AFRICAN CONTINENT AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE

 

 

The English language plays a critical role in entertainment and the media, in diplomacy, in commerce and tourism, in migration and in education. In fulfilling these roles, English creates development opportunities for individuals and communities in Africa. According to the report by World Linguistic Society, Uganda has the best English speakers in Africa . It is then followed by Zambia, South Africa and Kenya respectively. According to the study carried out, the majority of Ugandans can articulate English words fluently, than any other English speaking country in Africa.

Because of its association with colonialism, English is often stigmatised as the language of imperialism or oppression. The continent of Africa has a population of about 460 million who speak more than 2,000 languages. English was introduced to Africa with the arrival of Europeans as slave traders and colonisers. Despite the departure of Europeans after independence, English has remained in the continent and today it is used as one of the official or working languages. It is used for different communicative purposes in 52 African countries (possibly 53 when Southern Sudan becomes independent), depending on the language and education policy of each country. About 20 sub-Saharan countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Namibia and Zambia, usually known as Anglophone, use English as an official language exclusively. Then there are Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe, which use English with another African language In the Lusophone (Portuguese speaking) and Francophone (French speaking) countries and in Ethiopia – none of which were British colonies – the status of English is also very high.

South Africa was colonized by the Dutch in the 1600s and the British in the 1700s, which is why English and Afrikaans are spoken there. English is currently only the fourth most spoken language in South Africa, with less than 10% of the population actively speaking it. However, English is understood by most South Africans in urban areas and you’ll hear English on South African TV and other media. Besides Zulu, which is the most spoken language in South Africa and English the other languages spoken in South Africa are Afrikaans, Xhosa,Southern and Northern Sotho, Tswana, Venda, Tsonga, Swati and Ndebele

Like in all other old English colonies South Africa too has some typical words and expressions which are not exactly Queen’s English but they have certainly enriched the English language. Touring with the Indian Cricket team gives us an opportunity to pick up these unique expressions! Let us enumerate a few of them:

Eish!: The American version would be “Jeez!”. This word may originate from the Xhosa people in South Africa. This word is used across pretty much all language speakers in South Africa as well as a few neighboring countries. It’s a unique word because it doesn’t just express surprise—it can also express excitement, disbelief or anger; e.g. “Eish! You startled me there.”

Ach man!:  The American version would be “Oh man!”. This filler word is often used to express frustration, but it can also be used in pretty much any situation at the beginning of a sentence; e.g. “Ach man, I have such a hangover from last night.”

Ach shame: Meaning – ‘what a shame!’ It’s definitely the most-used filler word in South Africa and a very versatile one as well for pretty much any situation, such as giving thanks, shouting praise, mourning etc. George: “I got engaged last night.”Amber: “Ach, shame!”

Let’s chow: Meaning - “Let’s eat.” “Chow” is used in certain parts of America to describe the act of eating and it’s no different in South Africa; e.g. “I’m starving, let’s chow.”

Bliksem: Meaning – to punch. This word is derived from the Dutch word for lightning strikes. It’s a rude word and you wouldn’t want to use it in polite company; e.g. “You jerk! I’ll bliksem you!”

Kak: Meaning - “Crap!” South Africans sure love their filler words. This one can be used in any situation where you would exclaim “crap!” in American English. However, it’s a bit ruder than the word “crap” and can even be considered a curse word and best to avoid it if you want to make a professional impression; e.g. “Kak! I’m late for class!”

Braai: Meaning – Barbecue. A traditional South African “braai” consists of roasting lamb chops, boerewors (savory sausage) and steak. Salads, rolls and melktert (milk tarts) are typically served as well; e.g. “Come down to the braai, we’ve got boerewors cooking.”

Klap: Meaning – Slap. This one is confusing, since it sounds like the English word “clap.” But it’s actually referring to a “slap,” or hitting someone/something with the palm of your hand; e.g. “I ought to klap you for saying that nonsense!”

