Speech for Mr B. Holomisa (MP), on the occasion of the launch of the new bilingual English – isiXhosa / isiXhosa – English Dictionary at Prana Lodge, Chintsa East, East London – 18 September 2014. ================================ Master of the Ceremony Members of the Oxford University Press Southern Africa Management and Staff Members of our academic community People from all walks of life Ladies and Gentlemen; Allow me to express my deep and sincere sense of appreciation to be part of this august occasion and being an honoured guest and speaker. Programme director, the social, political and economic impact of the imposition of colonial culture on Africans has been profoundly far-reaching. The African cultural practices were condemned and demonised in the name of development, civilisation and modernity. This marked the beginning of the end to the challenge to which we mark and celebrate part of the solution today. Africans, through the strong oral tradition of their indigenous languages, proudly perpetuated their cultural practices, their history and sense of the world. The African self-identity, its character, strong sense of direction was intact because culture served as a reference point to the past and to the future. It comes as a big relief when the Oxford University Press, Southern Africa, presents South Africans with the first ever produced bilingual dictionary. That it is a isiXhosa – English / English-isiXhosa school dictionary is to us but just a beginning of the great work to be done in this area of knowledge production and development. This bold and constructive step must be celebrated because its success in contributing to the body knowledge will ensure that our children and generations to come, re-engage with indigenous language and other languages in a balanced and enriching manner for a better South African citizenry, united in diversity. This unity in diversity, appreciation and respect for different languages and cultures is a missing link in our lives, our education system and in our society at large. Language is conduit of culture from one generation to the next and culture expresses language, irrespective of which language is spoken. Culture and language are intertwined and do not exist without the other. The South African Constitution, in its Bill of Rights confirms eleven official languages nine of which are indigenous. It further states: “recognising the historically diminished use of the indigenous languages in our schools, the state must take practical and positive measurers to elevate the status and advance the use of these languages.” Your initiative is therefore consistent and advancing the intentions of the supreme law, in particular the Bill of Rights. South Africa has only eleven languages whilst Nigeria has no less than 252, Cameroon 200, Kenya 42. Indeed your excellent intervention is appreciated and celebrated as a major contribution to a bigger societal challenge and the system of education. One great African academic, Dr Makula of Zambia once advised: “The education of an African child should not be the mere assimilation of Western values and norms, but should to a greater extend, include the strengthening of their indigenous culture.” This first ever bilingual (isiXhosa – English / English – isiXhosa) dictionary, once again, responds positively and progressively to this wise advice. Programme director, this dictionary is not an isiXhosa dictionary and therefore we should appreciate its context and content. In this regard, this dictionary contributes largely to harmonisation of languages, culture, and heritage as it brings together a diverse nation. There is absolutely no dispute that English is a dominant language and it is an important part of our lives in the national and global political, social and economic domains. It is in the appreciation of this reality that the dictionary must be considered as well. Further, the dictionary, in my view, will also address the growing slang language in our society. I have no doubt programme director, that this first bilingual dictionary will open the gates for an interaction between our official languages and possible one day we will come back or meet somewhere within our country to celebrate a multilingual dictionary, covering all our eleven official languages. The Pan South African Language Board is doing its part as it has decided to produce dictionaries in all indigenous African languages to support teaching and learning indigenous language. This initiative adds to the work you have done and we are celebrating today. What we must emphasise though is an interaction between our official languages. This is important for building social cohesion for a diverse nation such as ours. The success of this great work demands practical appreciation by all sectors. In this regard, parents must play their role, school governing bodies must promote this dictionary in practice, and communities must go back to reading and discussion societies. Programme director, once again, I take this opportunity to congratulate the good work done by Oxford University Press Southern Africa. Ensuring that we have a bilingual dictionary can never be an easy task, yet you have done it. Sithi maz-enethole. In conclusion, we must appreciate our beauty as a human race and find meaning to the diversity of our languages and cultures. When we fail to appreciate and discharge our tasks with respect to this dictionary, we should know that we are creating a difficult path between the dead and the living and between the living and the generations to come because the future of our country like any society depends on the transition between generations. We must not fail the good work done. Ndiyabulela (I thank you)
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 13:44:47 +0000