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<h1 style="clear:both">Pay attention to Ghanaian languages</h1>
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<p style="clear:right"> Article 39, Clause 3 of the 1992 Constitution of
the Republic of Ghana enjoins the state to “foster the development of
Ghanaian languages and pride in Ghanaian culture”.<br>
<br>
By this constitutional provision, the state is obliged to formulate and
implement policies and programmes towards the development of Ghanaian
languages and cultures.<br>
<br>
It is also incumbent on the state to ensure that its citizens feel
proud of their languages and cultural heritage. However, one wonders if
the state is really performing her responsibility as far as this
constitutional requirement is concerned.<br>
<br>
On November 17, 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) proclaimed February 21 as International
Mother Language Day, and it was first observed throughout the world on
February 21, 2000.<br>
<br>
This day was instituted to promote linguistic and cultural diversity,
multilingualism and to highlight greater awareness of the importance of
mother language education. The institution of the day was also to bring
to the fore strategies nations could adopt to save their various
indigenous languages and tap their immense benefits to the full.<br>
<br>
<b>Mother language day</b><br>
<br>
In Ghana, the celebration of the International Mother Language Day has
not been given the due attention it deserves, apparently due to the lack
of government commitment, coupled with poor attitude of Ghanaians
towards their own mother languages. Even though the celebration of the
International Mother Language Day has been brought to the attention of
Ghanaians since 2008, many people are still ignorant of it.<br>
<br>
Some people even look down on students studying Ghanaian languages in
our universities. This situation does not augur well for the development
of our local languages. It is worthy to note that available statistics
points to the extinction of some Ghanaian languages in the near future.<br>
<br>
One sure way of promoting a language is to speak it and reduce it to
writing. However, in Ghana, many people appear to feel shy to speak
their own mother language. The Bureau of Ghana Languages, the only
government department mandated to write and publish books exclusively in
Ghanaian languages as a way of promoting our local languages, is unable
to deliver effectively because of understaffing, insufficient funds and
logistics.<br>
<br>
Since its establishment in 1951, the bureau has been operating in the
11 Ghanaian languages so far studied in our educational institutions,
namely Akuapem Twi, Asante Twi, Dagaare, Dagbani, Dangme, Ewe, Ga,
Gonja, Kasem, Mfantse and Nzema. However, the once buoyant department
engaged in the development and promotion of Ghanaian languages is now a
pale shadow of its former self.<br>
<br>
The theme for this year’s International Mother Language Day,
”Linguistic Diversity and Multilingualism Count for Sustainable
Development”, could not have come at a better time. To foster
sustainable development, learners must have access to education in their
mother tongue and in other languages. It is through the mastery of the
first language or mother tongue that the basic skills of reading,
writing and numeracy are acquired. Local languages, especially minority
and indigenous, transmit cultures, values and traditional knowledge,
thus playing an important role in promoting unity in diversity and
sustainable development.<br>
<br>
<b>Language policies</b><br>
<br>
A closer look at Ghana’s language policies from the colonial era to
date clearly shows frequent policy shifts as the nation has oscillated
between pro-English policies and those that mandate the use of Ghanaian
languages in education to a limited extent. Currently, the Ghanaian
Language Policy states that Ghanaian languages should be used as a
medium of instruction from kindergarten to primary three.<br>
<br>
The junior high school (JHS) students are learning one Ghanaian
language and the teacher trainees are also made to study one Ghanaian
language under the policy. This has created a vacuum in the senior high
schools (SHSs) and it is making the study of Ghanaian languages
difficult for most of the teacher trainees who do not study Ghanaian
languages in the SHSs. To add insult to injury, most of these teachers
end up teaching the subject in our basic schools. How can these teachers
be adequately equipped to ensure the success of the policy?<br>
<br>
To reverse the trend, there is a need for a stable policy on Ghanaian
language education. Ghanaian languages should be made compulsory
subjects in the SHS through to the tertiary level. This will undoubtedly
promote our indigenous languages for sustainable development.<br>
<br>
As we celebrate this year’s International Mother Language Day, let us
take the necessary steps to promote Ghanaian languages for national
development. Let us give prominence to our mother languages as we have
given to some foreign languages such as English, French, etc. The
government should adequately resource the Bureau of Ghana Languages to
deliver on its mandate. The call goes to the Ministry of Education,
Ghana Education Service, policy makers, traditional rulers and other
stakeholders to rise up to the challenge and save our mother languages
from extinction.<br>
<br>
The writer is with the Bureau of Ghana Languages</p>
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+<br><br> Harold F. Schiffman<br><br>Professor Emeritus of <br> Dravidian Linguistics and Culture <br>Dept. of South Asia Studies <br>University of Pennsylvania<br>Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305<br><br>Phone: (215) 898-7475<br>Fax: (215) 573-2138 <br><br>Email: <a href="mailto:haroldfs@gmail.com" target="_blank">haroldfs@gmail.com</a><br><a href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/" target="_blank">http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/</a> <br><br>-------------------------------------------------</div>
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