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<h1 class="entry-title gmail-single-post-title">The case of English in Namibia</h1>
<p class="gmail-post-meta gmail-meta-main-img"><span class="gmail-post-date gmail-updated">Oct 26, 2018</span><span class="gmail-vcard gmail-post-author gmail-meta-user"><span class="gmail-fn"><a href="https://thepatriot.com.na/index.php/author/admin/" title="Posts by Admin" rel="author">Admin</a></span></span><span class="gmail-meta-cat"><a href="https://thepatriot.com.na/index.php/category/opinions-analysis/" rel="category tag">Opinions & Analysis</a></span><span class="gmail-meta-comment"><a href="https://thepatriot.com.na/index.php/2018/10/26/the-case-of-english-in-namibia/#respond">0</a></span><span class="gmail-post-date gmail-love_post"><a href="https://thepatriot.com.na/index.php/2018/10/26/the-case-of-english-in-namibia/#" class="gmail-jm-post-like" title="Like">Like</a></span></p> </div>
<div class="gmail-post_content"><p>Placed on a podium and yet, blamed for doing what should be done on the podium</p>
<p>The lack of interest and love for our indigenous languages; the
increased number of indigenous Namibians who are unable to speak, and
lack interest in the use of their native languages and the lack of
growing our indigenous languages are commonly blamed on the prominence
of the English language within the Namibian linguistic landscape. To
begin with, it is not uncommon in our country to find citizens regarding
speaking indigenous languages as a sign of weakness, inferiority,
uneducatedness; and of recent a sign of tribal eccentricity. The latter
is even alluded to by distinct high office bearers in Government, who
publicly declare that to build “the Namibian house” we need to use
English (only), because if we use our individual indigenous (ethnic)
languages we are promoting “tribalism”. I leave this one here.<br>
In Namibia, the English language is fortunately highly celebrated. While
it is a foreign language and of course our official language and a
language of wider communication and commerce, English continues to play
key roles in our beloved society. One, it is a language which enables us
to communicate with each other within this multilingual and
multicultural society, as well as with the wider global village. Two, it
is one language most preferred than other languages; including our own
indigenous languages. Therefore I say, there is nothing wrong with
English. What the English language does, is to perform the roles given
it and occupy the space allocated for it (does what should be done when
placed on the podium all alone).<br>
At independence, the Government of the Republic of Namibia adopted
English as an official language, a language of wider communication and a
language of instruction in schools. This was done through the language
policy which was adopted soon after independence, as a means to meet
societal needs in a newly independent Namibia. In deciding to make
English the official language, the Government was guided by several
understandings.<br>
Two such understandings are that the official language should be 1. A
medium of cultural transmission, 2. A language of international
connections, NOT foreign cultural domination (Ministry of Education and
Culture, 1993). These two understandings differ from what transpired on
the ground with regard to implementing English as a language of
instruction and an official language; especially in relation to
indigenous languages use, uplifting and maintenance (The portion
allocated for indigenous languages as per language policy and the
relationship they share with English, will be further discussed as a
single subject; for today we leave it here). Notice the element in the
above understandings… a medium of cultural transmission… Whose culture
do we want to promote with English? In my understanding, language is
part of a culture of its given speakers, and we promote culture by the
use of the language of a specific ethnic divide/group. The second
understanding is that English be A language of international
connections, NOT foreign cultural domination… The last part here is of
distinct interest, in my view. It was intended that with the English
language we should not promote foreign cultural domination.<br>
What I want to mention here is that, as long as you own and use a
foreign language you are inevitably promoting a foreign culture, and in
many events foreign domination. Remember that language is a medium of
cultural transmission and power. No language promotes a culture
different from that of its native speakers. That is why a distinct
African writer/novelist Ngugi wa Thiongo from Kenya opted to begin to
write in Kikuyu around the 1970s, as can surely be agreed, for political
reasons. His essay “Decolonising the mind” speaks volumes.<br>
Yes, we are aware that more value is placed on the English language. But
let me be quick to say here that, the value placed on English, is so
done by us, not by itself. It shows who we are, what we regard our own
and others’. Indigenous languages on the other hand, are faced with so
many shifts as currently observed from their use, to the use of English.
In line with the latter, the likelihood of language “desertion” for our
indigenous languages is foreseen if nothing is done to stop this trend.
Many of our children and youth do not speak, understand and even care
about their native languages. This is not their fault, it is what we
made them to see, believe and understand.<br>
The onus, therefore, of reversing the on-going trend of indigenous
languages polarisation due to English preference lies within mother
tongue speakers. There is need for (it is up to) individual speakers to
preserve and retain their languages which are carriers of their
heritage, culture and identity as a people; so that these languages do
not completely disappear. Remember that when a language disappears,
dies, extinct, it does so with the culture, values and even the cultural
education and artefacts of its speakers.<br>
While the decline of the Namibian indigenous languages is blamed on the
English language many critics and language scholars have taken a
different stance regarding this issue in recent times. They argue that
the blame for the decline and at times stagnation of our indigenous
languages should instead be placed on the people themselves for not
doing much to maintain, develop and promote their own languages. We
should stop blaming English for our lack of interest in our own
languages and start to find ways to make our languages equally enticing
and grow them.<br>
It is common that one observes pathetically situations where speakers
cannot consistently express themselves in their native (indigenous)
language without borrowing word(s) or phrases from English. Such
speakers seem to be comfortable with this trend, therefore perceive it
as normal. Mention be further made that, to many Namibians, English is
regarded as the language of status, of the educated and the privileged.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about our indigenous languages.
Therefore, one should not be surprised to find speakers of the same
language, (let us say Oshiwambo), speaking to each other in English
instead of doing so in Oshiwambo even if it is in unofficial contexts.<br>
Many Namibians rarely speak their native languages, but English. The
question I want to ask is; does this have to do with the status placed
on the English language? The answer is yes, and this has everything to
do with us who placed English that high, and not with English itself.
Speaking English is mistakenly equated with being educated and
civilised. At times using indigenous languages is prohibited,
discouraged or just ignored. It is looked down upon. English is accorded
a higher status over and above indigenous languages, and yet blamed for
the current stagnating status of our indigenous languages.<br>
When he was honoured with an honorary doctorate from the University of
Namibia, a successful business man Frans Aupa Indongo, made his
reception speech in Otshikwambi. Many of his audience in the graduation
ceremony including those who can understand Oshiwambo did not want to
listen to what he was saying simply because he was not speaking English.
Does this mean that we feel, and come to believe that our own
languages; and therefore we are inferior? Do we want to say that, unless
an individual can express him/herself in English, his/her views should
and shall go unheard?<br>
Going back to the situation in our local schools. Scholars such Harleck
Jones recommend the use of local languages in classrooms, for teachers
to help learners understand difficult concepts; teachers never do this;
if they do, they will be labelled that they are teaching kids in the
vernacular language and might even lose their jobs. I can frankly
mention here that there is a worrisome trend of the decline and
stagnation in the use and advancemnet of indigenous languages or half
use thereof, a trend which needs to be reversed. Blame it on us and not
on the English language.</p></div>
<br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" 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></div>