Government Wants Minorities to use their own Language Without Discrimination

8
Government Wants Minorities to use their own Language Without Discrimination
Government Wants Minorities to use their own Language Without Discrimination

Africa-Press – Angola. The Angolan government wants minority linguistic groups to use their language “without discrimination” and for central, local and autonomous government bodies to use Angolan languages ​​of African origin, accompanied by translation into the official language.

Citizens belonging to minority language communities have the right to use their own language, in private or in public, freely, without interference or any form of discrimination, and the relevant entities must ensure, if necessary or mandatory, translation into the official language, according to the proposed language law.

The legal proposal, which was open for public consultation until Friday and which Lusa had access to today, classifies Angola’s languages ​​according to their origin, namely African, European (Portuguese), sign language and Braille. Portuguese is the only official language of Angola, as provided for in the Constitution.

According to the authorities, the proposal aims to protect, value, dignify and promote the study of Angolan languages ​​of African origin and ensure their development as languages ​​of national identity and communication, by virtue of the cultural and civilizational values ​​they convey.

It is established that the central and local administration bodies and the autonomous administration “may, when necessary and possible”, make use of Angolan languages ​​of African origin, accompanied by the respective translation into the official language.

In this proposed law, Angolan languages ​​of African origin are subdivided into four categories, namely regional languages ​​- Kikongo, Kimbundu, Cokwe, Ngangela, Olunyaneka, Olukuvale, Oxikwanyama and Umbundu.

The remaining categories are local languages ​​- Ifyote, Songo, Mbangala, Luvale, Mbunda, Lunda, Vátwa and Khung) – cross-border languages ​​- Cokwe, Luvale, Oxikwanyama, Kikongo) – and transnational languages ​​- Kikongo, Oxihelelo and Khung).

The State “guarantees the effective legal protection of the languages ​​of Angola, through normative and administrative acts, promoting their permanent study, in order to accompany the development of society”, states the proposal prepared by the Ministry of Culture.

The State and public and private entities encourage the promotion of cultural identity, through the Languages ​​of Angola, “by creating suitable conditions for learning and access to education in their mother tongue and the official language”, the government initiative adds.

For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here