[lg policy] Botswana: Setswana is not an endangered language - Kgathi

[Harold Schiffman]

Setswana is not an endangered language - Kgathi

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent

BOBONONG: The country's local languages are not among the 6,000 that
will disappear by the end of the century.  This is according to the
Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Shaw Kgathi who said government
continues to implement the National Policy on Culture.

Giving a keynote address during the commemoration of the National
Languages Day on Tuesday, Kgathi called upon Dikgosi and parents to
advise their children to speak their languages because they are the
custodians of culture. Kgathi pointed out that the United Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has
indicated that half of about 6,000 languages spoken the World over
will disappear by the end of the century if nothing is done to
safeguard and promote them.

He said the government has adopted the two languages of Setswana and
English as official languages but he explained that this was not meant
to undermine other local languages. He said local languages are
important for the cultural identity of communities. He noted that they
serve as vehicles for social cohesion and creative cultural
expressions. He said languages provide a unique identity to the human
race and assists humanity to better understand the environment.

"Botswana recognises and values our unity in diversity, there are
lessons learnt from other countries that the power play between
languages can be a source of conflict amongst and between different
communities resulting in bloodshed," Kgathi pointed out.
Speakers at the commemoration of the National Languages Day raised
alarm that Setswana Language is under threat of disappearing.

One of them, Dr Pearl Seloma from the University of Botswana (UB)
observed that it is clear that the English language is overshadowing
Setswana because most young people shun speaking the language, adding
that they would rather mix the two.

She stated that parents must also play a role in advising their
children to speak their mother tongue. Seloma said English is used to
connect Botswana with the global village whilst Setswana is used as a
unifying language amongst Batswana.

Seloma said research has shown that there are 29 languages in
Botswana, including sign language. She noted that most of the language
speakers do not understand each other.

"Most of the languages in the country will disappear including
Setswana if nothing is done to protect them.

The Bobirwa Sub-District has other languages but the most spoken
language is Sebirwa, which is also spoken in neighbouring countries
being Zimbabwe and South Africa. The other languages spoken in this
district are Setswapong or Sekgopung, Setalaote, Sepedi and Sesarwa,"
she said.

Seloma stated that it is very important for the languages to be
written because it is the most effective way of preserving them. She
said that there was need for languages to be developed all the time.

She called upon the government to assist communities to protect their
culture by appointing language experts who can document them. She also
called for the introduction of the Language Policy by the government.

For his part, the Principal of Francistown Teachers College (FTC), Sir
Wanda Masebola said people must take pride in speaking their own
languages. He said through research and documentation, other forms of
such as orthographies can be developed for the maintenance of
languages.

Another speaker, Professor Sekgothe Mokgoatsana from the University of
Limpopo said having inherited the language, people have an added
responsibility to preserve, protect, promote and to develop it.

He explained that it is on such terms that languages should be treated
as a heritage resource that requires protection. He said in terms of
nation building, there is a need to maintain a balance between
language communities and standard languages. He said the government
should decide whether they need national languages or regional
languages.

"National languages would be enforced on all citizens to build a
national identity, whereas regional languages will be enforced at
regional levels depending on the spread and distribution of these
languages across districts," he said.

Mokgoatsana said language is very emotive and sensitive. He explained
that Botswana stands a good chance of having a language policy that is
enforceable. "What would make it difficult for legislating that
Botswana uses English and Setswana on an equal footing and resources
are put in place to develop other minority languages," Mokgoatsana
wondered.

He also observed that there is no university in the country that has
adopted an African language as a medium of instruction. He said there
is need to empower language communities and provide resources for
development of regional languages to the level of English.

http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=733&dir=2012/February/Thursday23

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