> [English is] not this way because of some essential superiority of the language This is an important point to me and something often misunderstood, even (and

> [English is] not this way because of some essential superiority of the language This is an important point to me and something often misunderstood, even (and especially) by mother tongue Northern Sotho speakers. Perceived superiority is sometimes mere utility. As far as I know, the spelling of Northern Sotho is derived from German missionaries (though perhaps also influenced by Dutch). This has caused Northern Sotho to be incompatible with English spelling. A prudent 7-year-old Mosotho would use this as an argument to rather learn English spelling, but also to make the mistake of discounting their language based on what is essentially just an unfortunate historical choice of orthography. Contrast this with Shona, which uses English-derived spelling. The Shona people generally have impressive skills in English spelling and eloquence in the use of English. (Though this is also due to Zimbabwe being influenced more by the British than anyone else.) I think we need to admit that language itself is something that a young learner sees through the lens of utility and that superiority as a social concept would always be grossly subjective. It is funny how "supremacists" often prosecute the most competent people in their own culture (due to their competent brethren being mostly nosy and challenging towards the supremacists).