Microsoft translates software into African languages (fwd)

[McMillan, Carol]

I have to note that, of the languages listed in the announcement below, Afrikaans is not an indigenous language.  It is the language of the Afrikaaners, the Dutch-descent European-Africans, the primary supporters of apartheid. 

The massacre of the children of Soweto in the 1970's was due to the aparthied government's mandate that all K-12 schools in Soweto would no longer function in English, but in Afrikaans.  Families saw this as the language of aparthied and of the oppressors.  The people of Soweto staged a peaceful protest; children did not attend school on the day that classroom instruction was to be switched from English to Afrikaans.  Instead, they gathered in front of the church to walk through town.  The police opened fire on them, killing at least 70 elementary school children and wounding many others.

We often think in terms of English being the only language of oppression, but we also need to be vigilant about other non-indigenous languages gaining power as a replacement for English. I am glad that the software for African language translation has been developed.  I hope that it is as thorough a tool for the truly indigenous languages as it will be for Afrikaans.

tac' halaxp,
Carol McMillan


-----Original Message-----
From: Phil CashCash [mailto:cashcash at EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU]
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2003 8:33 PM
To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Subject: Microsoft translates software into African languages (fwd)


Microsoft translates software into African languages
http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/2003/09/28/business/technology/tech10.asp

A software tool that will help computer programs to be translated into
six African languages has been developed by Microsoft.

Zulu and Afrikaans programs are ready for demonstration after three
months of work by six members of Microsoft's technical team. The other
languages in development are Setswana, Xhosa, Swahili and Sepedi.

The software makes it easier for people speaking indigenous languages to
get to grips with technology.

"During the last decade, we have seen the impact of technology in
building South Africa into a socioeconomic leader in Africa. We believe
there are no limits to the potential South Africans can reach if
equipped with the information and communication tools in their language
of choice," said Gordon Frazer, managing director of Microsoft South
Africa.

Khetsi Lehoko, deputy director-general in the national Education
Department, said the development was appreciated particularly because
computers were tools of learning. "It will contribute to the overall
development of indigenous languages and raise their status," he said.

Moss Gondwe, Microsoft's director for the public sector, said: "We
struggled with terminology, like what to call the Internet in Zulu.
Months of the year in Zulu would be difficult for urban kids to
understand. We haven't finalised the terminology yet but we are looking
to the public to make suggestions."

He said the idea started when they looked at certain European countries
that used indigenous languages.

"We looked at France - people there can go into Windows and they are
able to communicate in their own language. We thought it was imperative
that we also develop local languages in order to address the
population's communication needs," said Gondwe.

Government departments and academics at universities were also consulted
during the translation.

"We couldn't develop local languages on our own. We had to involve the
Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and the Department
of Communications. Potchefstroom University was very helpful with
Afrikaans terminology," said Gondwe.