African Languages: Myth or Reality
INTRODUCTION
This is the first draft on the use and usage of African languages. Concern has been placed on economic development and indigenous languages. The question that is being answered or addressed in this writing is whether the use of indigenous languages in developmental issues (economic) is a myth or reality especially in African states. It is of much relevance to note that various Afro centric views have been employed in the issue of African languages in development.
Much-related examples have been drawn from the East in China and Japan and the West in Germany where their economic revivals came as an issue of using indigenous languages as languages of science and technology. It is in highlight that for the past 30 years of having attained independence, Africans are still in the verge of colonialism, under colonial legacy and perplexing themselves in the name of development.
In as much as can be noted African languages have been dealt with backwardness, poverty and non-intellectuality as has been noted in South Africa though present is a solid language policy uplifting marginalized
Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Sotho, Tswana, Leboa, Tsonga, Venda, Ndebele languages at the expense of English and Afrikaans. As Ngugi (1987) puts it Africans were taught to be ashamed of their own languages and in colonial use of colonial languages called for punishment.
K.K Prah (2001) further asserts that language is the main pillar in any system. Societies are to advance scientifically and technologically if primacy is vested in the development and use of African languages.
It is therefore the purpose of this writing to point at the problems leading to the mythicisation of indigenous languages usage and the solutions thereof.
CHAPTER 1: COLONIALISM
The coming of the Europeans brought about so many changes among them what Rodney (1989:30) says “…cultural and psychological…” It follows that the African was made to believe that everything about him was going to die.
This is the first draft on the use and usage of African languages. Concern has been placed on economic development and indigenous languages. The question that is being answered or addressed in this writing is whether the use of indigenous languages in developmental issues (economic) is a myth or reality especially in African states. It is of much relevance to note that various Afro centric views have been employed in the issue of African languages in development.
Much-related examples have been drawn from the East in China and Japan and the West in Germany where their economic revivals came as an issue of using indigenous languages as languages of science and technology. It is in highlight that for the past 30 years of having attained independence, Africans are still in the verge of colonialism, under colonial legacy and perplexing themselves in the name of development.
In as much as can be noted African languages have been dealt with backwardness, poverty and non-intellectuality as has been noted in South Africa though present is a solid language policy uplifting marginalized
Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Sotho, Tswana, Leboa, Tsonga, Venda, Ndebele languages at the expense of English and Afrikaans. As Ngugi (1987) puts it Africans were taught to be ashamed of their own languages and in colonial use of colonial languages called for punishment.
K.K Prah (2001) further asserts that language is the main pillar in any system. Societies are to advance scientifically and technologically if primacy is vested in the development and use of African languages.
It is therefore the purpose of this writing to point at the problems leading to the mythicisation of indigenous languages usage and the solutions thereof.
CHAPTER 1: COLONIALISM
The coming of the Europeans brought about so many changes among them what Rodney (1989:30) says “…cultural and psychological…” It follows that the African was made to believe that everything about him was going to die.