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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks for your point of view. It does make sense
to me that non-linguistic behaviours and attitudes will carry the
day.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Stan</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=dzo@bisharat.net href="mailto:dzo@bisharat.net">Don Osborn</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=lgpolicy-list@ccat.sas.upenn.edu
href="mailto:lgpolicy-list@ccat.sas.upenn.edu">lgpolicy-list@ccat.sas.upenn.edu</A>
; <A title=AfricanLanguages@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:AfricanLanguages@yahoogroups.com">AfricanLanguages@yahoogroups.com</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, February 24, 2008 2:23
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: "Globalization & the
Role of African Languages for Devt."</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Thanks for the feedback. I
think there are several things going on in such situations (apart from the
particular tragic events in Kenya recently).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">It is not uncommon that the
ways people use a language shared by some but not all in a particular setting
might give those who don't speak it the feeling of exclusion. A lot depends on
how the languages are used, the speakers' behavior, etc., and is not inherent
to multilingualism or its expression. On the other hand, I have noticed in
West Africa a tendency to shift languages if necessary to include someone
coming into a discussion, or else someone does a quick translation.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">The notion of keeping some
languages away, down and out of the picture for whatever reason may have more
costs than is realized. They don't go away so easily, and while relegated to
the margins not only serve less good than they might, but perhaps serve as
vehicles for continuing prejudice or worse. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">There was a news item about
radio broadcasts in various local languages in Kenya inciting hatred and
violence.* The solution of course would not be to curtail use of these
languages, but to use those same tongues and the terms, metaphors and cultural
references that are part of them to counter negative messages with more
positive messages.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Part of the hope of language
development, as I see it, is to seize the high ground for more positive and
constructive discourse, preferably before you get to the point of such radio
broadcasts.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">One other note re perceptions
of language and linguistic diversity in Africa: Nigerian linguist Ayo Bamgbose
has written of the twin fallacies of language policies on the continent: that
multilingualism always divides and that one language always unites. The
assumption that language necessarily divide is strong enough that one article
from Tanzania a last year referred to the genocide in Rwanda as being between
groups speaking different languages,** which of course it was
not.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Maybe the issue at the water
cooler in Kenya - or in places of work in the US - should not be how to keep
people from speaking certain languages, but rather encouraging tolerance on
the one hand and politeness (at the risk of sounding quaint) on the other.
Acceptance of linguistic diversity and consideration of others' feelings in
social settings go together. The coming together in Kenya may be difficult
after what has happened, but is suppressing use of languages really an ideal
element of reconciliation or could there be other ways, especially for the
longer term?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">This view of linguistic
pluralism from Uganda in 2005 may be of interest*** :<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">"From my experience with East
and Southern African cities, Kampala and Johannesburg are the more culturally
plural, that is in terms of language diversity. With inhabitants freely
expressing themselves in any of their languages that they deem fit, rather
than being constrained to relate to each other in one State-imposed lingua
franca. And this is a strength that adds to the cosmopolitan outlook and
cultural tolerance of these two post conflict societies.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">"On the other hand, the
language policies of a number of our neighbours, notably Sudan with Arabic and
Kenya and Tanzania with Kiswahili, have led to cultural-cide. This has
undermined their numerous indigenous languages. …"<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">I might add that the
description of language use in Kampala and Johannesburg sounds a rather like
my experience in some West African cities.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Don
Osborn<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">*Alisha Ryu, "Radio Broadcasts
Incite Kenya's Ethnic Violence" VOA 30 January 2008 <A
href="http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-01-30-voa38.cfm">http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-01-30-voa38.cfm</A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">**Neema Mugali, "Kiswahili,
bridging the gap of ethnic divide" Guardian 2007-05-03 09:07:34 <A
href="http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2007/05/03/89680.html">http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2007/05/03/89680.html</A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">***Kintu Nyago, "Kiswahili: No
General Application" The Monitor, February 24, 2005 <A
href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/message/314">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/message/314</A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV
style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: blue 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none">
<DIV>
<DIV
style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none">
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">
owner-lgpolicy-list@ccat.sas.upenn.edu
[mailto:owner-lgpolicy-list@ccat.sas.upenn.edu] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Stan &
Sandy Anonby<BR><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, February 23, 2008 7:55 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
lgpolicy-list@ccat.sas.upenn.edu;
AfricanLanguages@yahoogroups.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: "Globalization &
the Role of African Languages for Devt."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">A Feb 11
article in the New York Times, entitled "Kenya’s Middle Class Feeling Sting of
Violence " seems to come to a different conclusion. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">"Mr.
Mbugua spoke the other day at one of those meetings about the importance of
reconciliation in the workplace. His idea was to keep local languages, which
many Kenyans speak in addition to the country’s official languages (English
and Kiswahili), away from the water cooler. 'We don’t want people to feel
excluded when they’re at work,' he said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt 3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none">
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">----- Original
Message ----- <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <A
title=dzo@bisharat.net href="mailto:dzo@bisharat.net">Don Osborn</A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">To:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <A
title=AfricanLanguages@yahoogroups.com
href="mailto:AfricanLanguages@yahoogroups.com">AfricanLanguages@yahoogroups.com</A>
; <A title=lgpolicy-list@ccat.sas.upenn.edu
href="mailto:lgpolicy-list@ccat.sas.upenn.edu">lgpolicy-list@ccat.sas.upenn.edu</A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Sent:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Friday, February
22, 2008 1:42 PM<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Subject:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> "Globalization
& the Role of African Languages for Devt."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>I just came across a link to Ghirmai Negash's 2005 paper,
"Globalization and the Role of African Languages for Development," on the
Sociolingo's African Linguistics blog at <A
href="http://sociolingolinguistics.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/globalization-and-the-role-of-african-languages-for-development/">http://sociolingolinguistics.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/globalization-and-the-role-of-african-languages-for-development/</A>
and thought I'd pass on the reference. Apparently it was just made available
online at <A
href="http://repositories.cdlib.org/ies/050219/">http://repositories.cdlib.org/ies/050219/</A>
. The abstract follows; the full paper in PDF format can be downloaded at <A
href="http://repositories.cdlib.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1072&context=ies">http://repositories.cdlib.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1072&context=ies</A>
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>"Indigenous African languages are largely eliminated, and
marginalized from use. Instead of investing in and using their linguistic,
cultural, and human potential, African governments and the elite still
continue to channel away their resources and energies into learning
‘imperial’ languages that are used by a tiny minority of the populations.
Against the backdrop of constraining global forces, and Africa’s internal
problems (wars, repression, and general economic misery), this paper argues
that African languages could be the most critical element for Africa’s
survival, and cultural, educational and economic development. In order for
this to happen, however, Africa must invest in this sector of ‘cultural
economy’ as much as it does (should do) in the ‘material economy’, since
both spheres are interrelated and impact on each
other."<o:p></o:p></P></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>