Translation Africa Blog - News
Xhosa Language Teaching in South African Primary Education
16/04/2014In South Africa, ten Western Cape schools have agreed to participate in a pilot project by the South African government. By doing so, they have agreed to teach the Xhosa language to their pupils in grade 1. On website IOL News, Ilse Fredericks discusses a new project set up by the Department of Basic Education…
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Ethnical and Linguistic Diversity in Libya
14/04/2014Contrary to popular belief, Libyan society does not consist of one large, homogenous group of Arabs. Now Gaddafi is gone, the other ethnicities in the country who were severely oppressed under his regime, are making themselves heard. Lawyer and Journalist Adela Suliman enlightens us about the three largest ethnic minorities in the country. Recently, a…
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Should Nigeria Join the Francophonie?
11/04/2014A Nigerian professor calls on the Nigerian Government to join the Francophonie. Becoming a member of the organisation would give the indigenous languages in the country a boost, he says. Moreover, he believes the country would benefit greatly from having support from both the English and the French. Recently, website the Nigerian Tribune featured an…
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Interpreting in Oscar Trial Leads to Criticism
21/03/2014In South Africa, Olympic medallist Oscar Pretorius is on trial for killing his girlfriend. Not only are the events in the “Blade Runner” trial receiving quite a lot of attention: many people have commented on the interpreter, who seems to be lacking translations skills. In an article on IOL News, Valeska Abreu investigates the matter….
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American Ambassador in Nigeria speaks Pidgin English
20/03/2014Last week, the American ambassador in Nigeria had an interview on Nigerian radio. This interview was quite remarkable, and not because of what the ambassador said, but because of how he said it – he spoke in Pidgin English! According to Ofeibea Quist-Artcon on website NPR, the American ambassador located in Nigeria, James F. Entwistle,…
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Gambia to Drop English Language
17/03/2014President Yahya Jammeh announced that Gambia will no longer use a foreign language, i.e. English. Since independence in 1965 Gambia has used English as its official language, but what will replace it? At present it appears nothing will replace it as Jammeh has given no indication of when this will happen and which language or…
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African Languages in Education
07/03/2014How important is it for older African children to be taught in their own language? According to Laurinda Luffman, most people agree that educating nursery and primary school children in their mother tongue gives the best school results. She wonders, however, if this is also true for older children on the African continent. In an…
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Equatorial Guinea to Enter the Community of Portuguese Language Countries
27/02/2014Now that the country is planning to abolish the death penalty, Equatorial Guinea is likely to become an official Portuguese speaking country. Some people, however, believe this decision is made on false grounds as the human rights in the country still leave a lot to be desired. According to Sara Moreira, the Portuguese Language Countries…
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Music and Language Learning in Zambia
24/02/2014Did you know that incorporating music into language learning is not only a fun way to learn a new language, but a very effective one as well? In his column on AllAfrica, Clever Zulu informs us about how music can be used in language learning. In Zambia, the subject of local language learning has recently…
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Photo Campaign by African Students Crushes Stereotypes
17/02/2014Instead of heading to the streets to express their discontent about the misconceptions surrounding their native countries, a group of African students has launched a photo campaign to create more awareness about their region. According to Teo Kermeliotis in an article on CNN, there are many people who regard the entire African continent as one…
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