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Sunday, 16 March 2025

Depressed South Africa Consuming Gore

Finding escapism and release in a mine field.


A peep into what lies hidden within


Not so long ago we were listed as one of the most depressed countries in the world. I honestly view our nation as a middle child- one who just happens to be girl in an black household. Sh*t gets very real, really quick. However, she remains strong and incredibly steadfast in her principals and beliefs. Seeing how, since we became a democratic nation ourselves, we have been running around fighting for justice in (mainly) other African countries. We were bound to step on some toes that benefitted from that oppression. And, like the middle child we are, stubbornness and eagerness to fight to death for our views and beliefs have landed us in some hot water with a certain leading nation. I shan't dwell, dear summer child! I want to introduce how dealing with all this and more has seemingly had a somewhat devastating effect on our people, myself included. Let me serve it you.

Since the COVID-19 Lockdowns, I have been lightly obsessed with gore and graphic scenes and stories. I am quite timid; I have never enjoyed graphic and cringe content. Yet, here I am enjoying it now. I cannot sleep, of course, but in the moment I feel so enraptured. Like body and soul are one. There needs to be an explanation, because it seems like I am not the only one experiencing this. From Murder Mystery and Makeup Mondays with Bailey, Rotten Mango with Stephanie, Soft White Underbelly, The Vice, etc. I am consuming it almost daily. As if ‘feel-good’ content has suddenly become fake and off putting. Which has been proven to be the case; many of these creators doctor situations. Often times, their handy work is potentially deadly and very influential. Which is alarming because in my head I am thinking there is no genuine kindness and good heartedness. Which has me feeling dumb and slow because how many people have been communicating this fact. Be that as it may, I still refuse to accept that the world is inherently evil and cold. There are good people in the world; however, before finding your community you will be dragged skin on a dirt road for kilometers.

The term Gore is said to have surfaced around the eighth century from Germany. In English it referrers to filthy slimy stuff, and around the fifteenth century it was commonly associated with blood. Today, Gore referrers to scary looking violent and bloody scenes that will turn your stomach over. It is very lucrative, and people cannot seems to get enough of it. However, it is often consumed in the form of horror. Gore and horror are synonymous with each other because they are horrific. Yet, horror does not need to be gory in order to terrify people. Horror relies on imagination and strong will. Gore, on the other hand, is visually horrific and often unsightly. In more extreme cases, it is far more real than horror, because the images are not CGI or makeup constructed. They are real-life cases concerning living human beings.

I imagine it being a problem when one enjoys gore and finds it relaxing. Perhaps they might be sadistic and unaware. In the past, sadists have turned out to be along the lines of murderers and torturers. A sadist is someone who finds pleasure in other people’s pain and hurt. With many of them finding it very arousing and addictive. They humiliate, hurt, and even kill others for pleasure. It is a psychological disease that is very present, and can be treated. There are four types of sadists, and they can even be psychopaths. Sadistic psychopathy is particularly terrifying to imagine because a sadist enjoys pain. They want to feel other people’s pain by inflicting it so that they may find pleasure. A psychopath is defined by words such as lack of empathy, egocentric, prone to criminal behaviour, and having antisocial personality traits. Making this combination scary. So, it is hard to imagine such a person not being drawn to gore. The most infamous names under such and similar titles include Kwazi Tiba, Moses Sethole, Daisy de Melker, Gacy, Dahmer, Saito Sakakibara, etc. Many of them allegedly began with small animals, and made their way up to humans. While others, I suppose you may say, had a moment of madness and continued with the acts well after the psychotic break. Though it is ill-advised to assume that their childhood had any effect, their MOs and victims seem to prove otherwise. Such instances are visible with names such as Luise Garavito. He took the lives of about 189 boys in the 1990s. The correlation with his childhood is rape from a ‘male family friends’, and brutal physical abuse from his father. He would go on to molest, torture and eventually take the lives of little boys.

In spite of all these extremities. Not everyone who enjoys gore is suffering from psychological illnesses. It is said that women consume such content in order to know what to look out for. Whereas with men the line is not so clear cut. In Singapore a man simply identified as J, along with his internet friends faced jail time for drugging and raping each other’s wives. The origin story is very twisted. Regardless, it seems that after their case went to trial and went viral; traffic to the website they used for their acts spiked. Apparently, men visited the site hoping to find similar men. Maybe they wanted to also be involved in it. Despite witnessing the heavy sentences those men received. And the hurt and betrayal those women felt. So, the reason why men consume true-crime and gore content gets ominous, because it seems to be influenced by the need to find inspiration. Which feeds an alarmingly apparent pattern, which is: Sadists often draw inspiration from' fore-comers' of their likeness on how to best enact their intentions.(I am not ignorant to the fact that women probably visited that site, too. Though, I assume it was to see if similar acts had happened to them. Or, if they could find people they knew in there, participating either as offender or victim. Some men probably visited for the same reasons.) 

