International Mother Language Day celebration
International Mother Language Day is celebrated annually on 21 February worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. This day was first announced by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 17 November 1999 and it has been observed every year since 200 February. Language is the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage.
To celebrate this day, the Department of Arts and Culture as the custodian of language is proud to announce that it promotes the preservation and protection of the 11 official languages used in the country, recognising all other languages used by the people of this country, including Sign Language and Khoi San language. The Use of Official Languages Act has been recently released as one of the major steps taken to promote multilingualism in the country. The Act requires all departments and public entities to firstly have policy to govern and inform the implementation of multilingualism in their daily work and also to establish language units to implement the policy. In the same breath, the South African Languages Practitioners’ Bill has been tabled before Cabinet as another step forward to promote the wide spread use of all official languages in the country towards building a South Africa that truly belongs to all who live in it; black and white united in our diversity.
The Department, through the National Language Service has undertaken a number of projects to develop terminology for all official languages in the following domains, amongst others: Election, Soccer, HIV Aids; Parliamentary Terminology. It is also involved in an on-going translation support to government departments to translate documentation into official languages. Also, a variety of language technologies have been developed through the HLT unit of the Department to assist language practitioners and government departments to communicate with citizens in their language of choice. Examples include translation software and spelling checkers.
Furthermore, legislation to regulate and accredit language practitioners through a specialist Council is currently under consideration in Parliament. The formation of the Council will ensure that specific occupational and ethical standards apply to language practitioners similar to the systems governing the work of professionals such as architects and engineers in the built environment.
The Department pays tribute to the late Professor Mbulelo Mzamane who contributed immensely to the development and preservation of our languages through his multiple involvements in the language fraternity, such as being one of the founding judges of the SALA awards, spearheading BUWA and many others.
As we mobilise society towards 20 Years of Freedom and Democracy in South Africa, Let us promote the use of our Mother tongue languages and sustain the spirit of Ubuntu.
Media enquiries:
Mogomotsi Mogodiri
Cell: 071 687 4984
E-mail: mogomotsim@dac.gov.za
