The legacy of colonialism continues to influence various aspects of African societies, including
language and more specifically orthography. In 1928, A. Lloyd James emphasised the importance
of accurately understanding the phonetics and tonality of African languages before devising
orthographic systems. Additionally, James highlighted the fact that those who create
orthographies should make native learners a priority. However, historical orthographic practices
often prioritised convenience over linguistic accuracy and cultural sensitivity. This has resulted in
orthographies that are not suited for educational purposes. In the same year, Meinhoff
presented principles of practical orthography in African languages. Starting with an examination
of C.R Lepsius' The Standard Alphabet (1855 &1863) which proposed for a universal orthography,
Meinhoff's principles of practical orthography in African languages exemplified this approach,
where he highlighted the neglecting of the needs of native language readers and disregarding
scientific rigor. Today, remnants of colonial orthographic practices persist, hindering educational
efforts and perpetuating linguistic barriers. For example, the coexistence of South African
Sesotho and Lesotho Sesotho orthographies reflects ongoing challenges in achieving linguistic
unity and comprehension. This keynote presentation aims to critically examine historical pitfalls
in African orthographic development and propose guidelines for decolonising orthographies in a
post-colonial era. By revisiting past approaches and incorporating insights from linguistics,
education, and cultural studies, we can chart a path towards more inclusive and linguistically
accurate orthographic systems. Ultimately, decolonising African orthographies is essential for
promoting linguistic diversity, facilitating education, and empowering native language speakers in
their cultural and linguistic identities.
Keywords: Orthography, phonetics, tone, linguistic barrier, comprehension
language and more specifically orthography. In 1928, A. Lloyd James emphasised the importance
of accurately understanding the phonetics and tonality of African languages before devising
orthographic systems. Additionally, James highlighted the fact that those who create
orthographies should make native learners a priority. However, historical orthographic practices
often prioritised convenience over linguistic accuracy and cultural sensitivity. This has resulted in
orthographies that are not suited for educational purposes. In the same year, Meinhoff
presented principles of practical orthography in African languages. Starting with an examination
of C.R Lepsius' The Standard Alphabet (1855 &1863) which proposed for a universal orthography,
Meinhoff's principles of practical orthography in African languages exemplified this approach,
where he highlighted the neglecting of the needs of native language readers and disregarding
scientific rigor. Today, remnants of colonial orthographic practices persist, hindering educational
efforts and perpetuating linguistic barriers. For example, the coexistence of South African
Sesotho and Lesotho Sesotho orthographies reflects ongoing challenges in achieving linguistic
unity and comprehension. This keynote presentation aims to critically examine historical pitfalls
in African orthographic development and propose guidelines for decolonising orthographies in a
post-colonial era. By revisiting past approaches and incorporating insights from linguistics,
education, and cultural studies, we can chart a path towards more inclusive and linguistically
accurate orthographic systems. Ultimately, decolonising African orthographies is essential for
promoting linguistic diversity, facilitating education, and empowering native language speakers in
their cultural and linguistic identities.
Keywords: Orthography, phonetics, tone, linguistic barrier, comprehension
