There is a wealth of scientific knowledge in Africa accumulated over many generations. If this information, gained through years of first-hand experience, were to be incorporated into modern science it would be of significant value. Areas ranging from agriculture to medicine would benefit greatly. Because of this, barriers of communication pose a huge obstacle in Africa.
Barriers of Communication in Africa
But many practical innovations discovered by farmers in African communities are often excluded from modern science and technology simply because there are no local terms to express them. To date, the majority of scientific information in most African countries exists only in English and is rarely translated into local languages. But much of this vital information would serve to address common issues that many living in African communities face.
For instance, the indigenous knowledge of drought-resistant crop varieties in some African communities would be extremely useful to aid small farmers all over Africa improve their crops. But this information is passed down only through local spoken languages and dialects, many of which are marginalized, making it inaccessible to non-native speakers, namely scientists.
To overcome the issue of language, this type of valuable information needs to be transcribed and translated into a common written language that can be used both by scientists and non-scientists in Africa. But translation services will require the work of individuals who can integrate traditional, indigenous knowledge along with conventional, modern science – something that may very well be worth the effort.
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