Promoting speaking your native language in the home
Every year on 21 February, the world celebrates International Mother Language Day. Here is how you can promote the speaking of your mother tongue in your home.
Over the years, there have been debates about the relevancy of the mother tongue.
South Africa has twelve official languages - Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, sign language, and isiZulu.
The 2023 statistics reveal that IsiZulu is South Africa’s biggest language, spoken by 23% of the South African population, isiXhosa is spoken by 16%, Afrikaans is spoken by 13.5%, English 10%, Sesotho sa Leboa 9%, Setswana 8%, Sesotho 8%, Xitsonga 4.5%, siSwati and Tshivenda 2.5%, and isiNdebele 2%.
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However, English seems to be the dominant language, especially for the younger generation.
The mother tongue is important for promoting and preserving family culture.
Here are four ways to promote the speaking of your mother tongue in your home:
- Be intentional about speaking the mother tongue in the home. Communicate to your children that in your home, the family should speak more in the mother tongue.
- Encourage your children to watch programs that are in their mother tongue.
- Singing and listening to music are some of the ways to learn. Promote the playing of music recorded in the mother tongue. Teach your children songs that you love which are in their mother tongue.
- Encourage your children to read books that are written in their mother tongue.
READ: Afrikaans words that can't be translated to any other language
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