What does this mean for regular people?

I have a quick note before we get to this part. Imagine a guilty pleasure you have. Like, perhaps you enjoy seeing people get beat up; or even taking part in the act yourself. Perhaps you consider yourself a social hero when you, somehow, torment someone for reasons that keep bringing you back there. It has be an extreme thing that you simply enjoy, despite knowing how detrimental it is to you and everyone else. 

Catharsis theory is said to be an ancient Greek concept that suggests that consuming/witnessing/viewing violent or disturbing content can cleans and purify emotions and alleviate psychological suffering. Leading to a great sense of relief. Other studies explain it as venting out the pain to relieve yourself from struggles within. Freud suggested unexpressed anger and other emotions may lead to psychological harm. Regular South Africans probably find violent themes cathartic to an extent. We are surrounded by violence and abuse. So, we have reached an apparent point of desensitization. Many of us are bonded by trauma, and therefore create communities around this theme. So, implying that South Africans benefit emotionally and socially from gore is not too far fetched. In my most humble opinion. Be it the people from kasi or the North, we are all bonded by violent trauma. This kind of desensitization does lead to gore and horror being therapeutic to us, in a sense. It is not uncommon to find people addicted to the very thing they were victimised with. A nymphomaniac might have been raped as a child, or exposed to sexually scarring events and activities (An overly sexual child might a victim of rape! I REPEAT: An overly sexual child might be a victim of rape! Keep a watchful eye on the bambinos). A sadist might have been physically abused and embarrassed as a child, now they inflict pain to find release. And so forth. This kind of content is very easy to relate to. Which is what makes it more real and understandable to people. It gives a sense of hope and security; because if you know the common patterns you can save yourself if you notice them in time. Also, if you suspect them in yourself you can seek help and save others.

Still, it is safe to say that our global depression rank makes this entire thing unsettling. It would a disservice if I failed to express the impact COVID-19 and its lockdowns had on us with this regard. A question of mortality arose within the majority of the population. A fascination with death and the fragility of human beings became noticeable. Especially the mind and spirituality. Everyone was scared, and in the beginning we needed stories of people surviving what they should not have. Feel good stories were at their peak during the lockdowns. Nonetheless, more and more people started realising the true severity of the situation. A dark truth staring us right in the eye, because one by one we each lost a loved one. We lost the to flu. Surely humans are not that weak right? This question saw a spike in our internet use. Which would later give us the title of the most ‘online’ country. Slowly, our content became violent and aggressive, even with matters that are inherently soft and friendly. Both shared and consumed. Until South African X (Formally known as Twitter) became filled with bloodied black bodies, and eventually videos outright depicted violence and murder of every body. As sure as sunrise, such content grew and grew on every social media site. People could relate, it enraged people and evoked them to be audible about their truths. It is not always good, but it is not terrible either. It is a release which brought forth a new community which needed to be addressed by each of us. The more we spoke, the more liberated and empowered we began to feel. However, when one voices their pains and ills; there is bound to be another who feels targeted and wronged by those words.

So, there is some level of explanation to this phenomenon. It is not a terrible occurrence, but it is unsettling to witness. Especially because the things I found cathartic before COVID are an absolute snooze now. They lack the mental and emotional impact and provocation to actually relieve some of my stress.

I love you, stay safe.

M_D

Friday, 28 February 2025

Hidden in Plain Sight: Child Sexual Abuse in South Africa

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Normalised child sexual abuse in South Africa

Please! Please! Please!

I care a lot about your overall health, and I would be devastated if my words brought you unintended harm in any way. Please note that this is an informative piece based on my own perceptions, research, and analysis of our society and how it constantly fails and neglects its children. This is in no way meant to offend or disrespect, only to educate and bring awareness. Sometimes, the community is nowhere to be found. So, if you, or anyone you know, may need safe and confidential help to assist you in dealing with the issues discussed in this article, please start with these suggestions. These are big and trusted organizations in the country, which have helped many people overcome difficult situations, and they can help you too. You will find links throughout the article for more specific help. Please reach out, help is available! 

