Tweedie,+Language+as+Communism

=Language as Communism=


 * Text of letter as published in The Star, Thursday May 26, 2005.**

Each language is an institution that is continuously created by all its speakers.

It has no need of a state above it. Language is a good example of how communism can work.

Even so, a conscious cadre of scholars is required to codify each language and produce its dictionaries.

I agree with Cherry White about this ("So many languages, not one decent dictionary" Letters, May 23).

There are no languages that cannot cope with science or technology. But each one does need the attention of scholars if it is to achieve its full modern potential.

Kiswahili is a good example of an African language that has benefited from such scholarly efforts.

A milestone in the history of any language is its own dictionary - not a translating dictionary, but a dictionary that is written entirely in the language itself.

Kiswahili achieved this milestone decades ago and now has several Swahili-Swahili dictionaries (Kamusi ya Kiswahili).

How many of South Africa's languages possess such dictionaries, and why are they not more widely available?

To say all this is not to advocate the dictatorship of the scholars over the languages. That would be like the party ruling the masses.

Still, we cannot do without such scholars to lead each language in its development, and so to take its fair and equal place in the world.

Lombardy East, Johannesburg**
 * Dominic Tweedie

Original E-mail:

To: Sol Makgabutlane, Letters Editor, The Star, P O Box 61682, Marshalltown 2017

From: Dominic Tweedie, 36 Byron Road, Lombardy East, 2090. Telephone 011 882 0752

May 23, 2005

Dear Editor,

Each language is an institution that is continuously created by all the speakers of the language without exception. It has no need of a "State" above it. Language is a good example of how communism can work.

Even so, a conscious cadre of scholars is required to codify each language and produce its dictionaries. I agree with Cherry White about this ("So many languages, not one decent dictionary" Letters, May 23). There are no languages that cannot cope with science or technology. But each one does need the attention of scholars if it is to achieve its full modern potential.

Kiswahili is a good example of an African language that has benefited from such scholarly efforts. A milestone in the history of any language is its own dictionary - not a translating dictionary, but a dictionary that is written entirely in the language itself. Kiswahili achieved this milestone decades ago and now has several Swahili-Swahil dictionaries (Kamusi ya Kiswahili).

How many of South Africa's languages possess such dictionaries, and why are they not more widely available?

To say all this is not to advocate the dictatorship of the scholars over the languages. That would be like the party ruling the masses. Still, we cannot do without such scholars to lead each language in its development, and so to take its equal place in the world.

Yours,


 * Dominic Tweedie.