Neville Alexander (political linguist)

TL;DR

Alexander discusses the importance of language planning and translation in African education, focusing on the need for mother tongue-based bilingual education and the translation of texts into African languages.

Transcript

Alexander tell us briefly what what do you do what's your main occupation at the moment I'm the director of a um Research Unit in the faculty of humanities at the University of Cape Town and it's called the project for the study of alternative education in South Africa the name is historical but um at the moment we focus very largely on language pl... Read More

Key Insights

• 🇨🇫 The Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa focuses on language planning, policy, and literacy development in African education.
• 🫠 The translation project is part of a continental initiative to establish a culture of reading in African languages and promote mother tongue-based bilingual education.
• 🇨🇫 Translating texts into African languages is crucial for the development of educational materials and ensuring access to education in African languages.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the translation project relate to mother tongue education?

The translation project is part of a network of African institutions that aims to establish a culture of reading in African languages, which is linked to mother tongue-based bilingual education. Translating stories and texts allows children to read in different African languages.

Q: Does the education project require translations into African languages for textbooks?

Yes, the education project involves translating textbooks and other educational materials into African languages. This is done to promote mother tongue-based bilingual education and support the learning of subjects like Science and Mathematics in African languages.

Q: Is it wrong to focus exclusively on translation in the African context?

According to Alexander, focusing exclusively on translation is not possible or wrong. Developing African languages for use in various domains requires translation from both European languages and other African languages. Translation is seen as essential for cultural, social, and educational development in Africa.

Q: What should researchers in translation investigate?

Researchers in translation should focus on cultural and political issues relating to translation, such as considering the target audience and the context of translation. They should also study the continuity between tradition and modernity, particularly in Africa, where language plays a crucial role in the appropriation of modernity.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Alexander is the director of a Research Unit in the University of Cape Town that focuses on language planning, language policy in education, and literacy development.

• His unit is involved in a project called "Stories Across Africa" which aims to establish a culture of reading in African languages, requiring translation of texts.

• Alexander emphasizes the importance of mother tongue-based bilingual education and the development of terminology and educational materials in African languages.