Key Support Numbers:

    • Toll-free helpline: 116 (Available 24/7, free from all networks)
    • This is a crucial resource for children in need of assistance, especially those experiencing abuse.
  • Child Welfare South Africa (CWSA):
    • Tel: 0861 4 CHILD (24453) / 011 452-4110
    • This organization focuses on child protection, care, and family development.
    • Gender-Based Violence Command Centre: 0800 428 428 (0800 GBV GBV)
    • SMS: 1207867#
    • This is a 24-hour call centre, providing support and counselling to victims of gender-based violence, which includes child abuse.
  • SAPS (South African Police Service):
    • Emergency: 10111
    • For immediate danger, always contact the police.
    • Helpline: 1347355#
    • This organisation helps those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse.
Also, because this is such a delicate case I asked Gemini to review my article. That is because I want to be as upfront in reporting this as possible, but I also want to sensitive and human. I hope you find this article informative, but also strong enough to make you stand up and support organizations that work towards making South Africa a child friendly place. Our children have never been safe, even behind gates and secure communities. We were never safe as children, even shielded children cannot be protected from sexual exploitation. I want to raise children in a country that has zero tolerance for monsters parading as people, because they are everywhere. 


A nation of failed children

South Africa has normalised sexual abuse, and it has festered all the way to the children. Sexual abuse is disturbing and traumatising for both victims and their loved ones. The pain is a liquid feeling which constantly changes form, yet able to return to its original intensity with seamless ease. The transformation is sudden and often occurs multiple times a day. Being part of a victim's community can be very traumatic and stress educing as it sneakily becomes a lifelong part of you. An inescapable and unwelcomed life partner. Then, you the support become victims yourself, and the additional trauma compounds the former and the intensity births a new levels of hurt and complex emotions. With this in mind, why is it that South Africa has normalised the sexual abuse of children? If adults struggle to effectively deal with this trauma, why would children, with their innocence and lack of understanding, be expected to somehow cope? When these children grow up and finally understand what happened, their worlds and innocence inevitably crumble. Leading to the crushing realisation that no one cared enough to fight for their protection; which would beg the question, "Why would they now?" Leaving us with a country full of angry and lonely young adults. This normalisation of abuse, like many other societal issues, is often caused by social contracts that become ingrained in our culture.

Social contracts (an implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits, for example by sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection. -Google Dictionary) appear in every nook and cranny of the world. Some are as fleeting as a measly one time bet. To being as massive as a nation's unwritten patriotic rules and expectations formed by its citizens. Such contracts inevitably get used so often that they, over time, seamlessly become part of everyday life. 

This highlights how something as innocent as an inside joke (like why everyone calls grandma 'glammy'), or a colloquial term (like 'Mabena/Slaap Tiger')  gets absorbed by children. If no one explains to them what they truly are, they consequently become part of  generational traditions, culture, and even societal and social norms. Which can be kept and honoured for generations. All because their developing view and understanding of the world could not distinguish fiction from truth. Now, imagine a guardian bragging to their friend about their risky sexual encounters and habits in the presence of children. Even if the parents try to rectify this, the damage would have already been done. This is the root of this article's problem: Children failing to understand that there are behaviours and actions which are sexually charged, and attract unwanted attention. Including attire, physical aesthetics (like makeup, hair, and nails) and language. This inevitably leaves them open to abuse and exploitation because once they gain that attention nowhere becomes safe. 


Protect the kids. Protect the future!

So, wtf is Porn and how does it tie in with this topic? 

Essentially, porn is recorded sexual material produced for adult consumption and gratification. There are two main categories of pornography which are: Hardcore pornography, which displays graphic sexual content depicting penetration and stimulation, commonly displayed and/or enjoyed in visual-audio format; and Softcore pornography, which is less graphic and considered to be more widely acceptable, as it is suggestive and does not display explicit sexual penetration and stimulation. With this being said, it is widely understood that any sexual content that is produced is not meant for child consumption or participation, nor are they expected to be exposed to it. Throughout the years, we have witnessed countless tv programs and even printed media being banned in multiple countries because of their sexual inappropriateness towards children. Sometimes it is errors in age  restrictions, to unregulated advertising theories like 'sex sells' that went too far for daytime/family time broadcast or consumption. 

If this is generally considered true then why are children participating in pornographic materials on adult websites? Furthermore, why are they able to easily access these  websites? As impressionable as they are, once they see their agemates engaging in these activities they naturally become curious and inevitably participate. It is important to note that on those websites it is often children with adult partners. The answer is that these websites do not  vet the videos and the people in them. So, a CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material, you can report it here) victim could easily find themselves on a shady website with millions of views. Other children are trafficking victims who have no power to stop their abuse, let alone speak. Which is why it is important to speak out against pornography for adults, because if more adults refuse to watch it the easier it will become to protect kids from it. We also need to start to reporting these sites and videos because they hide in plain sight. A video titled, "Bleeding virgin" could very well be literal. The uploader understands that people assume these videos are scripted and edited, they believe it will mask the fact that it is, in fact, a CSAM video.

