Advertisers and media should respect indigenous languages

I was engaged in a social media debate about how my mother tongue/ language Ateso was being abused by many organisations, especially those engaged in the media and advertising business.
The debate arose from the huge billboard MTN erected in Soroti town promoting its MTN MOMO campaign dubbed send money and win. In Ateso, it means ijuka isirigin iteleka; instead MTN wrote: Ijuuka Isiriginyi Iteleeka.

Let’s not dwell much on MTN because they were kind enough to apologise and also pulled down the advert. Fair enough.

For the benefit of all: Iteso are the people (group), Ateso is the language, Teso is the area where the Iteso people are dominant, a man is Etesot (plural is Iteso), a woman is Atesot (plural is Ateso), a girl is Apese (plural is Apesur), a boy is Esapat (plural is Isap) and a child is Itesot (plural is Iteso children) regardless of sex. There is nothing like Itesots in our language but majority unknowingly refer to us as such—very deeply vexing.

May I, now invite you, to appreciate my central argument in this discourse – inclusiveness. Goal 8 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is about sustained inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

This goal emphasises the question of leaving no one behind. Inclusiveness is, therefore; a prerequisite for sustainable development.

The challenge therein is that we must get everyone on board. But you can’t get everyone on board when you are undermining them at the same time. To get everyone on board you must understand them so that they can understand you.

This common respect is what should define what we do and how we do it. Culture and identity is where we are getting it wrong. They have been ascribed negative connotations and thus undermining their power and influence in mobilising people for positive things.

Indigenous languages are being drastically eroded resulting in people who have lost their values that defined and promoted social cohesion. Our country has a challenge of not promoting local languages. They have been left at the clemency of other factors.

But we can do better. The media and other corporate entities should start by valuing experts in the indigenous languages. Valuing experts only makes you a serious entity and ensures that what you communicate makes sense to those you target.

Why would anyone raise a billboard in Moroto shouting Obulamu? It implies that in our service delivery, we are preoccupied with outputs and not outcomes. Output is about numbers.

We can only use experts if we deal with our attitudes. Some of us believe we are more important as individuals or groups than the others and that our languages are superior to others. Remember SDG goal number eight.

It doesn’t cost too much to reach out to the office of the prime minister of Buganda or a school of languages to have a proper translation of materials for mass media consumption in Buganda.

Mind you, it’s not just about language. It’s identity. Don’t simply wish it away. We should never undermine local languages or groups. If a corporate organisation wants meaningful mobilisation and message appeal, they should be conscious of language use.

Lastly, prudent human resources management in entities that care about creating a performance environment, inclusiveness will ensure different cultures and values are emphasised in talent identification. This innovative value is a blend not a concentration of one value.

Mr Obore is the director of communication and public affairs at Parliament.