Message from Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the Occasion of World Kiswahili Language Day
教科文构造总做事奥德蕾·阿祖莱天下斯瓦希里语日致辞
7 July 2022
2022年7月7日
Kiswahili is a language that speaks to both past and present. With over 200 million speakers, it is one of the most widely used African languages, encompassing more than a dozen main dialects. Over the centuries, this Bantu language has emerged as a common form of communication in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, in addition to the Middle East.
斯瓦希里语是一门同时与过来和当下对话的言语。其运用人数超越2亿,是运用最为普遍的非洲言语之一,且包括十几种次要方言。几个世纪以来,这种班图语曾经成为撒哈拉以南非洲浩繁地区以及中东地域的一种罕见交换方法。
As a lingua franca, Kiswahili has incorporated words from other tongues, notably Arabic, while enriching these languages in return. For example, the English word "safari" comes from the Kiswahili word for "journey", which originated as the Arabic verb for "travel", safara. This linguistic exchange highlights the important role Kiswahili plays at the crossroads of world languages.
作为一种通用语,斯瓦希里语吸取了来自其他言语的词汇,特殊是阿拉伯语,同时也回馈且丰厚了这些言语。比方,英文单词"safari"即借自斯瓦希里语,意为“路程”,该词又派生自阿拉伯语中表现“游览”的动词 safara。这种言语交换凸显出斯瓦希里语活着界言语交汇交融中发扬的紧张作用。
Kiswahili not only tells a story of dialogue between languages, but also it facilitates dialogue among peoples and countries. Indeed, because Kiswahili shares words and concepts with other African languages, it has an impressive unifying power. This is why the African Union, East African Community and Southern African Development Community have all chosen Kiswahili as one of their official languages. In this way, Kiswahili will play a role in ensuring the African continent realizes its full potential – a goal that UNESCO also works towards, through its Global Priority Africa.
斯瓦希里语不只陈说着差别言语间对话的故事,同时也在促进着差别民族和国度之间的对话。现实上,由于斯瓦希里语与其他非洲言语有着配合的词汇和观点,其凝结力作用非同平凡。这正黑白洲同盟、东非配合体和南部非洲开展配合体都选择将斯瓦希里语作为其正式言语之一的缘由地点。云云,斯瓦希里语将发扬促进作用,确保非洲大陆充沛发扬其潜能,而这也正是教科文构造经过其总体优先事变“非洲”力求完成的目的。
In addition to being a language of diplomacy and unity, Kiswahili serves as a conduit of culture. From the author and poet Shaaban Robert, a great contributor to Kiswahili literature, to the famous Kiswahili love song Malaika, or "angel", the language is a rich source of cultural expression. Kiswahili includes concepts such as "amani", or peace, a common utterance in daily interactions. "Amani" is not only understood as the absence of conflict, but also as a state of serenity or tranquility. As such, it is something to continuously work towards – a vision that resonates with UNESCO's own conception of peace as an ideal for which to strive.
斯瓦希里语不只是一种内政和勾结的言语,也发扬着文明桥梁的作用。从对斯瓦希里语文学作出宏大奉献的作家兼墨客夏班·罗伯特,到闻名的斯瓦希里语情歌 Malaika(即“天使”),这一言语可谓是文明表达的丰厚源泉。斯瓦希里语中包括"amani"(即“战争”)等观点。"Amani"这天常互动中的常用语,它不但单被了解为没有抵触,还被了解为一种祥和或安定的形态。因而,它是一个需求为之不懈高兴的目的,而这一愿景与教科文构造本身作为斗争抱负的战争看法不约而同。
On this inaugural World Day, we celebrate linguistic heritage. We celebrate the cultural richness languages represent. We celebrate the ways we use language to express our values and vision of the world on a personal level, and to facilitate cooperation and development on the societal one.
值此首届天下斯瓦希里语日之际,我们礼赞言语遗产。我们礼赞言语所代表的文明丰厚性。我们礼赞我们运用言语在团体层面表达我们的代价观和天下观并在社会层面促进协作与开展的种种方法。
Happy World Kiswahili Language Day! Siku njema ya kimataifa ya kiswahili! Siku njema ya kimataifa ya kiswahili!
天下斯瓦希里语日高兴!