Allegedly, many people have found their rape video online, including children and revenge porn victims, and the websites would not delete them, or they would leave the link open with the view count. Obvious proof that there was something there which could probably be found with enough determination, and apparently the uploader may be still be able to monetise it.

In South Africa, however, more drastic measures need to be taken to save our children. The term 'Blessers' has become trending and exploitative topic in the country. A Blesser is an old person, normally men, who solicits sex from children in exchange for money. People decorate it by calling it a relationship because, unlike prostitution, the social contract here is considered mutually beneficial. The woman gives the man the idea or feeling of being in a relationship with a 'Slay Queen' (a group of women who are considered most gorgeous and are often young), and the man affords her a luxurious lifestyle in return.

The central aspect is the slay queen part of the equation. These young girls understand that these men will not go for a girl who is not of that calibre and looks inexperienced, because she might get scared and report them. So, they adopt this slay queen persona which in turn affords  them a Blesser. Once a child gets entrapped in that cycle she is stuck. A predatory cycle of exploitation and manipulation, especially for first timers who happen to be children. It often starts with him taking her out, buying her alcohol, drugs, clothes, etc. He makes sure that her every need, specifically financial needs are met. This will make her indebted to him, and when he asks for sex he will subtly make it clear that she is indebted to him. So, even if he takes out his ring light and camera she cannot refuse. Young children do not stop to consider that it might be a honey trap. They also do not have the money to repay these men, or refuse to sleep with them. For young women it is easier for them to escape that trap because they have more life experiences, and they have actually built a community of matured and maturing people. Children, on the other hand, cannot even argue or defend their cases without being emotional and inarticulate. These predators understand that they don't even have communities, and their parents might even punish them if they were to find out their slay queening secrets. So, they trap them and easily force them into accepting compensation for sexual and physical abuse. They exploit children and money as justification, as it allows them to do this heinous act.

 

TMI SECTION

I used to consume porn. It was introduced to me in high school by someone I considered a friend. It began as an interest, but ended with me deciding to become celibate and refusing to consume anything that is sexually suggestive. I also habitually consume true crime content and content cantered around children and how to help them blossom in favourable environments. Here are some of the reasons why: 

  • I felt like I was forced into participating in criminal activities. During lockdown the amateur category began to feel a little too real. Plus, the rainbow category was being pushed a little too hard. It got to a point where I stopped watching for entertainment or pleasure, and I began researching subconsciously. I knew something had shifted, and I noticed myself paying attention to the word choices used on titles and descriptions these videos. A quick google search will show you a number of activists and doctors deep diving on porn, porn sites, and how they are linked and even perpetuate child sex trafficking and financial gain on the production and distribution of CSAM. These sites give paedophiles communities and a sense of security and community. I think it is important to mention that I have since found out that even social media platforms deal in CSAM via group chats. They buy and sell CSAM and other rape content on social media, while we go there to laugh and get dance lessons. I have found that Telegram is the preferred social media platform for illegal, and often sexually exploitative site because of the level of security people get in those chats. I have never been on it, nor do I wish to. Upon realising that me consuming, even the obviously scripted and edited, porn videos was me basically rewarding abusers and encouraging them to continue. It broke my heart when it dawned on me just how vulnerable little boys actually are. It is time we boycotted these sited and urged the country to ban them all together. Protecting our children starts  with us protesting online before mobilising on the streets. Each time I think about what I was doing and how naïve I was I get ashamed. I feel as if though I helped victimise those people and I do not know how to apologize or repent outside raising awareness. I truly hope that all victims of CSAM and rape, whether their victimisation was broadcasted or not, find peace and that God shields them from further hurt. 
  • Soft porn is not safe for anyone.  I got into porn via soft porn. Before that friend showed me where to go on the internet, I was greatly interested and curious to know. I expressed this to her, and I even asked her to direct me. An interest that rose from suggestions I got everywhere, even on tv programs which were deemed safe for children. I genuinely believe that the media is conditioning children and keeping hooked adults addicted. I should know, I fell victim to their trap. However, I have always been shy and timid, so having a Blesser was something that scared me a lot. Now, I cannot get one because they disgust me. Their 'practices' reek. It breaks my heart when I see that now-a-days soft porn content creators are allowed to post on social media where kids 'hang out', and they cross the boundary here and there and are allowed to do so. I genuinely hope that this OF rave does not reach our children. We really do need to band together in prayer and protest as a nation, because we need to show our kids that someone cared enough to ensure that they were safer than they were as children. 


The sick culture of paedophilia and rape in SA.

