“Through the act of translation we break out of linguistic confinement and reach many other communities.” Quote by Ngugi wa Thiong'o
“Writing in African languages became a topic of discussion in conferences, in schools, in classrooms; the issue is always being raised - so it's no longer "in the closet," as it were. It's part of the discussion going on about the future of African literature. The same questions are there in Native American languages, they're there in native Canadian languages, they're there is some marginalized European languages, like say, Irish. So what I thought was just an African problem or issue is actually a global phenomenon about relationships of power between languages and cultures.” WritingProblemSchoolCultureLiteratureLanguageIssuesRaisedDiscussionNativePhenomenonClassroomNative AmericanClosetsTopicsConferencesMarginalizedAmerican Language Author:Ngugi wa Thiong'o
“The Bible affects everybody's life who is a Christian, from the middle class in Europe to the peasant in Africa and Asia. The Bible has affected their lives, but in translation, since they do not read the Bible in the original Greek or Hebrew.” ChristianClassMiddleEuropeOriginalsGreekMiddle ClassAffectedAsiaTranslationsPeasantsHebrew Author:Ngugi wa Thiong'o
“Many people do not know that Jesus did not speak Latin or English or Hebrew; he spoke Aramaic. But nobody knows that language. So we're talking about the Bible itself being a translation of a translation of a translation. And, in reality, it has affected people's lives in history.” PeopleKnowsRealityJesusSpeakLanguageTalkingSpokesAffectedLatinTranslationsNobody KnowsHebrew Author:Ngugi wa Thiong'o
“People went to war as a result of it and even today, every Sunday, the Bible in translation is being read to thousands and thousands in Africa. It is an integral part of their functioning and the way they look at the world.” PeopleWorldWayLooksWarTodayResultsSundayTranslations Author:Ngugi wa Thiong'o
“We think of politics in terms of power and who has the power. Politics is the end to which that power is put.” ThinkingEndsTermPower Politics Author:Ngugi wa Thiong'o
“In terms of language, English is very dominant vis-Ã-vis African language. That in itself is a power relationship - between languages and communities - because the English language is a determinant of the ladder to achievement.” LanguageTermCommunityAchievementDominantLaddersEnglish LanguagePower Relationships Author:Ngugi wa Thiong'o
“A person who acquires English has access to all the things that that language makes possible.” PersonsLanguageAccessAcquire Author:Ngugi wa Thiong'o
“You get another person who operates only in an African language and there are many persons who operate only in African languages; he or she is excluded from all the goodies that come with English. And even in terms of justice, law codes, the legal system. A person who does not know English in Africa is excluded from that system because he can only operate through acts of translation.” KnowsPersonsDoeLawLanguageTermJusticeCodeTranslationsExcludedLegal System Author:Ngugi wa Thiong'o
“What is translated from English and into English - and in what quantities - is a question of power.” Quantity Author:Ngugi wa Thiong'o
“To get rich, you have to be making money while you're asleep.” MoneyRichMaking MoneyGet RichBeing RichRich MoneyWise MoneyInspirational MoneyMakin Money Author:David Bailey