Punishment for Speaking Indigenous Languages
English explorers and the Jesus industry could not speak African languages so they banned them. In boarding schools, prefects gave us a negative mark when they caught us 'speaking vernacular.'
That's why some people who survived the British Empire still have the impression that English is a master language. He is quite cultured. He’s well educated. He speaks English so well. He can say such words without bruising his tongue.
1. Gloucestershire
2. Straffordshire
3. Worcestershire
4. Necessary
5. Tchaikovsky
In Africa, being well-educated meant you have erased all ‘primitive’ traces, embodied in your language and culture and embraced the ways of the Queen of England. I am fortunate because we grew up in Zulu, saw the world in Zulu, understood why the sky is called izulu and why we are called amaZulu.
I function in an English world, most of the time. Most people in Quebec Canada function in French. However, my original language helps me understand languages of the rivers and eagles of this land, before the arrival of English and French.
There is some similarity between Zulu and let’s say Ojibwe. I pronounce Ojibwe, as I say it in Zulu. No problem. I say Anishinaabe as I say it in Zulu. Nokomis as in Zulu. Miigwech as in Zulu.
What would be interesting is hearing someone who speaks this Canadian language say it herself. This is real education, the ability to join dots of people, who live here and there, joining dots of humanity.
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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