Right now it is easy to see how porn can lead to the sexualisation of children, and how it might transpire in South Africa. Upon understanding what a blesser is and what the social contract is around that concept, it is important to highlight that women can be blessers, but the rules change because they get attached easier. However, the mere fact that she is involved with a child and even engaging in sexual activities with him makes her a predator. No excuses should be made for her, and she deserves to be persecuted and held accountable. In poor families and communities children are encouraged to be in exploitative relationships and become burdened with taking care of the family financially. Simply put, some parents choose to exploit their children to escape poverty, example 6 year old Joslin Smith who was allegedly trafficked by her mother, and recently baby Kutloano who was allegedly sold for 75 thousand Rands. These are reported cases that gained huge media coverage, but what about the little girls and boys who never get to share their stories or have their abusers be held accountable before the people and the state? 

Social media has seen the unofficial, but seemingly globally accepted, name given to South Africa as the home of big boodies and beautiful women. In fact, a post that has the words 'South Africa' gains significant traction because there seems to be a general interest in South Africa world wide. However, the locals already knew this. Not only that, local predators and exploiters have perfected the art of subtly using cultural norms and already established social contracts to abuse the most vulnerable (the poor, children, and the elderly) sexually and even selling the abuse for profit. Which, given the recent interest in the country, It is easy to assume that this exploitative form of making money has grown significantly. A good example is the shocking Case of Darren Wilken and Tiona Moodley who were allegedly reported in the USA by a child that came across their CSAM (Chid Sexual Abuse Material) website to the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation). While I assume most parents would do anything to protect their children from their abusers, reality tells me that with the way the economy is today, we must expect more Joslin and Kutloano cases in the news and in our courts. Social media platforms also inform me as much, because when teenagers (I hope they are all at least in their late teens) tell their 'Story Times' my blood runs cold sometimes. Even adult story times are unsettling because these people should understand that social media is easily accessible to kids, there are children all over social media. A story time telling us about their sexual escapades and what they bought you, and even a 'how to' should at the very least be opened with disclaimers letting children and parents know that no child should be listening to this right now. 


However, I cannot ignore the wonderful looking glass social media has been for me regarding this topic. I have limited exposure to gay communities, and the few people I knew were not close enough to approach and ask questions. I was also the nerdy chubby kid who did not fit the South African beauty standards. So, I never had the chance be around girls and their Blesser/sugar daddy topics. I only got that chance when I got to varsity and stared exploring my interests and curiosities more. I learnt that the LGBTQIA+ communities in South Africa are potentially far more exploitative than normal heterosexual relations. Young boys in South Africa could potentially be in far more danger than girls because of the community's tendencies towards secrecy. When a child discovers that he might be attracted to men, the shame and secrecy also manifest because legally it is ok to be gay and proud, but the reality is far from it. These predatory men already know this, they know that the majority of boys who do accept their advances are probably closeted and have every reason to keep the relationship a secret. (If you need  help, a listening ear, a community, or just information click the links. Help on those links is not limited to LGBTQIA+ communities, but has special emphasis on them.) Some online experts and doctors often claim that overly sexual children are a result of/indicate sexual abuse. One does not need to be an expert to instinctively assume this. How can an adult perceive a child displaying disturbing sexual and sexually charged behaviour and motives and not get concerned? Instead they opt to indulge this disturbing behaviour? 
  
Once I understood a little bit more on this topic many things began to dawn on me. Very nuanced things that I failed to notice growing up. Little did I know that they stemmed from child sexualisation, and that they robbed many of us our childhood. Sexualizing children is effectively robbing them of their childhood. And the points in this paragraph are how society perpetuates them even in their adulthood. Especially those who go out of their way to mimic and praise them beyond normalcy.  I used to think that short people, specifically women, were very adorable and I even wished I was short. I failed to realise that this was associating grown people with children or child like features. That height is easily associated with children. I must admit, for most people there is nothing wrong with preferring short people. I do not have anything against this preference. However, I have noticed that some men who openly agree to liking short women often end up dating significantly younger women too. Implying that they would cross that line if she happens to be child. Their height does appear to link with that proximity to children, especially if she has chubby cheeks. This, in turn, leads to many women absolutely refusing to grow up or even look their age. A common phrase I heard on the internet was, "Gen Z'ers" look older their age" and, "Millennials refuse to admit that they look like the old people they are." I believe this came from the American saying, "black don't crack unless you smoke it." This topic birthed a whole new area of discussion on the internet about aging women. That was where I learnt about Lolita. A very disturbing movie, but it brought to my attention a neglected topic: White women  have historically been subjected to sexualization and exploitation. The sexualization of that girl and how it played out was just a more blatant display of what Hollywood in the 90s and 2000s dressed up and put a nice little bow on top. It also showed us how, even as old and matured women, they refused to let go of this stereotype because it was mostly indoctrinated in everyone. All races. Making it the dream appearance, but also putting their children in so much danger. Which is a terrifying thought. That pink nipple and blonde hair is found in children. Reminder, I am not familiar with the physical characteristics of white people, so this information is mostly from white women on the internet.  However, apparently, as children they often have more blushed nipples and cheeks, and their hair is much lighter, aka blonde. Yet, as they grow older and play in the sun or tan they gain melanin. The blush pink nipples and cheeks become darker to adapt to their climates. The same thing goes for their hair colour. In Europe though, they hardly face this problem because they are still experiencing long winters and short summers. While some people in warmer and even hot climates remain blonde regardless. This is also deeply regarded as the purest form and is sacred, "blonde hair and blue eyes" is common in children and Europe, allegedly. So, makeup looks that have pink cheeks either imitate children or blushing. Which are objectively both very sexual in nature.


