Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Sifelani Tsiko
21 December 2005
Harare — WITH the rapid development of computer technologies over the years, it was unthinkable that computer software products and solutions could be made in local African languages which are being marginalised or facing extinction altogether due to the dominance of English and other European languages.
Despite the lack of adequate financing of language policies, political will and non-recognition of African languages, it is encouraging to hear news about the launch of the Kiswahili version of the 2003 Microsoft office application which aims to make technology more accessible to people in East Africa.
Global software giant, Microsoft recently launched a Kiswahili version under a world-wide initiative to encourage East African governments to expand their IT economies, encourage literacy campaigns and attract more computer users.
This has offered the East African community an opportunity to work with PCs in their native language thereby promoting its use and preserving the Kiswahili language in the wake of the growing influence of English and other European languages.
Computer experts can easily dismiss this as a sheer waste of time and resources but it is imperative to give new technologies that cultural touch, that cultural dimension that recognises the need to integrate African languages into the mainstream IT movement dominated by English.
The introduction of software products and solutions in local languages can be beneficial, say to the African Languages Research Institute at the University of Zimbabwe in the case of Zimbabwe, the media publishing or broadcasting in local languages such as Kwayedza and Radio Zimbabwe, schools, colleges and in various community development projects in rural areas.
Microsoft officials in Kenya, where the product was launched, say users of the Kiswahili version can localise their interface by installing a Language Interface Pack (LIP) that is available on the web.
LIP converts the entire Microsoft Office products such as Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint into Kiswahili.
"This is a truly momentous occasion. It is the first time that Microsoft has put the tools in the hands of the local people to help develop a localised version of a software application," Isaiah Okoth was quoted saying.
"We see this as a turning point because technology plays an important part in our lives."
This programme was born out of hard work by various stakeholders in East Africa under Microsoft's Local Language Programme headed by Prof Kulikoyela Kahigi of the University of Dar es Salaam.
Media reports say a team of linguistics experts participated in the creation of a glossary of more than 3 000 Kiswahili words for computer terms. The interface pack, LIP is designed to enhance access to technology by people in a language that is familiar to them and celebrates the beauty of cultural diversity. Already Microsoft has in South Africa entered into partnership with various stakeholders to develop software in IsiZulu and Afrikaans.
This was achieved last year and plans are afoot to expand this to seSotho, seTswana, isiXhosa and Tshivenda among other languages in that country.
"Our aim is to equip our society by making the languages available on their computers," Andile Ngcaba, the director-general in the communications department in SA once remarked adding that the development of such programmes would enhance learning and teaching in schools.
Linguistic experts say developing software in local languages helps reduce problems of developing languages by providing specific tools such as spelling and grammar checks as well as the adoption of a common dialect for the languages.
The impact of new technologies is there for everyone to see. There should be no limits to the prospects of developing information and communication tools in the language of our choice so that even ChiShona and IsiNdebele, and other minority languages in Zimbabwe can build up to the beauty of cultural diversity.
Africa is one continent with the world's most linguistically diverse people and despite this, selective development of software into some of these languages can help to preserve this heritage. We should not be deterred by the costs and time taken, but be guided more by the need to appreciate the importance of local languages in our day-to-day lives and what we should leave behind for the younger generation.
There are many challenges to this -- social, economic, practical and political -- but these can be overcome through determination and interest in preserving that which is African.
If the English, the Chinese, the Japanese, the French and many other cultures are doing it, then what can stop people in Africa from expanding their opportunities for developing new technologies that are responsive to the social, economic and cultural experiences of their people?
Most governments in Africa are working towards making technology more accessible while at the same time promoting computer literacy.
In South Africa, 32 000 government schools have benefited from a computer literacy programme and skills development initiative while in Zimbabwe, President Mugabe has donated computers to numerous schools in the country under a drive to raise computer literacy and the appreciation of IT as an important component of development.
"People see many languages as a sin and say: 'No, we must have one language.' I think it is necessary for Africans to accept the reality of multi-lingual societies," wrote Ngugi waThiong'o in "Africa Visions."
And this rings true as the active promotion of cultural diversity worldwide now thrives more through new technologies to reflect the experiences of various cultures apart from the dominant ones.
This new initiative can empower people and enliven their passion to learn and explore challenges within their own cultural settings.
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