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Global language - another domino falls | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion | ( Topic Closed) |  |
| Spanky Senior Member Canada Joined 5956 days ago 1021 posts - 1714 votes  Studies: French | Message 1 of 37 22 April 2010 at 6:52pm | IP Logged | ||
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Just to keep the "English is taking over the world" discussion going a little bit more, I am linking to an article today in MacLean's magazine French out of fashion in Rwanda about Rwanda's decision to phase out French in the country (after many years of association with Belgium and France) in favour of English:
When Governor General Michaëlle Jean visits Rwanda next week she might have to bite her tongue about the country’s new language policy. After a century of close ties to France and Belgium, the East African nation is phasing out français and embracing English. “English is becoming more and more dominant in the world,” says Arnaud Nkusi, anchor of Rwanda’s state-owned TV news. “It’s all about business. You have to move with the rest of the world.” ... According to Nkusi, there has been very little public resistance to the government’s pro-English campaign. Kagame has a firm grip on power and Rwandans are not known as protesters. In fact, most citizens are reluctant to give their opinions even in private. But during an interview with a group of Rwandan teacher-trainers, some of them open up. “French flows in my veins,” says Ladislas Nkundabanyanga. “My father taught me French and my friends all speak French.” Nowadays, though, he knows kindergarten students who don’t understand the word “bonjour.” As a result, he’s convinced the French language in Rwanda is doomed. The teacher-trainers’ boss is a Canadian named Mark Thiessen, from Williams Lake, B.C. He likens the slow demise of French in Rwanda to the death of Aboriginal languages in Canada. “Slowly, French in Rwanda will disappear,” Thiessen says. “It might take one or two generations, but it will.” Nkusi says he’s partial to French, too, but he sees the language change as an economic necessity. “French is the language of the heart,” he says, “but English is the language of work.” 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Smart Tetraglot Senior Member United States Joined 5339 days ago 352 posts - 398 votes Speaks: Spanish, English*, Latin, French Studies: German | Message 3 of 37 22 April 2010 at 7:52pm | IP Logged | ||
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Another one lost :(
I fear an English+Arabic speaking Africa. I hope French can make a comeback. 4 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| lichtrausch Triglot Senior Member United States Joined 5960 days ago 525 posts - 1072 votes Speaks: English*, German, Japanese Studies: Korean, Mandarin | Message 5 of 37 22 April 2010 at 8:24pm | IP Logged | ||
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Trading in one colonial language for another. Big deal.
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| ManicGenius Senior Member United States Joined 5481 days ago 288 posts - 420 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Esperanto, French, Japanese | Message 6 of 37 22 April 2010 at 9:05pm | IP Logged | ||
I hate to say it, but Rwanda is damn tiny (though with a very sad history). Outside of Rwanda, I doubt this is going to make a huge impact. Most people in Africa speak their tribal languages natively anyways as far as I know, as well as several other tribal languages. They only default to the colonial language when they can't do business or talk to someone else in a common tribal language. (I'm talkin' below the Sahara here). Even then, you always got Swahili. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Spanky Senior Member Canada Joined 5956 days ago 1021 posts - 1714 votes Studies: French | Message 7 of 37 22 April 2010 at 9:45pm | IP Logged | ||
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Rwanda is perhaps at best a tiny domino no doubt, but the principle is of interest (to me anyways, clearly not to others). Movement toward a language here not just de facto but de jure for commercial reasons, though I appreciate that it may be more nuanced than just that.
With respect, I think that to refer to English as representing a "colonial" language strips the concept of colonial of any proper meaning. Although America and other English-speaking countries may be providing money and support, it is not a colonial situation, properly speaking by any stretch (though Africa would be well-advised to keep a very careful eye on the multi-national corporations). It is a matter of language perhaps inevitably following the money and commercial influence. I note that there are now reported to be as many "Chinese" (I assume Mandarin) language schools than there are French language schools in Kigali - I am not in a position to say, but my understanding is China has been playing a significant role of late in the development of a number of African countries, and that may well explain the Chinese language school. My understanding is that Kinyarwanda plays a more significant role than Swahili in the country. Edited by Spanky on 22 April 2010 at 9:47pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| ManicGenius Senior Member United States Joined 5481 days ago 288 posts - 420 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Esperanto, French, Japanese | Message 8 of 37 22 April 2010 at 9:48pm | IP Logged | ||
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Don't get me wrong, I care. But I'm pretty unknowledgable about the goings-on in Africa.
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