Linguist says Setswana language is a unifying force

| Friday September 3, 2010 00:00

Mmegi: Where are you from?

Otlogetswe: I am from Ruele Kgotla in Kanye.

Mmegi: Are you married?

Otlogetswe: Yes, with two boys, Lebopo and Popo.

Mmegi: What religion do you subscribe to?

Otlogetswe: I am a Christian and worship at Pentecostal Holiness Church.

Mmegi: How did you become a linguist?

Otlogetswe: I was fascinated by language way back at Seepapitso Secondary School whilst I was a student where we had essay competitions. That is what built an excellent foundation for me for language. I went to the University of Botswana and did English, French and African Language and Linguistics (ALL) and graduated as a single major in English.

Mmegi: So how was your time at UB?

Otlogetswe: It was the place where I read the finest works of English language and literature. Literature exposed me to commentary on social issues like politics, gender, cultural conflicts and a lot more. On the other hand, linguistics was dry and scientific. I was not sure I would become a linguist.

Mmegi: What happened then?

Otlogetswe: I went to the Oxford University in 1999 where I pursued a Masters of Philosophy in comparative linguistics and philology. Philology is the study of origins of language. That is when I began to think about language, my own language and lexicography (dictionary making). I was particularly interested in computational linguistics, which is the use of computers to analyse language. That is the route I took. Whilst at Oxford University I attended a lot of seminars at the Oxford University Press, mostly in the development of English internationally.

Mmegi: So you were just fascinated by English development?

Otlogetswe: It's interesting you should say that. I got jealous about the state of Setswana and thought it could be developed and promoted. Therefore I decided I was going to focus on Setswana research for most of my life.

Mmegi: As a youngster, what was your attitude towards Setswana as a language?

Otlogetswe: I loved it so much, especially the idioms. But I found Setswana grammar to be more difficult at high school, whilst its literature was more amazing and exciting. I used to admire my grandmother for her profuse use of the language and the idiomatic expressions she employed.

Mmegi: Besides your grandmother, who else impressed you with their flawless usage of Setswana?

Otlogetswe: The likes of former president Sir Ketumile Masire, also a Mongwaketsi man. He spoke good English. I also love Setswana poetry.

Mmegi: Really? Who are your favourite poets?

Otlogetswe: The likes of Sekokotla Kaboeamodimo and lately Moroka Moreri. I also love Dipina le Maboko, a Radio Botswana Sunday programme.

Mmegi: Looking at the present situation where youth are accused of undermining Setswana language, don't you think it will be extinct in the near future?

Otlogetswe: Not really. Actually we have very good young Setswana speakers like Gomolemo Motswaledi. He is a very eloquent Setswana speaker. I like him because he demonstrates that even the youth can have an excellent command of the language. Setswana needs role models like Motswaledi who speak the language beautifully, not just elderly people. It gives us hope that the language will survive.

Mmegi: In your words what role is language supposed to play in a society?

Otlogetswe: It is a tool of identity that we use to identify ourselves as distinct from others. Language also has a communicative role. To express ideas, opinions and belief systems.

Mmegi: How has language developed to keep up with technological development in the country?

Otlogetswe: There is a new language centred around cellphone usage. The word SMS (Short Message Service) was coined as a noun and now has developed and can also be used as a verb. For example you can tell someone 'SMS me.' Then there is vuvuzela, which has been added to the Oxford English Dictionary because of football. In Facebook there are new words like un-friend, which never existed before.

Setswana language has been growing from way back in time. People from South African mines came with words like jase and heke (gate) which are all from Afrikaans. Currently we need to explain the changes in language, not create rules about it.Mmegi: Do you think Setswana is developing positively and for the benefit of the country and its speakers?

Otlogetswe: The language is currently going through huge challenges, mainly because of political decisions and inactivity. Setswana is Botswana's national language and yet we have no clear language policy of how it should be used. There is no law to say, for example, products sold in Botswana should be labelled in Setswana; that Setswana should be used in specific areas. In this regard South Africa is far ahead though their constitution was created in 1994 whereas ours has been around for more than 40 years.

Mmegi: What is the cause of this problem?

Otlogetswe: This problem is not about Setswana, but about minority languages. Government fears that people will say Setswana is given more priority over other (minority) languages. They are complaining because nothing has been done about their languages. They are concerned that another local language is being forced on them.

Mmegi: What in your view is the solution to this challenge?

Otlogetswe: Government needs to contact linguists who will develop a comprehensive draft of Botswana language policy. That will clearly articulate how and where English should be used, where Setswana should be used and then detail how language should be developed, promoted and used. All of them. Students should not complete Form Five without having studied one of the local languages which is not their mother tongue. When you do that, you are promoting national unity and harmony. Setswana should also be given economic and academic value.

Mmegi: Can you explain that?

Otlogetswe: That is to say one cannot become a medical doctor, lawyer, nurse or agricultural demonstrator practising in Botswana without having studied Setswana. So to me, it's so simple. If someone goes to work at the lands as an agricultural demonstrator, they also need to know local idioms and knowledge of animal diseases in Setswana because local people will know them in Setswana. 

Mmegi: So you think Setswana should be used in Parliament, the courtroom and other official places?

Otlogetswe: Definitely. A language is not for academic purposes. It has to be practised (spoken) to develop even further. We need to deliver the Budget Speech in Setswana. All the MPs in Parliament are Batswana because now the problem is that others are not proficient in English. They fail to contribute positively in debates.

Mmegi: What you are suggesting is a language overhaul. How can that be accomplished?

Otlogetswe: We need a mind shift. We need to love ourselves us more because I think because I think we love foreign languages and cultures more.

I was shocked when I heard a senior civil servant on the radio saying they are starting to take immigration officers working at border gates through Chinese language course. She also said currently they do not have capacity to teach Chinese people here, Setswana.

That is not true because the ALL-African Languages and Linguistics department has proficiency courses in Setswana. There are also independent groups and companies, which train interested individuals in Setswana.

Mmegi: Which politics do you subscribe to?

Otlogetswe: I used to be cynical about political parties but since the advent of the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) I have become a staunch supporter of the BMD. The party is restoring our faith in politics. The BDP was growing too big for the people, hence you have leaders who can just say 'One or two killings won't tarnish our image'. At the moment I have done all that I can to advise the BMD. I am not a politician but an academic with a political opinion.

Mmegi: What fuelled this new love?

Otlogetswe: I found our leaders questioning our patriotism. When journalists were accused of not being patriotic enough for doing their job. We should not question people's patriotism on the basis of the questions they ask. I find that out of order.