“Encourage print media to use indigenous languages”

The print media must be encouraged to use indigenous languages to promote the development of languages and culture in the the continent.
Professor of Journalism, Communication and Media Studies at the Department of Communication, North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa, Abiodun Salawu made the call in his inaugural lecture on August 20.
The lecture delivered on the campus was titled, Language, Culture, Media and Development: A Nexus of Harmony.
While noting that print media aids literacy, Professor Salawu said the people can be effectively informed for development purposes through use of indigenous languages.
” Language is the most characteristic element of a people’s culture. Language is the repository of culture. If indigenous languages and our communities must survive and grow, the media, especially, the print media must be encouraged to use them.”
According to Salawu, supporting and promoting African language media by directing academic focus on them has a significant role to play in the maintenance of the African languages.
” The governments of Africa, private initiatives, and especially the media, have an important role to play in this. The media, in turn, will be helped in this bid, if amongst other measures, our journalism and communication training institutions can through their curriculum designs, pay serious attention to our indigenous languages and the indigenous language media,” Salawu stated.
In order to promote indigenous languages recognised by the South African Constitution which have historically diminished in use and status, Salawu noted that the South African government is according a growing importance to the learning of the languages.
At the University of KwaZulu-Natal, isiZulu language is compulsory first-year subject, while at Rhodes University, journalism students must pass an isiXhosa for journalism course at either mother tongue or second language level.
Professor Salawu holds a PhD in Communication and Language Arts of the University of Ibadan; PGD and MSc in Mass Communication of the University of Lagos; and a B.A (Hons) English Studies of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife.

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