Neglect of one’s language is neglect of one’s culture

By Joseph Kofi Avunyra, Head, Ewe section, Bureau of Ghana Languages.

In November, 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day. This day was instituted to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, multilingualism and to highlight greater awareness of the importance of mother language education. The institution of the day was also to bring to the fore strategies nations can adopt to save their various indigenous languages and tap their immense benefits to the fullest. In Ghana, however, the celebration of the International Mother Language Day has not been given the due attention it deserves apparently due to lack of government commitment coupled with poor attitude of Ghanaians towards their own mother languages. Giving a legal backing to this declaration is Article 39 clause 3 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana which enjoins the State to “foster the development of Ghanaian languages and pride in Ghanaian culture”. However, one wonders if the State is really performing her responsibility as far as this constitutional requirement is concerned. There is little or no commitment on the part of the government to come out with comprehensive policies and programmes to promote our indigenous languages, resulting in some Ghanaian languages going into extinction.

Language is used for identity, communication, social integration, preservation of culture, among others and it is interesting to note that language is a living organism. This means that language grows and dies. To ensure the growth and continuity in the role of a language, the language must be spoken and reduced into writing. However, available statistics point to the fact that some Ghanaian languages are endangered. Established in 1951 as a government department, the Bureau of Ghana Languages is mandated to write and publish books exclusively in Ghanaian Languages as a way of promoting our local languages.

However, BGL is unable to deliver effectively because of some challenges such as understaffing, insufficient funds and logistics. The department has been operating in the eleven Ghanaian languages so far studied in our educational institutions, namely, Akuapem Twi, Asante Twi, Dagaare, Dagbani, Dangme, Ewe, Ga, Gonja, Kasem, Mfantse and Nzema. But, the once buoyant Department engaged in the development and promotion of Ghanaian Languages, is now a pale shadow of its former self. The skeletal technical staff coupled with woefully inadequate budgetary allocation and logistics are undoubtedly hampering efficient service delivery.The theme for this year’s International Mother Language Day, “Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and Opportunities”,would not have come at a better time, especially this Covid-19 era, where the world has resorted to the use of technology in daily socio-political and economic activities.

That globally, the development of any nation is driven by technology cannot be overemphasized. There is no doubt that technology has the potential of advancing multilingual education and supporting the development of quality teaching and learning for all. In view of this, the government should take the necessary steps to promote language diversity by making Ghanaian languages more appealing to the international community, especially the investors and harness our indigenous languages for sustainable development.

As we celebrate this year’s International Mother Language Day, let us take the necessary steps to promote Ghanaian languages for national development. The call goes to the government and other stakeholders to ensure that the necessary ICT infrastructure is put in place to encourage the learning of Ghanaian languages no matter the geographical location of the learner. This will undoubtedly promote our indigenous languages for sustainable development. Let us give prominence to our mother languages as we have given to some foreign languages like English, French etc. Government should adequately resource the Bureau of Ghana Languages to deliver on its mandate.

The Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, policymakers, traditional rulers and other stakeholders should rise up to the challenge and save our mother languages from extinction. To quote the late President Nelson Mandela, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” In everything we do, let us not forget that language is culture, and neglect of one’s language is a neglect of one’s culture.

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