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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Mar 2006 : 19:57:33
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You have my support if the countyr is ready. I am a democrat and very liberal minded and open to positive engagement. I believe the issue of language is not paramount right now. We have far more pressing issues like food sufficiency, infratsture, communication health etc that if i were to make choices, the issue of teaching languages will not be on my proirity list.
Leadeship is about choices and decision making. It is about making difficult and unpopular choices but which ultmately will benefit a large part of your political constituency.
I understand that language is dynamic and changes all the time and you agree with with me that the issue of tribe is a sensitive one which requires patience and education but which i believe we have no time for or the resources to spend on at this crucial moment. You sound more academic than practical. We all have wishful thinking sometimes but this issue is no more than a shadowy dream of a visionary.
It is a recipe for disunity and the opportunity cost of trying it is high. You can see the binary combination between Wolof and mandinka and Jola and mandika depending who is making the contribution. This same issue is what led to the break up of NADD. It is an unwritten and unspoken problem but which really exists. In the whole of Foni the APRC goes unopposed.
Opposition parties are very uncomfortable in Foni. Why is this so? Why should Gambia be not accessible to all parties. There have been intimidation against opposition in the president' region and beacuse he knows this Foni has noww been broken to smaller constituencies to increase the seat for the APRC in parliament just like Tom Delay did in Texas. Just like race matters in the US, tribal issues are live and kicking in the Gambia and for me this is my last contribution to this topic because it is off my objective which is meaningful positive change in the lives of all Gambians.
You may have your own reasons and rightly entitled to and that is what makes democracy nourish. T think we have to agree to disagree. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
Edited by - kondorong on 09 Mar 2006 22:14:21 |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2006 : 22:47:43
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gambiabev, your've absolutely right this is not just a very complex problem for a small country but the more we discuss it you will realise its just a can of worms.
perhaps i should ask you what you think the role of Parents are in all this?? the formal education system should produce people whom the economy needs so they can find jobs/work and improve themselves and the country. Parents on the other hand should teach their own children their respective culture/languages/traditions etc English unites us because no one can claim it.i think we can all be what we want and the State should just be secular & neutral.
i dont want to bring laughter to this important discussion, but believe it or not The Gambia attracts a sizeable number of 'economic migrants' from Senegal,Mauritania, Bissau,Guinea and even 'strange farmers' from Mali. there is also a sizable lebanese/syrian community. all these people come with their culture/language.what about the children of all these people who are gambians as well! shouldnt their languages and culture be promoted too?their children as gambian as i am. you will notice that the only ethnic groups mentioned are the 4 sizeable ones.there are many more who are minorities i went to school with some of them.i can name you 5 more
your earlier statement on 'wolofisation' highlights the ignorance within some quarters of our community. this has nothing to do with a policy or program by any person/group but more to do with trade and evolution of the society. fifty years ago and before that it made sense to speak Mandinka if you were invovled in trade. you could go all the way to guinea conakry for e.g kola nuts and have no problem along the way.the same was true in the groundnut trade. in todays gambia almost all the technical work is done by skilled senegalese immigrants. i would say more than 80% of all mechanics, welders, plumbers,taxi drivers, builders etc are senegalese and you need to communicate with them if you want your car/metal door fixed.
this is just a can of worms that should have a very firm lid, oh dont forget a lot of people also prefer to have their children educated in Arabic which is evidently the second parallel education system |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2006 : 08:53:44
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'English unites us because noone can claim it' Njucks in that one sentence you have summarised what I have very clumsily been trying to express.......
I think parents role is to start education in the home: respect, politeness, honesty...in short a moral education plus cultural education...... alongside the mosque and the school. We all need to work together to provide well brought up children who will be a credit to their country.
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2006 : 08:56:35
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| I am aware of many African migrants to Gambia...... some for economics, some because they need a peaceful haven. I have spoken to many of these people: shop keepers, hotel workers, entertainers, teachers etc....They all seem very happy to be in Gambia. It is very generous hearted of Gambia to take them in. PEACE comes before ANYTHING else.......... please dont take it for granted. |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2006 : 08:29:15
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As if English is responsible for the peaceful state in the country
Well a recent complain from the European Union translators; is that those representatives speaking English and are not English are making their job difficult, because they speak bad English and that they should speak their native languages. France passed a law forbidding the newspaper’s use of English words.
The peaceful environment in Gambia is created by the people’s patience and perseverance. Let’s give the people the due of their endeavour and not ascribe their achievement to English. And let’s be watchful of insinuating a wishful thinking as if it were the absolute when it does not compute with the reality on the ground. English is spoken by a minority and could barely be given the credit of the country’s peaceful state.
