The United Nations declared, on November st
17, 1999, that the 21 of February be observed as the International Mother Language day. The first observation took place in the year 2000, and has been celebrated annually since then, with different themes each year. The main aim of observing this day is to participate in events that promote linguistic and cultural diversity, and to encourage people to maintain their knowledge of their mother tongue while learning and using more than one language. Language is and will always be the root through which every culture receives all the nurturing it deservestoflourish. Indigenous languages have been used for years by communities as modes of communication and developing systems of understanding, delivering, as well as interpreting messages, teaching and imparting knowledge and wisdom from generation to generation, communicating with ancestors, praising and showing respect. Language is more than speech; it is inclusive of gestures, writings, song, etc. Different cultures have different gestures t h a t c a r r y m e a n i n g w h e n e i t h e r accompanying speech or not. Language and culture cannot exist without one another. As such, when a language is silenced, a significant amount of loss of knowledge about the norms and values a culture subscribes to occurs to the
“
community, and next generations suffer because the death of language is the death of the primary vehicle of cultural maintenance, promotion, preservation and transmission. The strong preference for English language over African indigenous languages within the South African community in all sectors of the society is a great threat to the tapestry of the rich cultures and heritages that our diverse languages represent. The imposition of Afrikaans and English languages on Africans by colonialists has played a role in encouraging this preference.
But although colonisation has played its role, we, as Africans also have a role to play in taking pride in and promoting our diverse culture rich languages. It has become a norm in our societies, especially on social media, to make mockery of black people who struggle to speak English properly; and applaud thosewho excel at spitting good English, and at the same time frown upon those who prefer to speak their indigenous languages.
www. megaartists. co. za Mar- Apr 2016 Page 15