Newspaper Page Text
P4 The Panther
March 6. 1995
Are Our Native Languages Lost To Us Forever?
By Jimmie Ophelia Woods Jr.
Asst. Editorial Editor
The rudiments of modem culture as
well as ancient civilizations and all in
between, lie in language. Sociologists
as well as psychologists would readily
agree that language is essen
tial in the identification of a
culture or a person.
Back in the 1800s, after
Europeans were drawn out of
their “Dark Ages," they
began to explore and the
world has suffered according
ly. The first place they trav
eled to was of course, Africa.
In the name of colonialism.
Europe tromped around our
continent leaving behind
death, disease, destruction
and most damaging, English.
Around 1970, satellites and computer
technology enabled the West to pene
trate the Bush people and the cultural
walls that have guarded the Islamic
world to the present. Some in the
Middle East call the television
receivers “satanic dishes.”
The bombardment of European cul
ture on African people is extensive. In
Nigeria, of the 10 television stations
there, only two broadcast in the indige
nous tongues. Also, it has been
brought to my attention that most par
ents in this area don’t, teach Twi,
Swhaili, or Yoruba because they aren't
commonly used or because they want
their children to assimilate. Another
example of the destruction of the native
languages is the fact that they are now
spoken with an English or another
European accent.
Tens of millions are affected by the
group that has decided to envelope the
globe. From India to Mexico, Peru to
Iran, Hong Kong to South Africa,
European language saturates the air.
Languages are vanishing. Half of the
6,000 languages spoken by the world’s
inhabitants are no longer being learned
by their children. The causes include
dwindling native populations, geno
cide, immigration, habitat destruction
and modem commerce.
According to one linguist, the coming
century could see either the
death or doom of 90 per
cent of mankind’s lan
guages.
Languages are living
organisms that represent
thousands of years of cul
ture. Languages and
thoughts constantly evolve
each other. Most impor
tantly, they describe reali
ty. They also qualify our
distinct perspectives.
Some cultures have few ,/ords for
death and pain, while others have no
words for money or war. They adopt
the language of English and they adopt
these European concepts.
Languages are living organisms that
represent thousands of years of culture.
Languages and thoughts constantly
evolve each other. Most importantly, they
describe reality. They also qualify our
distinct perspectives.
E Clark Atlanta University
anther
Stacy Adams/Editor-In-Chief
Kimathi Lewis/Managing Editor
Kristie K. White/Editorial Editor
Staff
News: 880-8077
Editorial Asst: Jimmie Woods Jr.
News Editor: Lisa Flanagan
News Assistant: Nikki Roberts
Features Editor: Wendy Isom
Sports Editor: Krystal Hunter
Sports Assistant: Steven Barrenger
Photography Editor: Christian Gooden
Copy Editor: Kimberly Phillips
Circulation Manager:
Jimmie O. Woods Jr.
Adviser: Sabbaye McGriff
Layout & Design: Tara C. Gunter
Business: 880-6218
Advertising: 880-6219
Advertising Manager:
Tarsha Burton
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Tupac Shukur - Another Brother Lost
To The "System"
By Steven Barringer
Asst. Sports Editor
Recently Clark Atlanta’s “favorite rapper,”
Tupac Shakur, was sentenced to up to four and a
half years in prison on rape and sexual abuse
charges in New York.
When I was informed of this news, I began to
wonder if he was sitting in his cell trying to figure
out what went wrong. On this point, I think all of
us that were here during Homecoming ‘93 can tell
him.
Those of you that were not here in ‘93 should be
told that Shakur came here for our Homecoming.
First he was late, and then when he finally got
here, he gave the worst concert/cursing out/ego trip
we had ever seen. Looking back, it struck me that
most to his troubles started when he left our cam
pus.
First of all, as soon as Shakur left, he was
involved in an altercation with some off-duty
Atlanta and Clayton County policemen. He was
charged with assault in this incident, but later he
was let off the hook because there was no evidence
to support the charges.
A few months later, he was found guilty of assault
ing one of the Hughes brothers (creators of “Menace
II Society’’) outside of a night club. If that was not
enough, during his rape trial he was robbed of
$40,000 and shot five times. Beyond this, he was
later charged with weapons violations in L.A., and the
woman he was convicted of raping has filed a $10
million lawsuit against him.
I cannot say that I celebrate another young black
male going to prison but in this case, I can only say
that 1 do not feel bad for him. I hope he will take this
time to reassess the things that he has done and try to
do some good once he is released.
There was a time when Shakur was an intelligent,
articulate person with goals and an attitude that most
blacks could be proud of. The reason that this once
promising person became a “thug” is beyond this
writer’s knowledge.
His actions and lifestyle definitely put him in a
famous position, but now he must deal with the conse
quences of his actions. Like our parents always said,
what goes around comes around, but in Tupac’s case
he will probably be “getting around” all over Rikers
Island Penitentiary.