A SOCCER player was once asked to comment about the “two beautiful babies he put behind the net”.
His response was immediately to go on the defensive and he accused people of prying into his private life.
This mis-translation of “goals” was one of the most hilarious communication breakdowns I’ve come across.
It set me wondering about how important language skills are when it comes, not just to everyday life, but to the success of a country as a whole.
Let me begin by telling you that competence in languages is not regarded as a special skill according to the special skills database of South Africa. I had a rude awakening as a young teacher, when I learnt that I had spent my entire schooling career focusing on something that is not special at all: languages.
I later realised that languages were not even included in the winter schools curricula as the sessions were reserved exclusively for science subjects.
In all the discourse I heard after that revolved around institutes’ company bursaries; all for sciences and mathematics.
Languages were only catered for in half-hearted school debates, communicators’ awards and occasional reading sessions.
As much as mathematics and sciences are critical skills for South Africa being functional, languages too play a critical role in the success of the country.
To begin with, every science subject is learnt through a language. Science is not learnt in “science” or mathematics through “mathematics”; both are learnt through a language.
This means a pupil with poorly developed language skills will definitely reap poor results in that subject.
Learners have to use language to explain cogs and pulleys, bacteria and Pythagoras theorems: therefore the development of languages should not be taken lightly.
Ignoring the development of languages is almost like trying to force huge chunks of mathematics and science data down learners’ throats without giving them the necessary beverage to wash it down.
Our society as a whole seems to be lacking fluidity in languages – and this is to the detriment of our development. For example, employees often substitute violence and vandalism for a clear and articulate expression of their demands to employers.
Similarly, we have had a number of cases where prominent figures resort to insults and violence rather than defending their standpoint in a well constructed argument.
You will often, for example, hear such people exclaiming “rubbish!” or other words like that while spitting out other words that are entirely unprintable.
I’m also tempted to think most rapists are incompetent in the area of language, and use force to make up for their failure in wooing ladies.
Some people are so desperate for linguistic freedom they cover it up with violence or suicide.
The importance of languages in any society can never be over- emphasised – more resources should be invested in the development of languages.
This can be done through the parallel development of sciences and languages at every level. For example, where there are science institutes, winter schools or bursaries, languages must be accommodated too.
Developing language competence will surely help ease the simmering frustration in our communities. The use of peaceful dialogue is also best to resolve issues.
Zwelani Ncube is from Molteno
A good argument for language
His response was immediately to go on the defensive and he accused people of prying into his private life.
This mis-translation of “goals” was one of the most hilarious communication breakdowns I’ve come across.
It set me wondering about how important language skills are when it comes, not just to everyday life, but to the success of a country as a whole.
Let me begin by telling you that competence in languages is not regarded as a special skill according to the special skills database of South Africa. I had a rude awakening as a young teacher, when I learnt that I had spent my entire schooling career focusing on something that is not special at all: languages.
I later realised that languages were not even included in the winter schools curricula as the sessions were reserved exclusively for science subjects.
In all the discourse I heard after that revolved around institutes’ company bursaries; all for sciences and mathematics.
Languages were only catered for in half-hearted school debates, communicators’ awards and occasional reading sessions.
As much as mathematics and sciences are critical skills for South Africa being functional, languages too play a critical role in the success of the country.
To begin with, every science subject is learnt through a language. Science is not learnt in “science” or mathematics through “mathematics”; both are learnt through a language.
This means a pupil with poorly developed language skills will definitely reap poor results in that subject.
Learners have to use language to explain cogs and pulleys, bacteria and Pythagoras theorems: therefore the development of languages should not be taken lightly.
Ignoring the development of languages is almost like trying to force huge chunks of mathematics and science data down learners’ throats without giving them the necessary beverage to wash it down.
Our society as a whole seems to be lacking fluidity in languages – and this is to the detriment of our development. For example, employees often substitute violence and vandalism for a clear and articulate expression of their demands to employers.
Similarly, we have had a number of cases where prominent figures resort to insults and violence rather than defending their standpoint in a well constructed argument.
You will often, for example, hear such people exclaiming “rubbish!” or other words like that while spitting out other words that are entirely unprintable.
I’m also tempted to think most rapists are incompetent in the area of language, and use force to make up for their failure in wooing ladies.
Some people are so desperate for linguistic freedom they cover it up with violence or suicide.
The importance of languages in any society can never be over- emphasised – more resources should be invested in the development of languages.
This can be done through the parallel development of sciences and languages at every level. For example, where there are science institutes, winter schools or bursaries, languages must be accommodated too.
Developing language competence will surely help ease the simmering frustration in our communities. The use of peaceful dialogue is also best to resolve issues.
Zwelani Ncube is from Molteno
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