Boet: American Version: “Bro” or “brother”. This word can be used to refer to an actual brother or a dear male best friend. It’s an affectionate term of endearment e.g. “He’s my boet, I can’t imagine life without him.”

Domkop: Meaning – idiot. This word is similar to “dummkopf” in German, which roughly means “idiot.” The German linguistic influence in certain parts of South Africa has less than savory origins. There isn’t a large German-speaking population in South Africa now, but some words seem to have remained as slang; e.g. “He’s a real domkop, that one.”

Robot: Meaning - Traffic light. The automatic light-changing function of a traffic light resembles that of a robotic machine, hence the slang term. To an outsider this term is utterly confusing; e.g. ‘Take backstreets so that you don’t get stuck at that robot on 7th Avenue.’

Eina! American Version: “Ow!” This can be used when experiencing any kind of pain, but it’s mostly used when experiencing a sharp, sudden pain like a bee sting or a paper cut; e.g. “Eina! I always cut myself on this paper.”

Howzit? American Version: “How’s it going?” This shortened version of “how’s it going?” just rolls off the tongue e.g. “Howzit? I haven’t seen you in a while.”

Is it? Meaning – ‘is that so?’ Like Howzit this shortened term is just pleasant to say in conversation; e.g. Pollock: “Even Jhonty Rhores dropped a catch today”. Smith “is it?”

Sarmie: Meaning – Sandwich. Picked up in a stadium canteen while watching cricket; e.g. “I could really go for a sarmie right about now.”

Baba: Meaning – father. This is much like Bengali. Many languages use “baba” as a way to say “dad,” but the South African term is believed to have originated from Afrikaans or Indian; e.g. “Tell your baba that it’s time to chow, the sarmies are ready.”

Scale: Meaning – to steal. To scale something is to steal it and a person who’s “scaly” is a thief or otherwise sleazy person; e.g. “She scaled my cheese poppers last night.”

 

Many more words like bongo (from West African boungu), chimpanzee ( from a Bantu language, possibly Kivili ci-mpenzi), dengue (possibly from Swahili dinga), impala (from Zulu im-pala), jazz (possibly from West African languages, Mandinka  jasi, or Temne yas), ocra (from Igbo ókùrù), safari (from Swahili word for travel), tango (probably from Ibibio tamgu), ubuntu (Nguni term for "mankind, humanity") owe their origin to various African languages. English language has been enriched by the native African languages and the accent with which they speak the language differs from country to country and region to region depending upon what other native languages they are speaking and who else colonized them like Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, besides the English.

South African J. M. Coetzee and Nadine Gordimer and Nigerian Ben Okri have won the Booker Prize and Coetzee has done so twice! Considering that the Booker Prize for Fiction is awarded annually to the best original novel written in the English language and published in the United Kingdom, you can fathom the contribution the African continent has made to the English language! 

OLYMPICS TRIVIA – SOME BITTER, SOME SWEET

 

 

Corona virus threw the 2020 sporting calendar into complete disarray, with the Summer Olympic Games, scheduled to start on July 24, 2020 in Tokyo being postponed. It now starts on July 23, 2021 almost a year behind schedule. But it's not the first time the Olympics have had to be put on hold: since sprinting into life in 1896, the modern Olympics have been cancelled three times, all on account of a world war: once during World War I (1916) and twice during World War II (1940, 1944).

 

The 1916 Olympics were supposed to be hosted by the German Empire, which had built an impressive 30,000-seat stadium in Berlin for the event. But with the outbreak of war in 1914, and the eventual involvement of so many nations who sent athletes to the Olympics, the 1916 games were scrapped. The last time the Olympics were canceled was during World War II. The 1940 summer and winter Olympics were both scheduled to be held in Japan, the first non-Western country to host the games, but Japan forfeited its rights in 1937 when it went to war with China. The 1940 games were initially rebooked for Helsinki, Finland in the summer and the German town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the winter, but finally canceled in 1939 with Hitler’s invasion of Poland.

 

London was supposed to host the 1944 summer Olympics, but those were summarily canceled due to the ongoing war. Even the 1944 winter games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy had to be called off because of the same reason. London eventually hosted the 1948 games, but banned German and Japanese athletes from participation.

