Indigenous languages

The first three months of every year marks the celebration of words and books, with International Mother Language Day on the 2nd of February, World Read Aloud Day on the 24th of the same month, World Book Day on the 23rd of April and of course book fair giant London Book Fair also in April. All the celebrations and festivities prompted Bookmark to take a look at an important aspect of improving literacy that has been getting more and more attention at literary events: Translations.

In a powerful video clip promoting International Mother Language Day, Nal’ibali reported on the recent statistics founded by SAPnet (The South African Publications Network) about literary translations in South Africa. Of the total number of books published in South Africa between the year 2000 and 2015, 40% were in English, 24% in Afrikaans, 6% in isiXhosa and isiZulu, and just 1% in isiNdebele. The remaining official languages were all below 6%. With the ever growing need for equality and the promotion of mother tongue languages in South Africa, the need for translated literary work is growing vastly and the
hope of getting more books out there in different languages is slowly but surely becoming a reality.

The South African Book Development Council (SABDC) aims to make available indigenous language books that will address both cultural and economic challenges giving African Languages a boost in the book industry. CEO of the SABDC, Elitha van der Sandt says the following about the Indigenous Languages Publishing Programme (ILPP): “The ILPP is really about original works in original language; therefore translations are not really our focus. However, the job of the ILPP is to push and encourage more books to be published in indigenous languages and tell relevant stories in the language of the people. The ILPP sees a great deal of importance in this as it further develops the use and preservation of our languages. By encouraging people to read more books in their home language, not
only are we securing the future of these languages, but we are also instilling a
sense of pride and heritage in our people.”

Kenyan-born author, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, translated his short story from Kikuyu to English and after being showcased in the Translation Issue of Jalada Africa, the story was translated into 30 different African languages. It is now the “single most translated short story in the history of African writing.” Ngugi believes publisher Jalada Africa
empowers Africa by making Africans own their resources from languages to other natural resources. “The moment we lost our languages was also the moment we lost our bodies, our gold, diamonds, copper, coffee, tea. The moment we accepted (or being made to accept) that we could not do things with our languages was the moment we accepted that we could not make things with our vast resources.”

According to Publishing Perspectives, Jalada Africa is now considering a special translation issue with stories and will ask authors and translators to translate these stories into African languages. “There are millions of speakers in African languages
and not many writers in African languages. Why? Can this be changed?” asks the publishing house.

On the international front, translations are also under the spotlight with a great focus on it at this year’s London Book Fair at the Literary Translation Centre, a hub for learning, debate and networking. As well as dealing with the process of translation, panels grappled with translation in the broader sense; looking at why it is important, what the challenges are and what the role of the translator is.

The Centre’s activities kicked off with an interesting panel discussion on Translation as Activism. Chris Gribble (Chief Executive of Writers’ Centre Norwich), Kadija Sesay (poet and publisher of SABLE LitMag), and Erica Jarnes (manager of the Writers in Translation program at English PEN) discussed the limits to what literary translation can achieve.

Jarnes referred to one particular case where translated work was used as a tool in activism. The poetry of Enoh Meyomesse was translated while he was imprisoned for campaigning for free speech, giving him reassurance of support for him beyond the Cameroon borders. Jarnes reminded the audience that translators were writers and that they could be at risk. Her point being that discussions prior to translation regarding personal risk is a crucial part of the process.

As a child of immigrants, Sesey believes that the translation of African languages into English should be used as an educational tool for children of immigrants as many parents don’t teach their children their native language, leaving them unable to understand their mother tongue.

The panel agreed that in the simplest way translation is also activism by getting more voices from other countries published in English.

Barbara Epler from New Directions Publishing, says in an interview with Asymptote that she is hopeful for the future of translation in the United States “I think it’s really clear that there hasn’t been a better time for translated literature here.” But reiterates that patience is key, “We’re investing in translation and you need time, especially if you believe in the author and you want to do more than one book.”

Literary critic George Steiner sums up the importance of translation perfectly when he says “Every language is a world. Without translation, we would inhabit parishes bordering on silence.” It is reassuring to know that literary translations in South Africa are no longer overlooked and that with patience we will get there.