6 ms·

French is also widely spoken language there. So, choosing a third one might be a compromise or which I suspect more is an attempt at decolonization. After all,

French is also widely spoken language there. So, choosing a third one might be a compromise or which I suspect more is an attempt at decolonization. After all, if you are trying to establish your independence and proud identity, using the languages of the people who were trading you like cattle might not be the most uplifting idea.

lelanthran 5y ago
Maybe. Cultural center dentity is all well and good but should take a back seat to economic prosperity. Arguments using emotionally loaded terms like "languages of the people who were trading you like cattle " move the focus from prosperity to social justice. After all, when making the reverse argument in favour of English, you wouldn't want to hear "why push for a language best suited to trading cattle"? As much as you may want cultural heritage, it's better for the individual to be fluent in English than in Swahili.
- gostsamo 5y ago
  Well, if you are not the one traded like cattle, it is rather easy to sit and talk all about rationality and pragmatism. I'm sure that if you go there and explain them the errors in their thinking and in their way of life they will be totally appreciative of that. I'm not african and I'm not even sure if my hypothesis is close to the truth, however, trying to make historical facts disappear because they are not pretty is not how it works. When talking about heritage in regard to the english language, don't forget that it is not their heritage or at least that their heritage is french and arabic as well.
  - lelanthran 5y ago
    > Well, if you are not the one traded like cattle, it is rather easy to sit and talk all about rationality and pragmatism. My ancestors were. Go back far enough in any populations geneaology, and you'll find something similar. > I'm not african and I'm not even sure if my hypothesis is close to the truth, however, trying to make historical facts disappear because they are not pretty is not how it works. Who advocated for that? No, seriously, where did you read that historical facts should be "disappeared"? > When talking about heritage in regard to the english language, don't forget that it is not their heritage or at least that their heritage is french and arabic as well. So? Having a heritage (and everyone's got one) doesn't mean that it's the most important thing to have, or preserve. I advocated that economic prosperity is a higher priority than conservative values. I don't know how anyone can disagree with that.
jahewson 5y ago
It’s somewhat awkward that Swahili takes 40% of its words from Arabic due to traders around Zanzibar, who shipped out several million slaves.
- gostsamo 5y ago
  Totally awkward, but it is not 100% of it, isn't it?

lelanthran 5y ago

Maybe. Cultural center dentity is all well and good but should take a back seat to economic prosperity. Arguments using emotionally loaded terms like "languages of the people who were trading you like cattle " move the focus from prosperity to social justice. After all, when making the reverse argument in favour of English, you wouldn't want to hear "why push for a language best suited to trading cattle"? As much as you may want cultural heritage, it's better for the individual to be fluent in English than in Swahili.

gostsamo 5y ago
Well, if you are not the one traded like cattle, it is rather easy to sit and talk all about rationality and pragmatism. I'm sure that if you go there and explain them the errors in their thinking and in their way of life they will be totally appreciative of that. I'm not african and I'm not even sure if my hypothesis is close to the truth, however, trying to make historical facts disappear because they are not pretty is not how it works. When talking about heritage in regard to the english language, don't forget that it is not their heritage or at least that their heritage is french and arabic as well.
- lelanthran 5y ago
  > Well, if you are not the one traded like cattle, it is rather easy to sit and talk all about rationality and pragmatism. My ancestors were. Go back far enough in any populations geneaology, and you'll find something similar. > I'm not african and I'm not even sure if my hypothesis is close to the truth, however, trying to make historical facts disappear because they are not pretty is not how it works. Who advocated for that? No, seriously, where did you read that historical facts should be "disappeared"? > When talking about heritage in regard to the english language, don't forget that it is not their heritage or at least that their heritage is french and arabic as well. So? Having a heritage (and everyone's got one) doesn't mean that it's the most important thing to have, or preserve. I advocated that economic prosperity is a higher priority than conservative values. I don't know how anyone can disagree with that.

jahewson 5y ago

It’s somewhat awkward that Swahili takes 40% of its words from Arabic due to traders around Zanzibar, who shipped out several million slaves.

gostsamo 5y ago
Totally awkward, but it is not 100% of it, isn't it?