 

As we gear up for the upcoming event, let’s take a look back at some memorable, some tragic and some bizarre Olympics stories from the past.

 

 

A lesson in genetics: the 1936 Berlin Games were allowed to go on amid a Nazi regime intent on using sport to demonstrate Adolf Hitler’s theories of racial superiority. Jesse Owens, the African American track and field star, famously proved Hitler wrong, taking home four gold medals. As if that was not enough, India’s underdog field hockey team of the legendary Dhyanchand also crushed the Germans 8-1 in the men’s final!

 

 

The 1988 Seoul roast of the doves: The Olympics opening ceremony is usually a spectacle that leaves us in awe. The displays of music, singing, dancing, and theater combined are usually breathtaking and it usually showcases the culture of the host nation. That, however, wasn’t the case during the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. Doves are a universal sign of peace and prosperity. About a dozen of them were released into the stadium as a symbol of harmony during the opening ceremony in Seoul. However, many of the birds landed on the Olympic cauldron just as it was about to be lit. As a result, the birds were accidentally (and unfortunately) roasted alive. The terrifying accident shocked everyone, and it marked the final time doves were seen at any Olympic ceremony.

 

Dope and death in Rome: Many memorable things occurred during the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Not only was it the first Olympics to be broadcasted live across Europe, but it was also when the world got introduced to Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, who won gold in the light-heavyweight division. Unfortunately, not all of these memorable moments were positive. These Games also featured the first-ever doping scandal, when Danish cyclist Knud Jensen, who was found to have Roniacol in his system, collapsed during a race and died the same day because of a fractured skull. This was a horrible event, and one that changed the Olympics forever.

 

U.S. boycott of Moscow Olympic: After the Soviet Union failed to remove its troops from Afghanistan, President Jimmy Carter announced that the United States would be boycotting the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. While this decision was popular among the American people, with 55% supporting the move, Olympians did not feel the same way. It is quite a different issue that the same U.S invaded Afghanistan and remained there for 20 years after 9/11 and no one objected.

 

 

The Munich massacre: This is easily the worst thing to ever happen at the Olympics. The 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich featured an act of horror unlike anything we’ve ever experienced at the Olympic Games. On September 5, a group of Palestinian terrorists group called “Black September” raided the apartment of Israeli athletes in Olympic Village. They killed two athletes and took another nine individuals hostage. In the end, all nine Israeli hostages were killed, as well as five terrorists and one West German police officer. Olympic competition was suspended for 24 hours to hold memorial services for the slain athletes.

 

The Atlanta bombing: You can’t discuss the 1996 Summer Olympic in Atlanta and not talk about the bombing that took place at Centennial Olympic Park. This horrible act of terrorism resulted in the death of two people (one directly, one later of a heart attack), over 100 injured, and the false accusation of security guard Richard Jewell. Eventually, the real bomber, Eric Robert Rudolph, was captured and sentenced to four consecutive life terms.

 

When the Rio Olympics Pools turned green: The swimming pools in Rio made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Even though this was the most prestigious sporting competition in the world, athletes were shocked to find out that many of the pools in the stadia literally turned a shade of green. The green pools became a huge headache for organizers and the butt of jokes among millions around the world. Rio 2016 officials later revealed the mystery of the green water. A contractor had apparently added 80 liters (21 gallons) of hydrogen peroxide to each of the diving- and water polo pools. The addition of hydrogen peroxide neutralized the chlorine and allowed algae to bloom!

 

 

When the Queen came down from the sky: Queen Elizabeth II usually keeps her public appearances to stately summits or glittering ceremonies very somber and dignified. However, during the 2012 London Olympics, the Queen was seen "skydiving" out of an aircraft with a parachute to reach the venue with none other than James Bond! As it turned out, it was a parachutist dressed as Queen Elizabeth who joined Daniel Craig (the actor who played James Bond in recent films) for a Danny Boyle-directed segment to kick off the opening ceremony. Now, nothing could be more British!

