Broadcast media sends mixed messages

23 November 2007 - 02:00
By unknown

I have to agree with Patience Bambalele (Time Out, November 9). Either have the news bulletin is in one language or don't have it at all. e.tv's idea in this regard is as foolish as the idea of Asikhulume being conducted in a mixture of languages.

I have to agree with Patience Bambalele (Time Out, November 9). Either have the news bulletin is in one language or don't have it at all. e.tv's idea in this regard is as foolish as the idea of Asikhulume being conducted in a mixture of languages.

The debate is often lost somewhere when the presenter or the interviewees code-switch without a provision for interpretation for people who might not understand the other language.

The broadcast media is making a mess of the language policy of functional multilingualism. To them, it seems to mean having no regard as to whether an audience understands a given message in its entirety. More often than not, they foist languages on people that do not understand them.

Joseph Moyo, Durban