The Eastern Cape urgently needs translator and interpreters if it is to effectively carry out its new language policy, according to which official communication in the province must be printed in isiXhosa, Afrikaans, English and Sesotho.
The Eastern Cape urgently needs translator and interpreters if it is to effectively carry out its new language policy, according to which official communication in the province must be printed in isiXhosa, Afrikaans, English and Sesotho.
Citizens will be able to choose what language they use to communicate with government officials, regardless of whether that communication is written or oral.
Officials from the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) announced the launch of a new provincial language policy framework during an event celebrating International Translation Day (postponed from late September) at the 1820 Settlers' Monument last Thursday.
The document establishes four official languages for the Eastern Cape: isiXhosa (spoken by 83.8% of the province), Afrikaans (9.6%), English (3.7%), and Sesotho (2.2%). MEC Xoliswa Tom described this as a historic moment, saying, "It affirms our linguistic and cultural diversity as a province."
The stated motivation behind the launch of the policy is the desire to fulfil the promise of Section 6 of the Constitution, which establishes the equality of South Africa's 11 official languages. According to the Background and Context section of the policy, African languages in South Africa remain in de facto secondary status below English and Afrikaans, and this has led to persistent negative stereotypes about these languages.
Several speakers at the event, who ranged from academics to government officials, stressed that the aim of this policy was not to diminish English or Afrikaans, but to elevate the status of African languages. In essence, the new language policy represents on one hand a symbolic embrace of multilingualism, and on the other a practical commitment to making the government more accessible to all citizens, regardless of the language they speak.
The policy requires that official provincial communications be printed in all four languages, and that in communication between the government and individuals, whether written or oral, the citizen's choice of language will be used, facilitated by translators and interpreters.
A major emphasis of the policy, thus, is on capacity building at government level, and it calls for the creation of language units in all provincial government departments and the development of language personnel.
Dr Hilda Israel, of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, told the assembly that the training of interpreters and translators is an urgent task, saying that within the next four years South Africa is expected to lose up to 40% of its language staff to retirement.
Professor Russell Kaschula, head of the School of Languages at Rhodes, spoke in both English and isiXhosa as he celebrated the policy launch, saying that it gives Eastern Cape universities greater power to promote multilingualism on their campuses.
He argued that embracing multilingualism is a step towards giving all students a sense of belonging, and ensures that graduates can be truly effective within their fields. As a model to emulate, Kaschula cited how medical students at the University of Cape Town are required to pass isiXhosa and Afrikaans before receiving their degrees.
Rhodes currently teaches optional vocation-specific isiXhosa language courses in the areas of journalism, pharmacy, law, and education.
In a secondary ceremony, the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture also presented the Department of Health with a newly compiled booklet of health and medical terms listed in each of the four languages, designed to facilitate communication between doctors and patients.
Suffering from a headache? Of is dit 'n kopseer? Okanye intloko ebuhlungu? Bohloko ba hlooho?
Manager of Cultural Affairs Lennox V. Xalabile said he hoped the booklet would be a model for future publications on other topics. Wezile Welcome Tshali accepted the booklets on behalf of Sicelo Gqobana, MEC of the Department of Health, which will be responsible for printing and distributing this glossary to the public.
The department showcased its commitment to multilingualism by providing summarised translations to many event segments in each of the four languages. Throughout the day, every speaker was accompanied by a sign-language interpreter.
The day included entertainment from comic Ntombifuthi Ncwayiba, who had the crowd roaring with laughter as she poked fun at linguistic variations within the broader isiXhosa-speaking community, and concluded with a lunch at the Monument restaurant.
