A topic that has sparked my interest since we’ve arrived is the wide array of languages in South Africa. While we frequently discuss how the white minority possess most land wand wealth, it also made me think of the abundance of English in the country, opposed to one of the other 11 official languages. The use of English was noticed right away, as most of the traffic signs and directions were printed in this language. As Americans who speak English, it didn’t seem that odd at first, however when finding out that the majority of South Africans, both black and white, don’t speak English at home or with their friends and family it raised questions for me. It reminded me of how we often have Spanish translations at home because of the large population that speaks Spanish in The United States. However, this language difference was a lot more pronounced, because it was used on mediums of communication that aren’t usually translated in America.
Another stark difference was the fact that only 22% of residents of Johannesburg speak English in their free time. Due to this small population, I feel as though English should not be the main language for public spaces. Similarly, the space of South Africa as a whole shouldn’t be made English because only 8% speak it at home. However, within the first few days of our trip the use of language was explained to us. In South Africa, English is a language of business. It is used for the formal sector, in regards to businesses and services. This use of English allows them to gain culturally, socially, and economically, from Westerners and the world as a whole.
However, while the use of English is used to get them ahead, the other 10 languages are highly valued. All 11 languages are used in the South African National Anthem which I believe shows the sense of unity they are working towards between different groups of people. Another interesting sense of unity is the fact that most people know more than just their home language and English. Out of the several tour guides we have had so far, they have all been able to speak and understand at least half of the official languages, which surprised and impressed me. It made me think of how America lacks this interconnectedness of language and culture, and how I think different languages should be embraced and celebrated, opposed to scolded and degraded. This showed me that while America has a higher rank in the world, many countries, including South Africa, have made greater strides in certain areas towards equality.
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