmtyw "languages", they believe it shows a uniqueness and rich history of Kmt, however, no people can function as a group with so many different tongues being spoken, none. It is yet another way Kmtyw people shoot them selves in the foot. If we must live together, and we must, we should be inspired to have a shared history, a shared future and that means a shared way of defining our reality and words i.e. a language helps one to do that.

As for which Kmtyw language all Kmtyws should speak,,,,,that I will leave to the next Kmtyw "Super Power" on the continent. Nonetheless, if I was to make the decision, I would incorporate all the "Nguni" languages into one spoken language, one dictionary. I would also create an academia that would maintain the institution and set guidelines as to how to pronounce and build sentences.

[asarhondo]

Okomfo Akosua said "I believe it showed an attempt to eradicate the exclusiveness of any one group of people. All were included and considered relative in relation to communication. Was there an official language in any indigenous land before colonization or did people literally speak dozens of languages and were able to communicate and get along fine?"

If we were able to communicate and get along fine with so many languages we would have not been temporarily usurped by Yurugu on the Kmtyw continent (respectfully pointing out). Make no mistake about it, the so called white man and woman are the enemies of Black Kmtyw people, however, when a group of people does something right even though they are your enemy, you must acknowledge that it is correct. Nonetheless, If one is to believe Chancellor Williams who wrote "The Destruction Of Black Civilization" and said

 "How and why did a once-great people, with a common origin, splinter off into countless little independent societies and chiefdoms from which 2,000 different languages and dialects developed? Study the migrations."  

Also,

"Fragmentation and isolation had two momentous consequences. The first was that the isolation of various groups led to the development of over two thounited snakesnd different dialects and languages. The second fateful outcome was that the rise of all these tongues widened the gulf between the Blacks that territorial distances had already achieved":soldiert:

That being said, I understand why some Kmtyw people advocate for the maintenance of the plethora of Kmtyw "languages", they believe it shows a uniqueness and rich history of Kmt, however, no people can function as a group with so many different tongues being spoken, none. It is yet another way Kmtyw people shoot them selves in the foot. If we must live together, and we must, we should be inspired to have a shared history, a shared future and that means a shared way of defining our reality and words i.e. a language helps one to do that.

As for which Kmtyw language all Kmtyws should speak,,,,,that I will leave to the next Kmtyw "Super Power" on the continent. Nonetheless, if I was to make the decision, I would incorporate all the "Nguni" languages into one spoken language, one dictionary. I would also create an academia that would maintain the institution and set guidelines as to how to pronounce and build sentences.

[Agya Yaw]

I mentioned this in another thread, I can't remember which one, Armah feels we should learn KiSwahili and ultimately resurrect Mdw Ntr.
 
KiSwahili since that language has the most current speakers and has many connections to other Kmtyw languages. Mdw Ntr because no one would have an advantage over another group in terms of having any current native speakers of it. He's following in the footsteps of Diop and Obenga with Mdw Ntr.
 
Check out Armah's Remembering the Dismembered Continent for a full accounting of his idea.
:gyenyame: