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8/3/2019 African Languages
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How to look at African
LanguagesDavid Dwyer
2/10/2000
8/3/2019 African Languages
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How do you look at African languages?
(Answer: three different ways)
They could not agree on the language.
They could not agree which language to use.
(Thing)
They could not agree on how to word
something. (Means)They could not agree on how to analyze the
grammar.
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How to look at language
Language as a means
The use of language as a way of doing things
Wolof Greetings: identity Language as a thing
Issues of one language or another
Language planning, which lg. to use in schoolWolof and Pulaar identity
Language as potential (grammar)
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Language as a Means
Wolof greetings: a means of establishingidentity.
A means of getting things done.
There are very few things that are accomplishedwithout language.
A means of developing common
understandingsCommon background knowledge: culture
A.K.A. Intersubjectivity
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Wolof Greetings
Basic Facts: The Wolof are a pastoral/agricultural group who live
along the Senegal River.
The Wolof have a clearly defined set of classes (or
castes) of Griots (praise singers), (former) Slaves,
Freemen and Nobles.
Wolof greetings are highly formal (they have a clearly
identifiable form.
1. Stages: Salutation, Heath Question, Praise of God,
body of conversation.
Two distinct roles: Greeter and Responder
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Wolof GreetingsGreeter:Salisu Responder: Mohammed
Mohammed
Salaam alikum. (Arabic)
Peace be with you.
Salisu (Says his own
name)
Mohammed
Na ngga def? How do you do?
Mbaa dyamm ngg'am?
Don't you have peace?
Salisu
Salaam alikum. (Arabic)
Peace be with you.
Mohammed (Says his own
name)
Salisu
Maanggi fi rek. I am here only.
Dyamm rek, naam.
Peace only, yes.
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Wolof Greetings
Ana waa kir gi? Where
[i.e., how] are the people
of your household?
Ana __________ (e.g.
Mustapha)? Where [how]
is ____ (Mustapha)?
Mbaa tawaatu loo? Isn't it
that you aren't sick.
Mbaa keen feebaru? Isn't it
than anyone isn't sick?
H'mdillay.
(Arabic)/Tukbarkalla.
Thanks be to God.
Nyu-ngga fa. They arethere [ok].
.
Mu-ngga fa. He's there
[ok]. ...
Maanggi sant Yalla. I am
praising God.
Nyu-nggi sant Yalla. They
are praising God.
H'mdillay (Arabic)/
Tukbarkalla. Thanks be to
God.
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Roles of Initiator and Respondent
Function Initiator Respondent
Social Rank Low High
Initiate Initiates responds
Movement Moves to greet stays put
Stress High pitch,
loud
low pitch, soft
Tempo Rapid, verbose slow, terse
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Language as Thing
Language versus dialect
How many languages are there in Africa?
Somewhere Around 1500
What is the difference between language
and dialect?
Difference is not linguistic, but socially
determined.Examples.
Language as thing to negotiate identity
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Language as Thing
Language as thing also involves issues of
language planning.
What should be the language policy in SouthAfrica? (Talk right after class).
What should be the language policy in our
schools? Many African countries have a language policy, the
United States does not.
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Language as thing: example cont..
The Fula Before, Fulbe did not consider the Haalpularen to be
ethnically the same.
After. Given the need to show large population statistics,
the two groups see themselves as ethnically one unitedby a common language
The Fulbe see Wolof language as a threat to their
identity
The Serer Since a common language does not unite the Serer, they
have no concerns about speaking Wolof
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Language as Thing: Policy
1. African languages must take on the duty, the responsibility and the
challenge of speaking for the continent.
2. The vitality and equality of African languages must be recognized as a
basis for the future empowerment of African peoples.3. The diversity of African languages reflects the rich cultural heritage of
Africa and must be used as an instrument of African unity.
4. Dialogue among African languages is essential: African languages
must use the instrument of translation to advance communication
among all people, including t5. All African children have the unalienable right to attend school and
learn in their mother tongues. Every effort should be made to develop
African languages at all levels of education. he disabled.
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6. Promoting research on African languages is vital for their
development, while the advancement of African research and
documentation will be best served by the use of African
languages.
7. The effective and rapid development of science and
technology in Africa depends on the use of African languages
and modern technology must be used for the development of
African languages.
8. Democracy is essential for the equal development of African
languages and African languages are vital for the
development of democracy based on equality and social
justice.
9. African languages like all languages contain gender bias. The
role of African languages in development must overcome this
gender bias and achieve gender equality.
10. African languages are essential for the decolonialization of
African minds and for the African Renaissance.
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Language as thing to negotiate
identity Fula v. Serer in Senegal
Three major languages in Senegal: Fula, Serer
and Wolof
Wolof - Both ethnic language and lingua franca
Fula (=Pulaar) language of several groups including
the Fulbe and HalpulaarenSerer a collection of different varieties, defined by the
Europeans as one language and ethnic group
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Language as Potential
(Grammar) Pele mia This is a house.
Kli mia v Kali mia. This is a snake, hoe.
Nyaa Kli loma. I see the snake.
Kli lo pele-wu. The snake is in the house
Nya yeya lo. This is my hand Kali lo nya yeya. I have a hoe.
Kli lo. See the snake.
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Language as Potential: Grammar
The three domains of language.
The sound system: phonology
The structure of sentences: syntax
The structure of words: morphology
Linguists also look at language
As meaning: semantics
As historical product: historical linguistics
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Language as potential
The study of language as potential looks at
the structure of a language and how it goes
together.
This is the work of linguistics.
One of the important work of linguistics has
been to discover linguistic universals and
the common principles by which humanlanguages operate.
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How do you look at language?
As a means to communicate A way of getting things accomplished, a means ofestablishing common understandings, a means of
negotiating identity.
As a thing What is language (dialect), what language should be
used when and where, language policy, a means of
negotiating identity, .
As potential grammar How language is organized to allow us to communicate,
the commonalties of human language.
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The End