It is a myth that only English has a unifying factor
Spoken and written language is different in their level of abstraction and use.
Teaching Jola or Foula in school gives equal opportunity to the subject and the same chance to pass a test as much as a born Fula or Jola does, because the Jola or Fula taught and the one spoken at home would be different. Teaching our language gives it the same unifying factor as English the difference would be our language narrate our history in its every sound. There are Fulas that speak better Mandinka than Mandingkas and vies visa, Jolas that speak better Wolof than wolofs and so fort. The unifying factor in language is its level of abstraction which is not only found in English but in any written language.
To engage in such nation building discuss demands first of all selflessness.To advocate Gambia to change her languages to suit the immigrant worker’s is not only to bring laughter to this important discussion but to put a personal interest before a national one. The Indian and Chinese migrant workers in Europe and America are bound to take language classes before starting their jobs. The English or the American doesn’t change their languages to Urdu and Mandarin to suit the Indian and Chinese immigrant workers in their countries.
Even in Mecca not to mention England and India Religion and State are separated and so shall we hold religion separated from discuss of language in the Gambia.
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Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2006 : 08:37:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Janko
As if English is responsible for the peaceful state in the country
Well a recent complain from the European Union translators; is that those representatives speaking English and are not English are making their job difficult, because they speak bad English and that they should speak their native languages. France passed a law forbidding the newspaper’s use of English words.
The peaceful environment in Gambia is created by the people’s patience and perseverance. Let’s give the people the due of their endeavour and not ascribe their achievement to English. And let’s be watchful of insinuating a wishful thinking as if it were the absolute when it does not compute with the reality on the ground. English is spoken by a minority and could barely be given the credit of the country’s peaceful state.
It is a myth that only English has a unifying factor
Spoken and written language is different in their level of abstraction and use.
Teaching Jola or Foula in school gives equal opportunity to the subject and the same chance to pass a test as much as a born Fula or Jola does, because the Jola or Fula taught and the one spoken at home would be different. Teaching our language gives it the same unifying factor as English the difference would be our language narrate our history in its every sound. There are Fulas that speak better Mandinka than Mandingkas and vies visa, Jolas that speak better Wolof than wolofs and so fort. The unifying factor in language is its level of abstraction which is not only found in English but in any written language.
To engage in such nation building discuss demands first of all selflessness.To advocate Gambia to change her languages to suit the immigrant worker’s is not only to bring laughter to this important discussion but to put a personal interest before a national one. The Indian and Chinese migrant workers in Europe and America are bound to take language classes before starting their jobs. The English or the American doesn’t change their languages to Urdu and Mandarin to suit the Indian and Chinese immigrant workers in their countries.
Even in Mecca not to mention England and India Religion and State are separated and so shall we hold religion separated from discuss of language in the Gambia.
i don't know where i was when you posted this brilliant reply but i agree with your points. nothing worth while is ever easy and to attribute two of Gambia's best features, peace and unification, to the english language is not only ridiculous but also insulting. i'm glad there are others out there who advocate OUR languages being taught in OUR schools like I do. we will never see the benefits of doing that if we don't DO it!! like even now, i could probably express myself 20 times better in Wolof, be more witty and expressive but i don't have the education that i feel like i should have had to enable me to write and express myself in Wolof nor Mandinka or any other Gambian language
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 09:58:49
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In a globalize world it's vital to keep indigenous languages alive because if we don't use them, we will lose them.
To encourage mother tongue utilization as the norm rather than the exception these languages will continue to evolve. With mother tongue center based learning African children will be put on a level playing field with mother tongue educated children else where in the world.
By enhancing one of Africa's major strengths for her overall sustainable benefit of Continental Africans’ ability to be able, to master each others local languages, and foreign languages as well. This needs be taken onto another level, and utilized within African School curriculums, to reflect this admirable strength.
By enhancing this gift of multiple linguistic skills will equip tomorrow’s Nation builders with the cultural underpinning that will assist in bolstering African children’s self-esteem through the thorough utilization of mother tongue. As a central point of reference, to absorb all other knowledge acquired. This will be of considerable benefit for the holistic development of the individual child and a benefit for African Nation building as a whole.
This will help to provide a level play field for the players, to score goals to benefit African society as a whole.
Peace Sister Omega
By S.M. Bâ ©Copyright 2006
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2006 : 10:21:35
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| Why do you copywrite things? Are you planning a book? |
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2006 : 08:24:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Sister Omega
In a globalize world it's vital to keep indigenous languages alive because if we don't use them, we will lose them.
To encourage mother tongue utilization as the norm rather than the exception these languages will continue to evolve. With mother tongue center based learning African children will be put on a level playing field with mother tongue educated children else where in the world.
