The challenge of Language in communicating on COVID-19: The ugly side of inequality exposed.

One of the obvious consequences of communicating in one medium of instruction, i.e. English, is that the language captures words from the narratives of the native speakers. Experiences, concepts, ideologies and more are expressed through language, English is no exception.

What I have noted with great concern is how most of the messages during this COVID-19 pandemic, are written and spoken in English, as it is the case even with my post. The limitation with this is that the majority of the people, who desperately need to understand the dangers of COVID-19 are not fluent in this language. The very concept of Social Distancing is a misnomer in the culture of the majority of SA people. On the other hand, western culture is by and large, socially distant already. For many westerners and westernised people, social distancing doesn't require much of a mental or practical change. For an Anglicized person, social distancing is a description of a context that is shaped in their narrative, it is in their daily experience. It is not an anomaly for people in the city or suburbs, to not know their neighbour or have any contact with them. This is tantamount to an abomination in the township and villages, in fact, a simple thing like not greeting can render you an arrogant and anti-socialist son of the diablos.


Photo Courtesy: Timothy Barlin

Our politicians, institutional leaders, and even community leaders get lost in this Anglicized environment. We don't consider how to best communicate in ways that can

reach everyone within our own narratives. People were busy cheering the President for delivering an eloquent message, and he did, but I doubt that Koko in the township got that message. I am provoked to write posters and messages in other languages I am fluent in, and share the messages where I can access such people. I think for those us who can, it behooves us to find creative ways to communicate effectively to such people, where we have that access.

Sadly, the ugly side of the disparities of inequality is catching up with all of us, at a very inopportune moment. I shudder to think whether this is the wake-up call, we all need to be intentional about transformation on all levels. To be intentional about setting up an economic, academic, governance and media structures that cater to all sectors of South Africa.

Let us hope that by some miracle, the COVID-19 spread will not ride the wave of inequality and exploit the vulnerabilities in our society, the way that other viruses of corruption, crime, HIV, and more have. We are facing a very dangerous time ahead of us.

Photo Courtesy: Timothy Barlin

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Powerful Life Lessons from COVID -19 Pandemic: 3 Part Series.

Reading about Prince Charles having contracted COVID -19 got me a bit gobsmacked. It is not that he is not human, but that COVID -19 didn't respect his rank or position. For me, the most outstanding factor about this pandemic is how it continues to disregard our differences. The way we contract the Coronavirus illuminates our similarities as humans; it puts us all on the same ground of equality. It makes plain our vulnerability as humanity, our frailty regardless of our position. Between the poor and wealthy, the famous and the unknown, the high-ranking individuals and just the regular folk, COVID-19 got to us all. It has not been considerate of our social and institutional status, the only factor of impact has been our immune systems.  I will write about that in my next post, what the immune system represents. For now, I'll park it there. Here are some observations I have made in this process. There are some parallels about this virus, how we contract it, how it becomes pa
Read more

Look beyond your frustrations and fears: The ugly face of inequality in SA during Covid-19 pandemic.

Image
Some people have been posting videos lambasting people who stocked up on Thursday. This highlights the sad reality of inequality in South Africa is that many people in this country, continue to live in denial of what these inequalities mean, practically for the majority of the people. It is very easy to talk about doing the right thing when you're speaking from a position of safety, comfort, and power. You have access to the infrastructure at will, with institutional power in your environment and remain blind to the struggles of those who don't. That's how privilege works, you're safe economically, you are comfortable in your surroundings and you can freely make decisions that benefit you and that's your power. The majority of South African people don't have the first privilege, safety economically, they have no chance of reaching comfort in their environment and certainly no institutional power to make decisions that come with those privileges.
Read more