Language of Languages: Translation, Interpretation and Preservation of African Heritage in the New Frontier of Development

Abstract

The rapid challenges in ideological as well as linguistic situations throughout the world increases the level of difficulty in defining global heritages and languages. Hence; the need to bridge the gap between cultures and languages of the world. This is because each cultural component defines its relative unity in terms of the cultural and linguistic parameters which have enabled the world to move into the 21^st century; call for evolution of both multi-linguistic and multi-cultural entities from ethnic and national viewpoints into global family. Conversely; western leadership in science and technology and cultural advancement is likely to last well into next century. Africans will continue to need important stimuli from western as well as other foreign sources. But, technological, cultural and scientific interdependence requires Africans in turn to begin making a contribution to the new world of future. For this to be achieved African indigenous languages to be involved in the process of cultural exchange and preservation.  African indigenous languages can contribute towards this endeavor through translation, interpretation and digitization. This article seeks to propose and argue for translation and interpretation to be a tool for preservation of African heritage and bridge of communication between languages of limited diffusion and those of wider communication. The article tries to address the following issues: What is the position of African languages in the preservation of African heritage in the new frontier of development? Can translation and interpretation be a tool of communication between languages? What should be done to revitalize African languages to compete favorably with major languages of the world? How can African indigenous languages be preserved?