Media Statement from WCED re Language policy
Posted by Ingrid Thomson | 10 Apr, 2008
Western Cape authors call on government to enforce language policy
The African languages in South Africa are constantly under serious
threat because there is no legislation that enforces their protection
and usage, a meeting of authors, aspiring African writers and academics
told the Minister of Arts and Culture at an imbizo held in the
University of Stellenbosch earlier today.
The imbizo noted that the erosion of isiXhosa and other African
languages was further perpetuated by the critical shortage of new
written material in African languages as a result of the publishing
companies’ resistance. This focus meeting was organized as part of the
Ministry of Arts and Culture imbizo with authors of the province to
discuss issues affecting them directly. Writers voiced their serious
concern about the continued marginalization of isiXhosa at schools in
particular at the so-called model C schools, at government departments
and in the private sector. They have re-iterated the call for government
to introduce legislation that would enforce the usage of all official
languages. They say that currently the constitution of the country
recognizes 11 official languages only on paper, there are no attempts to
give practical effect to the provisions enshrined in the constitution.
The Education Policy which stipulates that from grade 10 learners must
take only two languages as subjects got under scrutiny. They claim that
this places isiXhosa and other African languages at a disadvantage
because of the perceived inferiority of these languages. They reiterated
the call by the Minister of Education for teaching in mother tongue at
the foundation phase to ensure good prospects for the development of
these marginalized languages.
The publishing companies were also fingered for not providing adequate
support to African writers resulting in the scarcity of written material
in isiXhosa and other languages. They have asked Minister Jordan to set
bursaries for aspiring African writers as a strategic intervention to
ensure the development of these previously marginalized languages.
Minister Jordan informed the meeting that his department does have a
bursary for postgraduate studies in African languages but conceded that
his department did not communicate effectively in this regard. He said
his department will contact all the universities with details of their
bursary. He added that talks with publishers to be more accomodative
towards African writers were continuing however they realize that it is
not a walk in the park given the business objectives of publishers to
publish books that will sell.
A second imbizo was with the Western Cape Musicians Association,
cultural activists and community based cultural organizations at a
separate venue in the same university. The issue of accessing funding
and resourcing structures dominated the imbizo. Minister Jordan said in
response that he will ask the National Arts Council to do a roadshow in
all provinces, workshoping organizations about the processes and
procedures for a successful application.
Minister Jordan was accompanied by MEC Jacobs during his two-day imbizo
programme in the Western Cape.
The African languages in South Africa are constantly under serious
threat because there is no legislation that enforces their protection
and usage, a meeting of authors, aspiring African writers and academics
told the Minister of Arts and Culture at an imbizo held in the
University of Stellenbosch earlier today.
The imbizo noted that the erosion of isiXhosa and other African
languages was further perpetuated by the critical shortage of new
written material in African languages as a result of the publishing
companies’ resistance. This focus meeting was organized as part of the
Ministry of Arts and Culture imbizo with authors of the province to
discuss issues affecting them directly. Writers voiced their serious
concern about the continued marginalization of isiXhosa at schools in
particular at the so-called model C schools, at government departments
and in the private sector. They have re-iterated the call for government
to introduce legislation that would enforce the usage of all official
languages. They say that currently the constitution of the country
recognizes 11 official languages only on paper, there are no attempts to
give practical effect to the provisions enshrined in the constitution.
The Education Policy which stipulates that from grade 10 learners must
take only two languages as subjects got under scrutiny. They claim that
this places isiXhosa and other African languages at a disadvantage
because of the perceived inferiority of these languages. They reiterated
the call by the Minister of Education for teaching in mother tongue at
the foundation phase to ensure good prospects for the development of
these marginalized languages.
The publishing companies were also fingered for not providing adequate
support to African writers resulting in the scarcity of written material
in isiXhosa and other languages. They have asked Minister Jordan to set
bursaries for aspiring African writers as a strategic intervention to
ensure the development of these previously marginalized languages.
Minister Jordan informed the meeting that his department does have a
bursary for postgraduate studies in African languages but conceded that
his department did not communicate effectively in this regard. He said
his department will contact all the universities with details of their
bursary. He added that talks with publishers to be more accomodative
towards African writers were continuing however they realize that it is
not a walk in the park given the business objectives of publishers to
publish books that will sell.
A second imbizo was with the Western Cape Musicians Association,
cultural activists and community based cultural organizations at a
separate venue in the same university. The issue of accessing funding
and resourcing structures dominated the imbizo. Minister Jordan said in
response that he will ask the National Arts Council to do a roadshow in
all provinces, workshoping organizations about the processes and
procedures for a successful application.
Minister Jordan was accompanied by MEC Jacobs during his two-day imbizo
programme in the Western Cape.