Media literacy is the ability to critically analyse what you read, see, or hear in the mass media and, most notably, the ability to determine the accuracy or credibility of these stories in the mass media. Given the abundance of information sources accessible today, it is essential to identify credible sources, hone your critical thinking abilities, and learn how to separate reality from fiction to avoid being manipulated.

Why is media literacy critical?

A healthy democracy requires the ability to separate reality from fiction, recognise prejudice, and identify disinformation. It teaches people how to assess media, enabling them to unpack and comprehend the information that eventually shapes attitudes and beliefs.

Here are four reasons why media literacy is an essential ability in today’s culture. Employing media literacy can:

• Develop critical thinking: As you evaluate media, you will be able to question why certain information was included and others were excluded. You can make sense of the intended message and spot key ideas.
• Create accurate media. You will accurately communicate your point of view and understand your message’s impact.
• Identify the role of media in society. You will be able to understand how media shapes our understanding of the world.
• Understand the intention of the writer. You will be able to distinguish what the writer wants the reader to take from the message and evoke responses.

But how do you become media literate? Let’s break it down with the five Ws and an H.

Who created it, and for whom is it intended?

Always start by asking who is responsible for the message created. By finding out what is behind the news, you can further interrogate the intentions of the person who made the message and its intent. 

Why is it created?

This question will direct you to the purpose of the message. Was it to inform, to change behaviour or cause confusion?

What are the techniques used, and what details are left out?

The techniques will enable you to distinguish the message’s credibility and whether evidence is included, for example, graphs, pictures, or video. You can determine if different views balance the news or if there is only one view of the message.

When was the message produced?

This is essential because this will establish whether the story has relevance or whether it is a recreation of a previous message with a specific purpose.

How does the message make you feel?

What emotions are being evoked by the message? How will other readers feel about the message? Will it create debate, or worse, will it result in violence?

In conclusion, including media literacy in school curricula will help to prevent the spread of misinformation and promote media literacy in the long run. Implementing strict policies can also contribute to becoming a disinformation-free world. However, this may also have an impact on how much free expression is allowed. So, always double-check before sharing and research reputable news sources before clicking the share button.

 

A language is endangered when there is a risk of it falling out of use. This happens when speakers die or lose fluency in favour of speaking another language. Endangered languages can become ‘dead’ when there are no more native speakers, or ‘extinct’ when nobody can speak the language at all.

Africa is the second most populous continent in the world, with over one billion people. It has the greatest linguistic diversity, with about 2000 different languages. Unfortunately, at least 52 languages have already gone extinct from the continent and 200 to 300 of them are endangered.

English, French, Swahili or even Bantu languages have historically been adopted as a lingua franca (a language systematically adopted as a common language for communication between people with different native languages). These languages are taught in classrooms or used as a national language. Even so, there is still hope through recent efforts to revive and revitalise endangered languages

WHY ARE LANGUAGES IMPORTANT?

Language is inseparable from cultural identity. It is more than just a way to communicate with others. Different languages convey meaning in special ways. These meanings are often unique as they are tied to ways of life or experiences that are specific to an ethnicity or society.

For example, the word ‘pole’ in Tanzanian Kiswahili symbolises the value of empathy in Tanzanian society. While it can be translated to English as ‘I am sorry’, it delivers a deeper feeling of empathy, likened to saying, ‘I recognise your suffering’. Certain words do not have equivalent expressions in other languages, such as ‘hanyauku’, which means ‘to walk on tiptoes across hot sand’ in Rukwangali (Namibia). Words can therefore represent what is considered significant within a culture.

WHAT IS BEING DONE TO SAVE LANGUAGES?

Many African languages have only been passed down orally. To maintain them, they should be recorded. Establishing a written system for language allows it to be shared, learned and taught accurately. This has been done for N|uu, a Southern African language. With the help of linguists, Ms Katrina Esau created an alphabet and basic grammar rules. Ms Esau is one of the last three remaining fluent speakers of N|uu. She now teaches the language to Sān children.

Local and government organisations can also be established to preserve and promote endangered languages. One example is the Centre for Indigenous Languages and Cultural Studies (CILACS), which was formed by the Simba Maasai Outreach Organisation (SIMOO). CILACS uses both academic and experiential methods to document the Maa language and Maasai culture for future generations. They compile videos, audio clips and publications about cultural practices and community values. The Centre also uses exchange programmes to promote better understanding of Maasai culture. On an international scale, CILACS uses its research to lobby and advocate for more favourable policies.

Ultimately, the multitude of languages signals cultural and historical differences within Africa. This linguistic diversity should be embraced, as there is always reason to preserve the living voices of African mother tongue languages.