Healthy sexual conduct

Healthy sexual conduct is consensual and does not harm anyone involved. The harm can be intentionally harming someone physically, or using sex to harm and manipulate them mentally or emotionally. Sex is preached between married couples because then understanding is that you marry someone you love and want to protect. They also reciprocate and between you two there are no secrets or ill intentions. Once this has been established you may have sex and bind yourselves to each other spiritually. Once this tie is made the love and trust gets deepened. It becomes a problem when only one person has true intentions because after sex they are the one to crash and burn. 

As much we want to protect our precious children, we also must remove the veil over our eyes. Our children are almost certainly sexually active. The issue is with who, and in what ways? In South Africa we have a real pandemic of teenage pregnancies, especially in black and coloured communities. These facts we simply cannot ignore. We also need to teach people about Safe Sex Practices, and healthy ways to address sexual topics with children. We also need to teach people about what Healthy and Safe  sexual conduct is, with the different religions and culture considered and respected. 

Healthy sexual conduct is not limited to consensual sex between peers. This is typically considered a normal and expected relationship, and these people choose their mates with the idea or hope of many firsts together. Other times it is a sexual agreement where both parties are in it for the pleasure and self-gratification reasons. This type of agreement often requires them to be incredibly honest, especially about their sexual history and preferences, STD and STI statuses included. However, it is not not limited to this kind of pair. Yes, it is the more culturally expected pair, but it isn't as common in reality. Like, non-peers. Most couples have shocking age differences, while other people just prefer to have sexual intercourse with more matured people or younger people. These preferences are absolutely normal. What is not normal is having fantasies about young boys or girls. Or, as a child fantasizing about old people and not focusing on your future. Morally speaking, no one under the age of 21 should be dating anyone who is 3+ years older than them. Legally, the age of consent is 16 in South Africa. Clearly our state currently has laws that enable this. 

Though sex is typically a two person activity, sometimes people enjoy multi-something sex. Multi-person, also known as three+somes and orgies, multi-racial, and multi-cultural. These kinds of people and activities are often results of kinks. Kinks introduces many 'out of the norm' practices during sex. For example, multi-something relationships and sexual practices are often a taboo because race often means that you grow up around people who look like you, become accustomed to them, marry one of them and produce babies that look like them. One person, one race, same babies. Anything else is just taboo and modern. Taboo and modern is the essence of the word kink. "Oh, it's this new thing the kids are doing." 

While on the topic of kinks, kinks often go hand in hand with foreplay. Foreplay typically includes masturbation, stimulation, and teasing. Done safely, none of these can be harmful. However, they do have the potential to scar someone forever. Especially when they are being introduced to risky and sadistic kinks. This is why communication and eye contact is imperative during kinky sex, and safe words during risky sadistic sex. Which is why it is important to speak about everything thoroughly before engaging in it, and ensuring that the after care is especially attentive and soft until they know what they like and don't like with this type of sex.  

At the end of the day your safety and sexual safety is in your hands. A fact I suspect our little humans know very little of. Which is why I beg that each and every one of us fight to protect them. I do believe that it is better to have a child hate you for protecting them, than to have them love you whilst putting them in danger. What matters is who they become once they grow up. Grown up isn't an age but a point of maturity that isn't dictated by time or physical representation. 

Stay safe. I love you.
M_D 

Thursday, 12 October 2023

The Art or The Science of Translation

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Written by: Khauhelo Banyane

Editor: Kwanele Sicelo Kilani


Fundamentally, translation is the act of conducting a process. This is a typical definition you will find in a dictionary, because they avoid calling it an art or a science. An Oxford dictionary will inform you that translation is a process of translating (changing) words or a text from one language into another. It will also inform you that a process is a series of steps or actions taken towards achieving a set goal. Meaning the "translator" is performing the act of this process, hence the title translator. Now that we understand the title, we then need to understand the defined process. An action cannot be taken on a process that is not clearly defined. This ambiguity will eventually lead to the detriment of the intended goal. For many years, this has been a topic of debate among translation scholars and theorists. The premise is whether or not translation is an art or a science. There is enough material to prove each as being correct. Hence, why it remains a hot topic to this day. 

