Translate.org.za was invited to participate in a workshop hosted by the PNC.

This was the second workshop with the aim of getting input from service providers. The first workshop gathered input from various government departments.

Others present at the workshop represented organisations in academia (Stellenbosch, UNISA, NWU), government (NEMISA, DAC), non-governmental (Translate.org.za) and industry (ABSA bank).

From Translate.org.za's perspective it was informative to hear feedback from workshop one about what the government departments felt was missing or what hampered their delivery of services and information in local languages. These aligned closely with the ideas already understood by Translate.org.za. A common theme seemed to be that the lack of policy prevented delivery of localised content, yet in a short presentation by ABSA bank they showed that they have no policy simply guidlines and within that framework have delivered radical localisation of their services. Is government clamoring for a reason for non-delivery?

An interesting idea raised during the workshop one feedback was the ideas of Ethnolinguistic Vitality. A fancy word for the phenomenon we see if South Africa of mother tongue speakers not driving their language proactively. There are various historic reasons for this. It is clear Translate.org.za that no matter what interventions are made by government that unless this issue is addressed language will not be adopted as desired. The lack of vitality shows in many ways but one of which Transkate.org.za is acutely aware is the fact that not even the government funders of Translate.org.za work will make use of the software.

One detraction from this gathering was that government departments did not meet with service providers, activists and others who are delivering in this area. It is sad in that the exchange of ideas and an education of what is possible would have helped dramatically.

Two messages where clear. You need a champion and we need to address language vitality. The first was clearly shown by ABSA, you don't need policy you need simply to align business with language have a passionate person and its done. Government states passion but lacks any evidence of it passion. For as long as politicians make speeches in English and use software in English (when software is available in all 11 of their languages) we will not revitalise our languages. Vitality is critical without it all interventions are merely technology with no heart.