By enhancing one of Africa's major strengths for her overall sustainable benefit of Continental Africans’ ability to be able, to master each others local languages, and foreign languages as well. This needs be taken onto another level, and utilized within African School curriculums, to reflect this admirable strength.
By enhancing this gift of multiple linguistic skills will equip tomorrow’s Nation builders with the cultural underpinning that will assist in bolstering African children’s self-esteem through the thorough utilization of mother tongue. As a central point of reference, to absorb all other knowledge acquired. This will be of considerable benefit for the holistic development of the individual child and a benefit for African Nation building as a whole.
This will help to provide a level play field for the players, to score goals to benefit African society as a whole.
Peace Sister Omega
By S.M. Bâ ©Copyright 2006
i agree, but it seems that there are so many africans who don't want to hear anything about teaching our languages in schools. i have spoken to a few of my african teacher and they all agree that our languages being written and preserved is one of the first things we Africans can do to get on the right path. yeah it'll be hard, but really, some africans need to stop being so scared of a little hard work. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2006 : 20:50:46
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kassma
You siad in one of your postings that you have mandinka/manjago origins. can you help me with these words mean in manjago. I have them say this quite often
MANJO
MANCHIKU LI RU
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“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 14 May 2006 : 21:47:57
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Hi kassma,
Both you and your teachers are progressive thinkers and there are a lot of Africans who feel the same way I suppose the next step is to put vision into action. Have any of your teachers put their thoughts into action?
After all effective changes start from the grassroots, after all a tree grows upwards not the other way around.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2006 : 09:53:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Sister Omega
Hi kassma,
Both you and your teachers are progressive thinkers and there are a lot of Africans who feel the same way I suppose the next step is to put vision into action. Have any of your teachers put their thoughts into action?
After all effective changes start from the grassroots, after all a tree grows upwards not the other way around.
Peace
Sister Omega
its just that i hate playing the victim role and i think us africans are stuck in that role. not only i'm i tired of that role, but i think the whole world is tired too. we can't keep on being so guillible as to think the rest of the world cares about us and will rescue us, that doesn't make any sense. recovery will take time and it'll be even better if we are able to express ourselves in our respective languages.
well yes, my teachers teach their languages at the university, but of course, that does nothing to help our countries. most of the proffessor are over 40 and have families so i'm thinking that is what prevents them from going hope and really teaching children how to read and write in their respective languages. what do you think we should do to start the process Sister Omega?
Kong....i'm working on the translation. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jun 2006 : 16:18:58
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| Kassma, you are right, playing the victim role is so easy. I look at some countries who are forging ahead and taking back their country, look at tourism in nambiba, camaroon, tanzania, and mozambique they are being pro-active they have looked inwards and cultivated a plan to invite people to visit them. if I can find their tourist plan i will post it, it is a start. Other countries such sudan, somalia, ethopia are burying their heads in the sands, they have the future of their countries in their hands but are selling their own people short. |
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2006 : 00:49:24
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quote:
Originally posted by jambo
Kassma, you are right, playing the victim role is so easy. I look at some countries who are forging ahead and taking back their country, look at tourism in nambiba, camaroon, tanzania, and mozambique they are being pro-active they have looked inwards and cultivated a plan to invite people to visit them. if I can find their tourist plan i will post it, it is a start. Other countries such sudan, somalia, ethopia are burying their heads in the sands, they have the future of their countries in their hands but are selling their own people short.
it basically depends on the government, or it seems in africa. a lot government rules prevent people from coming up with solutions that would benefit the country. i watched this very interesting show on 2020 about how little or no government restrictions on starting business led to the sucess of many asian countries. however, our governments want their hands in everything so that they can profit. it would be great if you counld find their tourist plan, |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jun 2006 : 14:48:41
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I can have a look for them, is there a country in particular, i think tanzania is good because i attend an exhibition and they had taken a stand. They have their own airline, and were into branding things with the countries colour and logos. it looked good.
What i like about these countries is the embassies abroad are very pro aactive. They attend conferences, are visible at exhibitions, have one stop shops (offices) in europe where you can go for uptodate information, check out some the web pages and then look at gambia's. it is all about image, information, accessability and availability. Last year Kofi Anan spoke at st pauls just before the G8 summit, some many representatives from sub saharan african but no representative from Gambia.
I asked a question about the attempted coup. I can buy a weekly paper call African Voice, they report on on things that are happening on the african continent as well as europe, unless i missed it, they did not report anything of the coup, nothing has been written about the arrests. What a missed opportunity to let people know the situation that is happening right now. Some governements are scared of development, it will show the own short comings.
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