 

Abebe Bikila runs barefoot to Olympic gold:  Reebok and Nike should die in shame; in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, a relatively unknown marathon runner named Abebe Bikila became famous in one of the weirdest episodes from the Games' history. The 28-year-old bodyguard, who was representing Ethiopia, could not find suitable shoes in Rome. But that didn’t deter his spirit. Bikila decided to run barefoot instead! The Ethiopian sped through the streets and finished the race at 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 16.2 seconds - 25 seconds before the next runner. Not only did he break the world marathon record, but he also became the first East African to win a gold medal at the Olympics.

 

 

Michael Phelps and his 28 medals: Michael Fred Phelps II is an American former competitive swimmer and the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time, with a total of 28 medals – 23 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze! He remains one of the most decorated athletes of all time. Apart from his achievements in swimming, Phelps is also often remembered for his “Death Stare” during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he was seen intensely staring at his long-time rival Chad Le Clos before their 200 m butterfly semi-final.

 

Beauty and dare devilry in gymnastics: With 9 Olympic medals – 5 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze spread over 2 Olympics 14 years old Nadia Comăneci of Romania mesmerized the world with the first score of ‘perfect 10’ in gymnastics. Her performance at the 1976 Montreal Olympics redefined both her sport and audiences' expectations of female athletes.

 

During the gymnastics gala event at Rio in 2016, a group of Chinese acrobats stunned the audience when they performed a "human skipping rope" routine. Two gymnasts from the Chinese team held one of their colleagues and swung him by his arms and legs in the air like a rope while a fourth man jumped over him like a jump rope. By the end of their sensational performance, the crowd was squealing in delight, and there were even a few gasps of amusement and fear heard in the audience.

 

Lip-syncing during 2008 Games opening ceremony:  The 2008 Beijing Games were pretty awesome, but the same cannot be said about the opening ceremony. Nine-year-old Lin Miaoke became an instant sensation with her soulful rendition of "Ode to the Motherland" during the unveiling program of the event. However, it was later discovered that Miaoke wasn’t singing at all; she was lip-syncing to the sound of another girl - 7-year-old Yang Peiyi. The Chinese organizers rejected Peiyi because, apparently, she lacked stage presence and appearance. Miaoke was selected because she was "more presentable."

 

 

When a referee got kicked in the face: We’ve seen instances of unsportsmanlike conduct before, but nothing quite like what Cuba’s Angel Matos did during the bronze-medal taekwondo match at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After being disqualified for taking too much injury time, Matos reacted in a matter unbecoming of the Olympics Games, as he kicked the referee, Chakir Chelbat of Sweden, right in the face.  This incident immediately prompted the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) to recommend and enforce a lifetime ban for Matos. The Cuban athlete had a commendable sports career before that incident and had even won gold in the 2000 Games. Sadly, he is only remembered today for having kicked a referee in the face

 

Dorando Pietri – the man who lost a race but won hearts: Dorando Pietri, an Italian long-distance runner, became a star in the 1908 Games in London. 22-year-old Pietri, who worked as a pastry chef, had taken part in the 1908 marathon that stretched for 26.2 miles (42.1 kilometers) to cover the distance from Windsor Castle to the Olympic Stadium at White City, west London. It was the longest marathon since the modern games began. He started the race slowly and gradually picked up the pace. It was a scorching day, but Pietri soon took the lead and appeared all set to collect the gold medal. However, the heat began getting to him, and the runner started feeling ill. He staggered a few yards and collapsed to the ground. Pietri was helped to his feet and pointed in the right direction, but after barely taking a few steps, he fell again. In the next few minutes, he was lifted several more times by British officials, who wanted to prevent the American in second place, Johnny Hayes, from winning. Eventually, Pietri was carried across the line and greeted with wild cheers from the crowd. Inevitably, Pietri was disqualified, but he became a superstar for the dogged determination he showed. In the days to follow, the Italian made many celebrity appearances and was presented with a specially commissioned gold trophy by Queen Alexandra. Later, he was even awarded a fund that helped him open a bakery in his hometown of Carpi.

