Posted by sociolingo on September 18, 2006
The debate on local languages is a hot potato in Angola at the moment. Last month experts, technicians of the Culture Ministry (Mincult), university lecturers and students met for three days in order to discuss about the problem of local languages, its insertion in the education system, and their preservation. It really seems quite hopeful that things will move forward although things are hindered by the lack of legislation enabling the Vernacular Languages Institute (ILN) to be officially recognised.
See: http://allafrica.com/stories/200608281557.html
Posted in AFRICA, African language and education, African language policy, African linguistic diversity, Angola, SOCIOLINGUISTICS | No Comments »
Posted by sociolingo on September 13, 2006
During the opening of a seminar on cultural journalism this week in Luanda, Angola, the Minister of Culture, Boaventura Cardoso, gave his support for the promotion of vernacular languages as a fundamental support for cultural identity.
“It is through our vernacular languages that thousands of Angolans better express their sentiments and emotions. Thus it is with satisfaction that we notice at this seminar the presence of journalists working on our radio station, “Ngola Yetu” and the Public Television, capable of improving our languages for broadcasting,” he asserted.
He also acknowledged the existence of much prejudice with regard to the use of vernacular languages which leads us into concluding that it is important to develop an ample debate on this matters, being important to think, in a near future, of holding reflection events, with the participation of more intellectuals, experts and communities.
He also said:
“We want cultural information to be richer and richer and the various cultural and artistic expressions of Angolan artists to be appropriately promoted: To this end, we will have to revise the existing mechanisms and create new ways of cooperating and interchange among various cultural and information agents, facilitating contacts, better guiding our common action towards culture and consolidation of democracy and consequently, national unity,”
Full story at: http://allafrica.com/stories/200608220812.html
Posted in AFRICA, African endangered languages, African journalism, African language policy, African linguistic diversity, Angola, SOCIOLINGUISTICS | No Comments »
