#languagepolicy

Introduction

The Andhra Pradesh Study of Languages in School Education Rules, 2003, sets guidelines for language learning in schools across the state. The goal is to help students learn local and national languages while also improving their English skills for better global opportunities. This policy supports multilingual education, preserves culture, and promotes national unity.

Main Points of the Rules

1. Three-Language System

Students must learn three languages:

First Language: Telugu (compulsory for all students in Andhra Pradesh)

Second Language: English (to help in global communication)

Third Language: Hindi or another Indian language (to promote national unity)

2. Choice of Teaching Language

Schools can teach in Telugu or English.

Government schools mainly use Telugu for younger students and gradually introduce English as they progress.

3. Importance of Telugu

Telugu is the official language of Andhra Pradesh.

All students must study Telugu up to a certain grade to preserve the state’s culture.

4. Sanskrit and Other Classical Languages

Schools can offer Sanskrit and other classical languages as optional subjects for students interested in them.

5. Support for Minority Languages

Students from different language backgrounds can study their mother tongue as part of their school curriculum.

Benefits of These Language Rules

Better Language Skills: Students learn multiple languages, making communication easier.

Cultural Connection: Learning Telugu helps students stay connected to their heritage.

More Career Options: Knowing English, Hindi, and Telugu can improve job opportunities in India and abroad.

Challenges and Solutions

Challenges:

Lack of Trained Teachers: Some rural schools don’t have enough qualified English teachers.

Preference for English Schools: Many parents prefer English-medium schools, reducing interest in Telugu-medium schools.

Limited Resources: Some schools lack books and learning materials for multilingual education.

Possible Solutions:

Train more teachers in English and Telugu.

Provide online learning tools and digital resources for better language education.

Update the curriculum to make learning languages easier and more interesting.

Conclusion

The premises of Constitutional Court of South Africa can be seen to contain a wide variety of different signs, which serve various purposes. Throughout the analysis represented within this blog, it is evident that despite the establishment of the court on the basis of the Constitution, in which the equal use of all official languages and previously marginalised languages is enshrined, the de facto language policy within court signage can be seen to contain a majority use of the English language. Thus decreasing the extent to which this institution is able to truly redress the injustices caused by the language policy of Apartheid.

Despite the high levels of English within the official signage, the Constitutional Court cannot be characterised as disregarding the language policy of South Africa, as various instances of the use of official languages and other forms of communication such as braille, are evident throughout the signage presented and analysed within this blog.

The linguistic landscape of the Constitutional Court and surrounding areas can be seen to reflect the diverse nature of South African society. This is evident in the presence of many different languages within the various signs, including foreign and indigenous language, and the presence of various discourses within these signs, such as nationalist discourses in contrast to the transgressive discourses presented within the few instances of graffiti. The court can also be seen to depict the contemporary democratic nature of South Africa, as is apparent in the signs containing symbolism which perpetuate ideologies of equality and transparency.

The sign showcased above can be characterized as a top-down sign, as it was issued by the officials of the court. This sign can, therefore, be seen to symbolically represent the presence of an authority within the court which regulates the signage placed on the premises. The informational function of this sign is to indicate what the room below the sign is used for and to provide visitors with directions regarding the locations of various rooms within the court, as seen in the fact that this sign is mounted high on the wall to ensure heightened visibility.

This multimodal sign is twofold, on the left-hand side is a visual of what the sign is indicating. The picture is of people being seated in uniformed formation, this is a universally recognized symbol for a gathering area. The use of visuals within this sign can be attributed to attempts by the court authorities to ensure that those who are unable to understand the languages on the right-hand side are still able to gather information from the sign.

On the right-hand side, there is the name of the room which is the “auditorium” in two different languages, which can be seen as an example of duplication. The top language, “ Oditoriamo” is in a European language, more specifically Bulgarian, whereas the bottom name “iholo yabaphulaphuli” is in Xhosa. The choice of these languages, in particular Xhosa, can be seen as an attempt by court authorities to adhere to the national language policy of South Africa, which states indigenous languages should be used as official languages in order to foster national unity.  The use of a European language can also be attributed to the nature of the court as a highly frequented tourist attraction, therefore the sign can also be seen to symbolically represent the court as a building of internationally high standards, which is open both to the South African population and foreign travelers.

Race: The Forgotten Journey Part 2

Race, language and the General #MustFall-ness of things

In my first article I discussed the resurgence of importance in racial discourse, but in this piece I would like to explore some of the characteristics of race in South Africa.

As with all discussions of race in South Africa, all points and arguments made are framed by the massive affect of the Apartheid regime. I would like to start by saying that any individual who thinks that they can seek to address any form of social feature in South Africa without considering Apartheid is certifiably delusional.

