MEC's speech on International Translation Day held at Pixley ka Seme Municipality, Volksrust

Introduction

Prior to 1994 democratic elections, indigenous languages in South Africa were marginalised and historically diminishing. They were regarded as languages that would be difficult to be applied in the field of science and technology and thus their development was retarded. It is for this reason that the department has crafted one of its strategic objectives that will enable us to focus on the development and promotion of provincial indigenous languages that have been historically marginalised and are on the brink of diminishing.

The advent of 1994 democratic elections led to 11 official languages and the South African Sign language being constitutionally recognised. This was in accordance with Section 6 (4) and 6(5) (a) (iii) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996. The recognition of all these languages put a challenge of dissemination of information since nine of these official languages are comparatively not fully developed and thus writing in these languages is minimal. Thus, translation becomes an imperative to ensure that classical work like the 'Long walk to Freedom,' is read in our indigenous languages.

Likewise the constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996 was translated in all official languages to ensure that for the first time people of South Africa may read in their indigenous languages.

In embracing translation, the National Language Policy Framework of 2003 encourages dissemination of information to be in more than the two previously used languages (English and Afrikaans) for communication, dependent on the practical use of the other indigenous languages. The government has fully committed itself to multilingualism as both ethos and practice in South Africa. Even the constitutional obligations are explicit, stating that :"Recognising the historically diminished use of the indigenous languages of our people, the state must take practical and positive measures to elevate the status and advance the usage of these languages"(Act 108 of 1996,section 6(2).

Background

Today we are gathered in this fashion to remember, honour and celebrate the patron of translation, St Jerome. He was one of the few Bible translators of that time. It is therefore as a result of this translator, interpreter and innovator that today together with the international community we are able to celebrate the International Translation Day. Globally, it is celebrated annually on 30 September. Since 1953 when the International Federations of Translators (IFT) were established, this day was selected on ad hoc basis. However in 1991 IFT launched the celebration officially.

The National Language Service in the Department of Arts and Culture in conjunction with language organisations and provinces celebrated this day for the first time in 2003. Translation serves as a vehicle for language rights as purported by Hlophe (1998) 2.5 S.C.R 712 at 748 to 749 when he said, "The importance of language rights is grounded in the essential role that language plays in human existence, development and dignity."

It is through language that we are able to form concepts, to structure and order the world around us. Language bridges the gap between isolation and community, allowing humans to delineate the rights and duties they hold in respect of one another, and thus to live in society.

It is thus through translation that those who are unable to read in other languages are enabled to do so in their own languages and order the world around themselves. The International Translation Day was celebrated under the following themes:

* 1991: 'Launch of International Federation of Translators'
* 1992: 'Translation - the vital link'
* 1993: 'Translation a pervasive presence'
* 1994: 'The many facets of translation'
* 1995: 'Translation a key to development'
* 1996: 'Translation and copy right'
* 1997: 'Translating in the right direction'
* 1998: 'Good Translation practices'
* 1999: 'Translation - Transition'
* 2000: 'Technology serving the needs of translation'
* 2001: 'Translation and Ethics'
* 2002: 'Translators as agents of social change'
* 2003: 'Translators right'

The Theme for 2005 celebrations was: 'The rights of the Language Practitioners'. Various speakers made an attempt to talk around the theme as they made their presentations on the challenges of translation in news broadcasting, promotion of multilingualism in law-making institutions through translation and interpreting and achievements and challenges of translating educational materials.

The Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation makes a call to all of us to begin to promote our African languages so that we counteract the trend in tertiary institutions which report a decrease in the number of students majoring in African languages. The department does so with an aim of making the youth realise the importance of pursing careers in the fields such as language teaching (from primary to tertiary level), translation and interpreting, communication studies (including advertisement and journalism), and the performing arts and entertainment (e.g. scriptwriters of stage, radio and TV plays).

As a department, I must point out that we take issues of language development seriously such that on translation alone we have the following priorities:

* promoting translation as a profession
* promoting translation of documents into official languages with an emphasis on indigenous languages
* databasing of translators in the province
* training of translators

Conclusion

In conclusion, Programme Director, I would like to point out that like all professions, the language field demands a well-trained cadre of practitioners with a wide range of skills, knowledge and expertise, in order to produce quality services in these fields. It is therefore necessary to extend the knowledge base and skills among serving practitioners so that there is adequate capacity to deal with domains of knowledge from which they may have been effectively barred by lack of expertise or pre-democracy history.

With the usage of indigenous languages to improve service delivery being pivotal in government, there is an increasing demand for translation, interpreting and terminology development services. It would then be the task of the department through the Language Research and Development Centres (LRDCs) to locate such expertise, build up a network of such experts and facilitate in-service programmes for practitioners and contribute to the normal university programmes to make the courses relevant and appropriate to the language industry.

I thank you

Issued by: Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
27 September 2007