Translation studies is the academic discipline related to the study of the theory and phenomena of translation. By its nature it is multilingual and also interdisciplinary, encompassing any language combinations, various branches of linguistics, comparative literature, communication studies, philosophy and a range of types of cultural studies including post colonialism and postmodernism as well as sociology and historiography. Because of this diversity, one of the biggest problems in teaching and learning about translation studies is that much of it is dispersed across such a wide range of books and journals. 
-Jeremy Munday [2001]

A closer look

In my opinion, art is explicitly human. We use art as an outlet for expressing what lies within us. Basically, it is how humans externalise and express secrets that are hidden within the soul, heart and mind, and cannot be seen by others. Art then becomes personal and emotive for both the artist and the aesthete. Meaning art is a tool used to reveal humanity as naked and as unveiled as possible. It is innate and present in everyone of us. Our individuality makes it unique, and keeps it interesting and constantly evolving. I believe creativity manifests in our interests. Those that find interest in words often appreciate poetry, rap, soulful music, lyrics. They pay attention to copy write and they speak funny. They are probably the sarcastic friend, the sharp tongued friend, or the funny friend. They just have a way with words. While those that enjoy drawings and sculptures probably pay attention to detail. They might enjoy nature, and they may even that there's a shade of white known as 'Pedi white'. They are probably the friend that is super specific about colours and details. They might even enjoy DIYing everything because they have sharp eyes for detail and colour. Anything that is not perfect, in terms of colour-matching and symmetry with furniture and other pieces in the house, annoys them. 

In contrast, science seeks to explain worldly (and other worldly) phenomena. Science is basically a systematic study of the world. The word study is used because a study is considered scientific if it went through a series of tests and evolutions and is considered to be factual by other academics in that field and critics. So, if we were to put art and science together, art would be expressive and science would try and explain art. Science would debunk that expression and explain each and every factor to it. Therefore, through science we can appreciate art, and through art we can understand science. Where translation is concerned, calling it a science means that all opinions and studies of the participants in the field make it a science. Them proving, arguing and even disproving theories and other elements contributes towards making it a scientific study. With that being said, translation as a science mostly focuses on Machine Translation. Where the main question is: With technology advancing rapidly, will there be no spot for human translators in the future? Most scholars and theorists say no to that question, and their answer often gravitates towards agreeing with translation as an art. That is because machines do not understand art at human level, allegedly.   

Nadia Khomami, on theguardian.com [July 2023], talks about why translation is an art, and why translators need to be credited for their participation in the literary world. The two featured translators are Yilin Wang and Jennifer Croft. In recent years, these names have caused waves in the world of translation. As mentioned by Khomami, these women have fought for translators to be recognised for their efforts. Mainly fighting for translators to be named on book covers that they have worked on. Khomami quotes Wang saying that translating a Chinese poem into English takes as much time and effort as creating an original one. 

Wang also talks about the amount of research that goes into understanding the authors. Every translators talks about this point. They say that it is a critical part of the process. It also happens to be the point that breathes life into this premise. This is the part where the translator has to use their creativity and comprehension skills to give the secondary reader the same experience as the initial reader in the original language. This suggests that the translator, even though they did not conjure it, they introduced something new to a group of people. For that, they deserve their roses. They work just as much as authors, dare I say they work even harder. Simply because they are tasked with the labour of research. They have to research the authors, the author's culture, timeline, society and religion to better understand their word choices and intentions. After retrieving all of this they have to repeat that into the target language, and then decide on what is appropriate and what is not. A wonderful piece of writing on this matter is 'The Translator's Invisibility' by Lawrence Venuti [2004]. My favorite quote from this book is: 

"I see translation as the attempt to produce a text so transparent that it does not seem to be translated. A good translation is like a pane of glass. You only notice that it’s there when there are little imperfections— scratches, bubbles. Ideally, there shouldn’t be any. It should never call attention to itself." 

