New language micro-sites for Africa

The BBC College of Journalism and the BBC World Service have launched five new language websites for Africa.

They are Hausa, Portuguese for Africa, Somali, Kinyarwanda and Kirundi.

All these language guides draw on the rich experience and expertise of BBC journalists built up over many years.

The BBC is delighted to be able to register this knowledge and share it with journalists across the world.

The micro sites use films, interviews and written materials, to offer experts' views on the BBC's use of impartial language.

Today's launch will bring up the number of the language sites created for Africa to seven.

The language sites for French for Africa and Swahili were launched last year.
Hausa

Hausa is one of the oldest language services in the BBC.

Sulaiman Ibrahim, a language expert who wrote a detailed guide on the use of the correct language translation, feels that it is important to be able to choose the correct term of address.

For example, knowing how to address a man, an older man, a religious figure or a politician without jeopardising the use of impartial language is crucial.

He also feels that the use of orthography in his language is important.

For example, the word "gora" can mean three things, "feast", "insect" and the word, "if" - and it is only in the context of the sentence that you will understand the correct meaning.

Portuguese for Africa

In recent years the eight Portuguese speaking countries have signed a document urging everyone to unify the way in which the language is written.

Filipe Correia De Sa is the language expert for Para Africa, Portuguese for Africa and he felt that their department needed a place were they could gather their linguistic knowledge and have the opportunity to develop it further.

He has produced the pages on style, impartial writing, independence, pronunciation and much more,
He feels that the Portuguese for Africa site will contribute in the integration of the written form of the Portuguese language.

Somali

On the Somali site, Yusuf Garaad Omar gives advice on the use of the language, as one of the dilemmas that broadcasters have is that Somali is spoken in more that three countries, in various dialects.

He gives examples of how to avoid words that are only understood in one particular region and how important it is for journalists to avoid using clichés.

Kinyarwanda and Kirundi

The Great Lake Service was created by the BBC after the genocide in Rwanda.

Broadcasts are produced in two languages, Kinyarwanda which is mainly spoken in Rwanda and Kirundi, which is mainly spoken in Burundi.

Ally Yusufu Mugenzi who is from Rwanda feels that it is absolutely vital for journalists in his region to understand how to use independent language, and at the same time not be targeted.

Florentine Kwizera who is from Burundi believes that the BBC Great Lake Service has played an important role in the creation of impartial terminology and the site can become a reference point for other journalists working in these languages.

Knowing all the rules about impartiality and independence is integral to the BBC's journalism and how that applies to various languages is of the upmost importance.

The College of Journalism's language project started in January 2008 and has since then launched 23 external language sites .

These include Arabic, Farsi, Chinese and Hindi.

The plan is to create micro sits for all the BBC World Service's languages by April 2009.

Please contact Najiba.Kasraee@bbc.co.uk for further information.

Source: BBC