×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

We must save indigenous languages from extinction

Unisa joins mission to improve status of African languages

As International Mother Tongue Day was celebrated yesterday, we should remember that the United Nations has proclaimed the period 2022-2032 as an international decade of indigenous languages in the hope of building a global community for the preservation, revitalisation, and support of indigenous languages worldwide, with Unesco acting as the lead agency.

Of endangered languages across the globe and those most at risk of extinction are indigenous languages. This is also the case in SA, even more so for languages which are not considered official. For example, we are told that Katrina Esau known as Ouma Katrina, in her late 80s, is one of the two last speakers of the N/uu language, a San language. The other N/uu speaker is her brother, Simon Sauls...

This article is free to read if you register or sign in.

If you have already registered or subscribed, please sign in to continue.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@sowetanlive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.