The Olympiad has a rich history spanning over 125 years. Over the years, spectators were witness to some staggering and breathtaking sports moments. However, the world’s greatest sporting spectacle has also been packed with some bizarre and unusual occurrences, some of which are too strange to believe. From cancelled games to the recently postponed Tokyo 2020 to boycotts by certain countries to banning of certain others there has been no shortage of excitement. Terrorist attacks, bombings, acts of super-natural courage, excellent sportsmanship and most shameful and un-sportsman like behaviors, the Olympics has been witness to all.

 

DISCOVER THE CHILD WITHIN YOU

 

 

Childhood was very different. I was a different person. As a child I used to know something that as an adult I have forgotten. I was far surer and far more confident; you can call it childhood ignorance. I was more courageous, you can label it as juvenile bravado. And I enjoyed life more intensely than I rarely did as an adult. I often look back at my childhood years and cannot help but think of them as the best years of my life. I was a carefree spirit; I lived in the present moment; I had no anxieties and I had no fears. I often wish that I could return to the innocence and zest for life I once had when I was a child.

 

I believe that we can all learn something from our younger selves to bring more clarity and joy into adulthood. The insular existence during the pandemic has made me realize that it is very important not to let the child inside us die. The fact of the matter is that the child inside us never dies; it is just sitting there in the corner, facing the wall, banished by our adult sensibilities. It was not his fault, pressure from parents, teachers, bosses or society, who often told that don’t be a kid, stop behaving childish, think logically etc. has forced him to go and sit in the corner. By suppressing this innocent, spontaneous, curious, inquisitive, effervescent and enthusiastic child inside us we have invited a dull and stressful life, without any excitement and with very little happiness.

 

How was the childhood me different?

 

So what was that child, who is now sitting in the corner facing the wall, like when I was young and he ruled supreme? I never cared about anything and enjoyed every moment of life. There were several good reasons for that and so let us see why it is important to keep the child inside you alive and happy:

1.      A child has a carefree attitude and gives a damn to the society, thus if we keep the child inside, active it will keep you strong and away from all the negative demands of society.

2.      A child is always full of hope and has positive outlook towards everything and for it nothing is impossible.

3.      A child is not at all biased towards anything or anyone and is true to all, thus it will ensure that we remain honest to ourselves and others.

4.      The child inside you will keep you motivated throughout and will enable you to complete the task because a child never quits anything. For e.g. an infant will keep on trying to walk no matter how many time it falls.

5.      A child is never limited by any boundaries or rules and thus catering to the inner child will make sure that we get free from all the undue rules and limitations posed by the society.

6.      A child is a very good learner because he/she has no ego and keeps on asking questions and learning new things and that to without any hesitation. However as an adult we feel that asking too many questions may not be appreciated by others and theywe might become a laughing stalk by all.

7.      A child is very energetic and ready for everything, no matter what happens and thus keeping the child inside us alive will make us feel active and have a positive and a always ready attitude towards everything.

8.      Child is full of creativity in each and every aspect of life. Painting outside the drawn lines is a rule of childhood! Their creativity can come out with ways which we can never think of.

9.      A child has faith/ trust on all (on friends, parents, teachers etc.) but we suffer from trust deficit issues because we have suppressed the child inside us.

Growing up is a continuous process and we become mature both mentally and physically with every passing day, and also we keep on becoming more and more wise with time and experience but all this should not be at the cost of suppression of the inner child. That childlike innocence, curiosity, perseverance, creativity, keenness to learn and faith are vital for our progress.

 

Bring back the child inside you from the lonely corner

 

According to our Hindu philosophy we believe in Aham Bhamhasmi - I am divine. So are you. How many of us practice this philosophy in our adult life? Yet that is what we believed in when we were children, and so this must be the default mode of all humankind! So as we grow why do we diverge from this solemn path?

