June 16 is a public holiday in South Africa that reminds us of the uprising of black high school children against the imposition of Afrikaans as a language of instruction at schools by the apartheid government. Language served as a key trigger of their struggle.
Today, South Africans can be proud about their 12 official languages while giving recognition also to the Khoi and San languages. This diversity of languages places a great responsibility on our shoulders. How do we promote a multilingual society, creating space for all these languages without setting them up against one another? How do we promote the indigenous languages while avoiding the trap of monolingualism?
International news coverage on Ryanair creating global awareness of SA languages
With this in mind, it came as a shock when a British airline called Ryanair suddenly expected South African passport holders travelling to the UK to answer a set of general knowledge questions about South Africa – in Afrikaans only. The test was due to Ryanair’s concerns about landing passengers with fake passports, for which airlines are fined.
Conrad Steenkamp
However, neither the test nor the language used made any sense and angered a great number of people. ILAF therefore wrote to Mr Clayson Monyela, head of diplomacy at the department of foreign affairs, asking that the matter be investigated. ILAF also demanded via social media that Ryanair stops using the test.
Despite upsets like that, the year 2022 has been good for indigenous languages in some respects. ILAF commented positively via the media after Judge Mandisa Maya highlighted the importance of the use of indigenous languages in South African courts during her interviews for the Chief Justice position. Since then she has made further strong statements regarding language and justice.
The issue of the indigenous languages in South African courts hit the media yet again during the Senzo Meyiwa trail, during which language, particularly the reliance on English, became an obstacle to court proceedings. It had been assumed that the police expert who was being cross-questioned about the murder scene would use English as a medium of communication instead of an indigenous language.
Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela had to intervene to accommodate his language needs. Court proceedings were halted for about an hour in search of a Sesotho interpreter. Ultimately, Zulu, Sotho, and English were used in court.
Dr Zakeera Docrat, ILAF vice-chair, was interviewed on radio and television, making a call to Chief Justice Zondo to train court language practitioners to ensure better use of indigenous languages. How can one attain justice if one does not understand the language of the court proceedings? Several social media users commented that they had been previously denied fair court proceedings since they were deprived of interpreters when they requested for one, thereby denying them basic language rights.
INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE PROGRESS
Earlier this year, SARS produced a multilingual terminology list consisting of 450 tax terms in 11 indigenous languages. At this year’s Mother-tongue celebration day, Babalwa Nonkenge, creator of Epokothweni, a financial education podcast in isiXhosa, lamented that the lack of effort in business news for example and elsewhere to communicate finance in indigenous languages excludes millions of South Africans. She asked why are business news never offered in indigenous languages? Epokothweni won this year’s PANSLAB Business and Technology award. Thando Mahlangu and several Ndebele activists were awarded by PANLAB for their inspiring activism for the visibility of isiNdebele. You can follow Mahlangu’s work on social media under #WeWantAmandebeleOnTV and #VukaNdebele.
Nomxolisi Jantjies of Cape Peninsula University of Technology Language Unit
ILAF also visited Cape Peninsula University of Technology, the University of Johannesburg and the University of Pretoria to get a better idea of how indigenous languages are being used learning. Most universities have language units that translate documents or produce word lists. ILAF gives recognition to the efforts and outputs of these language units, however, their outputs tend not to be used to their full potential.
Prof Elsabe Taljard of the University of Pretoria showcasing one of her proudest collaborations and contribution to indigenous language development in SA. Oxford Pedi dictionary)
ILAF’s assessment of social media activities, indicates that the South African youth are beginning to understand the importance of language for employment. Mandlenkosi Shezi, a master’s student at the University of Johannesburg, developed a Zulu version of the programming language Python, so that people can code in their own language. SABC 1’s Kids News has indigenous news presenters at 6am in the morning. These presenters have an excellent command of their indigenous languages. They are inspiring a new generation of indigenous language role models of high caliber such as the likes of Noxolo Grootboom who remains an inspiration to the power and beauty of indigenous languages of South Africa. Kholosa Lubisi presents Xhosa news while Sihle Dlamini is a Zulu presenter.
The department of Basic Education has been implementing indigenous language education projects in various settings. This is because of the overwhelming evidence that children perform better at school if they learn in the language they speak at home. Basic Education is particularly important as it strengthens the use of indigenous languages from a young age.
Dr Athambile Masola and Dr Xolisa Guzula at their Imbokodo book series launch in Cavendish.
ILAF Steering Committee Member, Dr Athambile Masola and Dr Xolisa Guzula have authored new history books for children aged 9-12. Their ground-breaking historical women’s series is available in 5 South African languages. It is notable that both authors are educators. Imbokodo: Women Who Shape Us which was launched earlier this year, features historical South African black women leaders in activism and leadership, arts as well as inventors. The featured historical figures range from Gogo Esther Mahlangu, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Zanele Mbeki to recent women such as Brenda Fassie, Winnie Madikizela Mandela, and historical women whose stories have largely been buried such as Mina Tembeka Soga, the Makiwane Sisters, Noni Jabavu including several more women. The complete series covers 30 women in total. The two writers shared at their Exclusive Books launch in Cavendish that they took different approaches to writing. Dr Guzula wrote in isiXhosa while Dr Masola wrote in English. The work that is currently being produced by indigenous language activists is progressive and innovative. South African authors are writing more and more in indigenous languages even though there is still much more to be done. Miss SA 2020, Shudufhadzo Musida, is a wonderful influence for a wider audience to take indigenous languages seriously. Her book, Shudu Finds her Magic is available in 6 South African languages while TV News personality, Nzinga Qunta whose children’s book is titled Amari’s Adventures is available in all 11 languages. Indigenous language activism is emerging in all sectors of society. This is life giving.
There is much development taking place but the most encouraging has been to watch young children reading books in their indigenous language. The Joza Youth Hub in Makhanda has a wonderful indigenous language library for children. Visit our social media pages if you would like to see one of the children reading.
This video helped us to reach out to a multilingual child influencer, @sithi_pancake or Sithi Maweni, on Instagram to also read in her indigenous language. She immediately responded with a video of herself reading for her thousands of followers. It is currently one of her most watched recent videos with more than 36k views so far and growing.
ILAF wants to encourage more development in indigenous languages and welcomes anything positive that is taking place that promotes our indigenous languages. Perhaps Ryanair could learn something from interacting with ILAF.
Poet, artist promoter and Uthando ngesintu indigenous language activist – @Loud_Inkd of Mkhokheli Dlamini
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