“If a person who speaks our language dies then our language also dies. When you cover him with dirt the language is not like a plant that grows again.”
Ouma/Una Rooi (oo-mah oo-nah roo-ee)
Khomani San leader
IMAGE SOURCE: University of Cape Town Libraries Digital Collections. | QUOTE SOURCE: “The Last Speakers.” American Association for the Advancement of Science.
QUOTE CONTEXT: This video features clips from the documentary, “The Last Speakers,” about endangered languages. Una Rooi speaks Nǀu, a language that nearly died out in South Africa. The language is one that can immediately be recognized for its clicking sounds.
QUOTE QUESTION: What languages have been covered by dirt where you live?
IMAGE CONTEXT: Ouma |Una Rooi showing Levi Namaseb a point of interest, in the distance. She was a fluent N|uu speaker and taught N|uu and San cultural history to children in Andriesvale, Northern Cape, South Africa, and was a member of Council of Elders..
IMAGE QUESTION: Who are your elders and where do you stand with them?
MEDIA LITERACY CONTEXT: The quote is from a video on language preservation. The photo is from a university archive.
MEDIA LITERACY QUESTION: What media forms help to preserve the sounds and images of your people?
LEARN ABOUT AND SUPPORT THE KHOMANI SAN:
DOWNLOAD THE KHOMANI SAN SLIDE DECK FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES: