Introduction:
What is the Relationship Between Culture & Mother Tongue and Traditional Narratives?
I am passionate about culture and mother tongue. Through my books ‘Nubian Princess World Book Series’, I aim to celebrate the beauty of my heritage and to bring attention to the power of mother tongue and the importance of preserving our culture and identities. I believe that understanding and appreciating our own culture can help us understand, respect and appreciate other cultures better.
The more I travel, not only in different countries including different continents and boy have I travelled – Coming from Southern Africa, there has never been greater joy for me than to meet fellow countrymen wherever I go even here in China where I am based temporarily. South Africans are amazing, fun and crazy. One will start speaking to me in Zulu, I respond in Sesotho, the other in Xhosa, and we all meet halfway. Why won’t we speak to each to each other in English, because it is not our language. It is a language of our jobs, for us to improve say ‘our financial situations’, we do not associate it with who we are or what we stand for. It is when one is out of home that we find there is power in numbers, we get to realise what ubuntu really means (The late Steve Biko would be proud of us, we take pride in ‘Black Consciousness’). No matter how much one speaks Chinese, we will always be ‘These Foreigners’ in China, French in France, or English in the USA, Europe or wherever, we still will be ‘the foreigners’. Yet through South African, we find a commonality, we become brothers and sisters and have each other’s backs, even those who speak Afrikaans whilst outside identify themselves as Africans.
Hence, my work focuses on how language can have a great impact on folklore tales, fairytales, fables, and other stories that are passed down through generations. It is my hope that by sharing these stories with others I can help spread awareness about the importance of Culture and Mother Tongue.
Acknowledging the centuries-old connection between Culture, Mother Tongue and storytelling!
Language is the most powerful tool of communication and understanding. It has the power to bring people together, to create a sense of unity, and to celebrate culture and heritage. I am passionate about exploring the impact of language on folklore tales, fairytales, fables, and other forms of storytelling. Through my books, I want to celebrate my Mother Tongue and its power in connecting us with our past.
The history of our society is filled with stories, customs, traditions and culture that have been passed down through generations. From ancient tales to modern practices, the rich history of our ancestors has shaped the world we live in today. By understanding this heritage and its importance to our culture, we can learn about ourselves and how we interact with others. By exploring this history, we can gain an appreciation for the influences that have brought us to this moment in time.
The ancient art of storytelling has been passed down through generations, giving us a glimpse into the culture and language of our ancestors. From folklore to fairy tales and fables, these traditional tales unlock the secrets of our past and provide insight into how culture and mother tongue have shaped the way stories are told. By exploring these rich histories, we can gain a deeper understanding of how our language and culture have evolved over time.
What is the economical success’s impact on Mother-Tongue?
Economic success can have a powerful influence on one's culture and identity. It can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment when it comes to speaking one's mother tongue to their children. This is because economic success often means that one has achieved a certain level of status in society or even education, which may be seen as incompatible with speaking one's mother tongue.
Speaking to your children in the mother tongue is not only a way to preserve language and culture, but it also carries immense benefits for the development of your child. Research has shown that speaking in the mother tongue helps children learn concepts more effectively and make better connections between ideas and has a high impact on critical thinking skills. It also helps them build stronger relationships with their peers, as they can communicate more easily in their native language.
In this day and age, economic success is often seen as a sign of progress and can be a source of pride for many. Many parents who have achieved economic success may feel ashamed to speak their native language to their children, in addition conclude that our mother-tongues have no value to the future of their children and instead opt for a more "acceptable" language.
However, it can also have an unexpected impact on one’s culture and language. For example, some parents may feel ashamed to speak their mother tongue to their children due to the fact that they are more successful in English or another language, or that, the belief that children will not have a successful future. This could lead to a loss of cultural identity and connection with the past, including self identity and pride. In addition, how can one be comfortable to hold a passport of a country you call your own, fly the flag high and speak none of the indigenous languages of that country but take pride in speaking the language of the colonizer.
In conclusion:
The history of our society is filled with stories, customs, traditions and culture that have been passed down through generations. From ancient tales to modern practices, the rich history of our ancestors has shaped the world we live in today. By understanding this heritage and its importance to our culture, we can learn about ourselves and how we interact with others. By exploring this history, we can gain an appreciation for the influences that have brought us to this moment in time.
Therefore I leave you with this thought; I believe we should further explore the views of how economic success of our people should influence a person’s language choices and the abandonement of mothertongue.
Don't forget to join us in our next blog where we shall explore further the differences between folklore, fables, fairytales and praisesinging and delve more into the power of mother.
2 comments
I agree with this blog very much, and this meaningful blog has also triggered me to think a lot.
In today’s era of globalization, economic competitiveness has become the goal pursued by all countries. However, few people realize the importance of the use of mother tongue for economic development. Mother tongue is the cornerstone of a country’s culture and identity. It is not only a means of communication, but also a way of thinking and a source of innovation. The use of mother tongue has a more profound and important impact on economic development.
For example, the use of mother tongue can improve people’s communication skills, thus promoting economic exchanges. As people often say, “Language is the carrier of culture.” As a cultural symbol, mother tongue conveys unique values and rich emotional experience, because when people communicate in their mother tongue, they can express their thoughts and emotions more accurately, and will not have communication difficulties due to language barriers. This not only helps to strengthen the connection between people, but also facilitates the smooth running of business activities.
I support you very much, fighting!
I am intrigued by your topic because I have been seriously thinking about this. Our country is in turmoil because we seem not to appreciate the history of of struggle. We seem to downplay the fact that others died for us to enjoy our freedom. We need to consistently look back where we come from for us to truly appreciate who we are today.