By XN Iraki

What difference would it make if Kenyans spoke in the same language, the same way Americans talk English or the Japanese Nihongo?

Some suggest anthropologies and sociologists would be denied jobs because of cultural purity.

But Economists would probably rejoice, such homogeneity in language would create lots of efficiency in the economy and could increase productivity.

Think of the amount of money used each year in translating documents from one language to another say English to Swahili?

It costs £1,000 (Sh124,000) to hire an interpreter a day for the European parliament!

Think of the extra paper used, the interpreters hired, and the "inefficiency" resulting when you have to read something in two languages?

big savings

This may appear trivial, but in a large economy, it could mean saving lots of money.

Think about the size of Billboards if only one language was used?

From an operation point of view, it makes lots of sense to have only one language. It takes a shorter time to communicate with each other, without looking for interpreters or thinking much about the meaning.

An example, a friend of mine from Central Kenya has confided to me that the word maguta means diesel, petrol, paraffin, cooking fat and perfume!

But it becomes more interesting. In the working place, instructions must be issued and followed.

In a country where only one language is used, it becomes easy to follow the instructions; they are in your local or native language and you have internalised the meaning.

Working becomes more natural, part of your life. From an economic point of view, which may appear strange, less educated people may now work on more advanced jobs, which is cheaper for the Economy.

sense of belonging

Could that explain why some expatriates appear less educated but still do the job?

A single language also creates a sense of belonging and ownership, which in the long run creates a "feel good effect" leading to greater social harmony.

Imagine going to Alaska and in the middle of nowhere somewhere someone says jambo to you. You develop instant rapport.

In the international trade and business, a single language would reduce a lot of costs incurred through negotiations and documentation which must be translated.

This might be what is driving English into the leading language of trade, internet and MBA.

Some will argue almost to the point of conviction that even in social interactions like dating, single language creates lots of efficiency, perhaps the reason the youth have been quick to create their own language, sheng.

Curiously, instant messages (sms) have also led the youth to create their own language. I have often asked some youngsters to translate their sms for me! If language can create so much efficiency in communication and lead to such savings, why have a single language evaded the world for so long a time?

Why did Esperanto, an artificial language that was deemed to be become the universal language not go far?

Language is more than a means of communication, it is a form of identity and few people or nations want to lose it.

That is why South Africa focused on traditional languages in their constitution and European Union uses large sums of money in translations.

power of language

Most heads of state even in foreign lands always talk in their language even when they may be conversant in another language.

Imperialists knew they would be more successful both in administration and business if they ensured one language was spoken in their colonies.

After the colonies got their independence, language remained a powerful sinew that tied the new states to the colonial power.

That may explain why Britain is still one of our leading trading partners and investor.

Except may be Rwanda, few other countries have attempted to change their colonizers language.

Let us also be blunt, language is also a big business.

Think of the amount of money paid each year to study different languages? How often are you asked for TOEFL, which you pay for?

Where do we go from here? Truthfully, a single language will not be with us soon, we are too attached to our languages.

Strangely, globalisation has made us more aware of our differences and established a need to create identities.

How many new countries have been created in the last 20 years all because of differences in culture and languages?

political stability

Would Kenya be a more stable country if we all talked the same language like Tanzania?

So many would argue that Tanzania is behind economically because of their one language, which is not global like say English.

But that might be only in the short run. In the long run, Tanzania could leverage on the harmony created by the single language — Swahili — to become a regional power, where capitalism has a human face.

In Kenya, it appears English will one day dominate Swahili going by the number of families that are ensuring their kids learn English as the first language.

Some argue that will deny the kids cultural richness resulting from speaking more than one language.

Truthfully, that cycle may be hard to stop. After all, one language could be to our advantage.

We are part of the bigger world, which has more potential than the confines of our borders.

Balancing our identity and the demands of globalisation may become one of the biggest challenges of the next generation.

— The writer is a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, School of Business. xniraki@aol.com