hex6d ago

If you are an anarchist and you speak only one language, learn another one. Learn the language of your land, the indigenous language where you live. Learn the language of your ancestors, especially those languages that the state has tried to murder away. Learn an international language other than English, which have also been targets of state repression.

Prioritize languages that you both have some connection with (because it's hard to learn a language you don't care about) and languages that the state has tried to erase (because there are *reasons* those languages were targeted). Language (which can't be fully separated from culture) adds complexity. The state often tries to murder away language because (among other reasons) hierarchy is threatened by complexity. Every language adds some surveillance overhead, some more than others.

Show threadhex

A lot of languages increase accessibility. Aside from a lot of working class folks not speaking English as a primary language (or not at all), there are also other accessibility languages like ASL. These aren't just valuable for accessibility though. There's still a lot of cutting edge anarchist theory in all types of languages that isn't available in English. And how many surveillance tools do you think are scanning social media for ASL?

Authoritarian structures collapse in the face of the kind of complexity that we want to exist.

Multilingualism is a prefigurative praxis.

May 9 at 8:25amWeb
Show threadhex6d ago

I also think that's one of the hidden lessons of May Day. It's always been about immigrant labor. It's always been about internationalism. Countries deport international anarchists because they are an easy group to target, but also because they make things especially challenging for authoritarians.

Tangentially related: https://www.liveliketheworldisdying.com/how-the-history-of-may-day-can-prepare-us-for-tomorrow/

Show threadMichael Graaf6d ago
@Hex Widespread multilingualism is one of the strengths of #SouthAfrica. Indigenous languages collectively constitute a majority, & for all its sins, apartheid gave each its own bureaucracy including university & radio & TV. Ironically citizens privileged by apartheid were denied instruction in local majority languages; most remain linguistically disabled (monolingual or weakly bilingual) & their children only slightly better off, while the average citizen is fluent in two or three languages. The new system still privileges hegemonic languages by not budgeting for a level playing field #austerity
Show threadcuan_knaggs6d ago
@michaelgraaf speaking of that, do you know anyone in the southern suburbs giving Xhosa lessons? @Hex
Show threadClockwork ☃️✒️6d ago

@Hex

In light of this fantastic post, I'm very glad one character in my Kanteletar novel is a multilinguist 😎