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SiPhuthi Language Revival: A Resounding Success Story
20 Jan
Summary
- SiPhuthi, once endangered, is now an official language in Lesotho.
- Linguists documented over 40 hours of SiPhuthi video recordings.
- Bible translation into SiPhuthi aims to further preserve the language.
The SiPhuthi language, spoken by only a few thousand people in parts of Lesotho and South Africa, is undergoing a significant revival. Despite being threatened by Sesotho and Xhosa, it was officially recognized as a language of Lesotho in August of last year, marking a major victory for its speakers and advocates.
Linguists Sheena Shah and Matthias Brenzinger began documenting SiPhuthi in 2016, working with locals to record over 40 hours of video. This effort led to the development of an orthography and plans for a dictionary, fostering community pride and improving language proficiency.
Further preservation efforts include translating the Bible into SiPhuthi, which is nearing completion for key texts. This initiative aims to strengthen the deeply Christian community's connection to their identity and language, ensuring its continued existence and preventing its extinction.