I’m sure that’s not going to leave a mental mark. 

Many have claimed that after twenty years of democracy that South Africa should have overcome the implications of the Apartheid regime. Regardless of the kind of logic that would suppose that the impacts of a doctrine instilled in a society for more than sixty years could be dealt with by a brand new government with no history of inclusive governance, I suppose there might be two reasons for this type of thinking.

Firstly, I believe that there is a widely held misunderstanding of the impact of Apartheid. There are various examples that can be pointed to to express the impact of social constructs such as the Apartheid regime, some more serious than others. For example, take the story from any of your favorite TV shows or movies that depict oppression of some kind.

Observe the characters in that story; see how they interact, whatever policy or regime that’s oppressing them isn’t just a feature of their daily lives, it defines it. In The Hunger Games* the games aren’t just part of the routine for the oppressed, it’s all anyone talks or is worried about.

And what happens when the games end? Do the people who lived their lives in perpetual fear, under an oppressive police state, that constantly affirms the fact that they were inferior and in some way deserved this existence, do they just buy a two-bedroom apartment in a suburb and go about their daily lives? Even twenty or forty years onwards?

Pictured here: Honorable Comrade/Freedom Fighter Katniss leading fellow comrades during her exile in the armed struggle. 

What about their children? Surely their parents experienced the regime’s full force and fury, but perhaps these children are left with the nuances of this history. They wonder why the kids from the capital have better clothes, houses, and education, or why their society fails to reflect their reality. What would the social status be of someone in this world, post hunger games?

Now this argument is quite simplistic in nature, and has been deeply criticized for being so. But I believe that this argument is a general expression of the complexities of social cohesion and why more care needs to be given to the understanding of communities as organisms, rather than one-dimensional arenas of activity. An organism has various levels of health, with some parts flourishing whilst others lay in chaos.  An organism is as much a result of its environment as it is of its own volition to change. To ignore the forces under which a society is formed is to placate its realities with a perspective of self-inflicted destiny. 

Secondly, and this one is from both ends of the racial spectrum, there has generally been a rejection or refusal to holistically adopt the rainbow nation doctrine.  The rainbow nation, the birthing concept of an inclusive and equal South Africa that embraced its diversity as a strength of its national fortitude. But there is one fault in this doctrine, its people.

Let’s start with white South Africa. Twenty years after the end of a regime that was entirely aimed at promoting the notion of superiority in whites, the white minority has shown what seems to be the lowest level of change. Comparatively, considerably more has changed in the lives of their black counter-parts, whether you consider the economics or social transformation of a democratic South Africa. And that’s primarily what is at the center of this discussion, transformation.

Being a Born-Free, growing up I always saw the idea of a Rainbow Nation as a journey we were on as a country. A perpetual transformation project. Even within the comfort of an upper-middle class upbringing, it takes a special kind of effort to be ignorant of inequalities in our society. But for some the rainbow nation was a silver bullet to all of the issues we came out of Apartheid with.  Simply put, we ended racism. It was over. Just like that.  And many still hold this view, accusing those critical of social standards of betraying Mandela’s legacy or some form of national unity.

How could you hate that face?

Within this mindset there is very little more to be done in the way of reconciliation. Black people can live where they like, shop and eat where they like; they govern and even have BB-BEE as an added advantage. So what more would be necessary? Why the endless bickering, and complaints? Why must fees fall?

Ah yes, #MultipleThingsMustFall is an interesting thing to watch isn’t it? Be it Rhodes, or fees, or Afrikaans, what interests me most is the positioning and activity of each social grouping in these situations. Where is the blame placed for most of the social ills facing South African youth? What is the space for government accountability?

On the issue of language, is the fall of Afrikaans a sign of attempts by youth to bring equality to the state of representation within institutions, or just a witch-hunt on Afrikaans culture? Did Mandela betray us? Will Goku have enough time to defeat Frieza and escape planet Namek?

I will discuss these further in future articles, but for now my money’s on Goku.

Notes: *I only choose this movie because of its popularity, so no poking fun at my movie taste. Additionally, I know some of you might criticise the comparison and you might have a point. This may be an over-dramatic argument, but it gets the point across.

Looking for a few good reads on languages and linguistics? We've got you covered. (Make sure you check out the last one -- It's pretty fascinating!)

Bilingualism Can Help Close Learning Gaps for Immigrant Students 

While exposing children to more than one language is all the rage among affluent parents, lower-income immigrant kids may benefit most of all.

An Alarm Over the Incursion of Foreign Words

People’s Daily has criticized the use of foreign words as damaging the “purity and health” of the Chinese language. 

Where Yinz At