 

This innocent child, as he grew up, was taught, influenced and manipulated by the society. Therefore today this child is working 13 out of 24 hours at a job he/she wants to run away from, trying so hard to keep his/her marriage going, wanting to give some time to his/her family. And at the end of the day, this child buries his head in a pillow, cries to himself as he tries sleep at night. This child is tired of trying to match the society’s standards and live up to other's expectations. This child just wants to live. He wishes to go back being the child he was. 

 

The child within us was different

 

Close your eyes and try to think, you will soon get in touch with your childhood version and now see how different you were! As children we were remarkably different:

 

1. They see each day as a new beginning. When you are young, a day can feel like an eternity. Yet with each new day we are aware of the new prospects and new opportunities to make new friends, explore new adventures and learn new things. Every day is an opportunity to start afresh. And, unlike adults, children do not carry baggage from one day to the next. Yesterday’s fights were buried and a new day would start afresh!

 

2. They are fearless. Children are more willing to explore and try new things. They are unaware of the consequences and are more willing to try something new. If they injure themselves they use it as an opportunity to learn from their mistakes. As adults, we often hold ourselves back, predominantly because of fear. We stop ourselves from taking chances and seeing what happens. Successful people tend to be those that step out of their boundaries and take risks. A ship is most safe anchored in the harbor but it is of most use when it sails seven seas!

 

3. They lose themselves in creative projects. A child can often be seen getting lost in a creative project for hours at a time, be it drawing, playing with clay, building a sand castle, and so on. Yet, as we get older, we stop seeing creative activities as worthwhile. How many adults do you know (aside from artists) who spend their free time drawing, playing with clay or finger painting?

 

4. They find joy in most things and laugh every day. Children have a beautiful ability to find joy all around them. They see silliness everywhere. They can innocently stare at a mundane bill board and start clapping because it has a car staring down at them. They can pull a beard and see if it can come out like the spectacles.

 

5. They cry if they feel like it. Crying is not often an emotion that adults feel comfortable expressing, yet children do so all the time. Crying helps release our emotions in a normal, healthy way. Yet, instead, we always make it a point to keep it in check. Consequently, we end up keeping our emotions to ourselves. At times, it's okay for us to be a little more open and vulnerable with people we feel comfortable around.

 

6. They are active. Thinking back of to my younger years, it was a joy to play outside, running around until I was out of breath and my clothes soiled. I never thought of being active as exercise or daily fitness, for me, I was just playing and it was fun. Can you honestly say the same for your morning gym?

 

7. They are more willing to try new things. Children will attempt to play a sport that they have never tried before. They are more willing to jump on a trampoline or dive into a pool, or ski down a mountain, even if they have never done so before. Adults tend to have a fear of the unknown and prefer to stay in their comfort zone, rarely venturing out. Adventure though can make us feel exhilarated and awakened.

 

8. They are enthusiastic. Children often tend to have so much enthusiasm and zeal. They feel lots of excitement, and are hopeful and optimistic. We too should learn to approach life in a more optimistic way. As adults, we often tend to dwell on the negative. Children have no burden of negatives and no fear of failure.

 

9. They nurture friendships. Observe children playing with their friends, they often find pure joy in doing so and are always keen to make new ones. Children tend to enjoy their many activities too - they join soccer teams, go to birthday parties and enjoy quite a number of after school activities too. As a child I was not aware of caste, religion, race, gender and all my playmates came in one category – friends.

 

10. They notice the little things. The simple things that we often take for granted tend to bring incredible joy and profound inspiration to children. They notice the tiny miracles that surround them each day. How much more beautiful life could be if we noticed the same things they do?

Funnily, today as we grew up, we care about the society above anything else, we think of all the worst outcomes of every situation, we set our own limitations and crib about not progressing. The child within you is to remind you to keep going even if times are hard. The child within you wants you to write cards and give warm hugs to your mother. The child within you wants you to violate some rules so that you’ll have some memories to share. The child within you wants you to beak all your insecurities and inhibitions, it wants you to be happy, genuinely happy. The child within you wants you to set yourself free from all the boundaries.