-Norman Shapiro

The quote is from the first chapter titled "Invisibility". In this chapter Venuti talks fluency in translation. He says that past translations worked because they were fluent and could pass as the original. Reverting to the 'pane of glass' quote above. In the examples he provided (translations that were successful in the UK and the USA, as well as their reviews) it is clear to see that the translators had to focus on two things: working to make their work invisible so to give the illusion of it being the original. While keeping this, they had to be faithful to their translator's duty which is to relay the message as it was intended. After adhering to all these expectations and rules, their names were not even on the covers. This is a point that Jennifer Croft and others were protesting, that the act of carrying out this process is quite tedious and taxing. The effort never matches the recognition. Meeting all these expectations that translators are faced with, and successfully pleasing everyone requires tact. The kind of tactical skill that stems from having an artistic eye, or artistic instinct for this craft. Making translation an art because, unlike a machine, a person can understand that the message lies behind words. Meaning that often times certain words (and phrases) need to be omitted, while staying true to the intended message. This is often due to cultural and traditional barriers that a machine might not consider. Machine translation centers around words. Its job is to change a word into its parallel in the target language. You will often see this when you see its dictionary and translation memory functions in MAT. Sometimes a faithful translation is the answer. When faced with such a translation machine assistance is very useful. This type of translation is referred to as MAT (Machine Assisted Translation). There are a number of software created for this. We used OmegaT, but it is not the only one out there. These have really cool features like translation memory, where you only need to introduce the equivalent once. Every time the word appears it will suggest the equivalent, and if it is not the word you are looking for you can introduce a new one. All these terms go into your translation dictionary in the software, so you never lose them.  

“Invisibility” is the term I will use to describe the translator’s situation and activity in contemporary Anglo-American culture. It refers to two mutually determining phenomena: one is an illusionistic effect of discourse, of the translator’s own manipulation of English; the other is the practice of reading and evaluating translations that has long prevailed in the United Kingdom and the United States, among other cultures, both English and foreign language. A translated text, whether prose or poetry, fiction or nonfiction, is judged acceptable by most publishers, reviewers, and readers when it reads fluently, when the absence of any linguistic or stylistic peculiarities makes it seem transparent, giving the appearance that it reflects the foreign writer’s personality or intention or the essential meaning of the foreign text—the appearance, in other words, that the translation is not in fact a translation, but the “original.” The illusion of transparency is an effect of fluent discourse, of the translator’s effort to insure easy readability by adhering to current usage, maintaining continuous syntax, fixing a precise meaning. What is so remarkable here is that this illusory effect conceals the numerous conditions under which the translation is made, starting with the translator’s crucial intervention in the foreign text The more fluent the translation, The Translator’s Invisibility more invisible the translator, and, presumably, the more visible the writer or meaning of the foreign text.

-Lawrence Venuti

In my translation experience, the hardest part is always producing an acceptable text. All things considered, a text that is functional within the target culture, and carries the original message has always been a difficult feat to achieve. As a creative and a native speaker, I understand the assignment. However, as a translator and a writer I have to be less flexible and even less creative. Which always presented a huge problem for me. These two aspects clashed, and I always found it difficult to overcome them. It was difficult because each project seemed vastly different from the last. Nonetheless, they did give me insight and valuable lessons. Venuti points out the fact that in the target culture the translated text should be fluent, and pose as an original in order for it to be accepted. I find this fact to be a universal truth despite him talking about the USA and the UK. Christiane Nord [2018] distinguishes between Covert and Overt translational functions. These help translators understand fluency in translation, and can be used as guides in this aspect. Overt translation is marked translation, meaning that the reader can tell that they are reading a translated text. This form bravely expresses the "stylistic peculiarities" that Venuti mentions, it even includes footnotes that explain the choices made if equivalence was not possible. Other ways include stating that it is in fact a translated text before they get into the actual text. Another way is by listing the translator on the list of authors and everyone that participated in the creation of that text. On the other hand, covert translation is not marked. This piece is written with the intention of coming across as the original in the target culture. This is the kind of translation Venuti was talking about. This was always the standard for me too. Even if at the end I knew that it would be marked, I still wanted it to feel original. Professionally, this is also the ideal because it is appealing in the target culture and language. The aim of this function is not to fool anyone, but to rather produce a text that blends in so perfectly that it feels original. These types of texts are normally essential pieces of information within the society. Or, they can play a big social role within the society, hence, the need to blend in seamlessly. 

Another function that pairs well with the covert function is the expressive function. Katharina Reiss who is known for her role in functionalism, was a German scholar. She proposed functionalism in the 1970s as part of her text typology. Text typology suggests that when it comes to equivalence, translational functions and functionalism needs to consider the entire text and not just words. The name she coined it already implies that these functions apply to the text as a whole. The expressive function is among the functions she explains. Hongping Chen and Xueyan Zhang [2020] wrote an article in the journal 'East African Scholars Journal of Education, Humanities and Literature' about Reiss's text typology. They explain that Reiss's expressive function focuses on the aesthetic of the source text. They also explain that this function requires the translator to be faithful to the author's perspective and intended message. Nord's expressive function contradicts Reiss's. She states that her expressive function is different because it is not restricted to the aesthetic aspect of the text. In fact, hers focuses on the translator/author's attitude towards worldly phenomena. Considering both these takes on the expressive function,  translating under them and trying to be covert in your translation requires creativity and understanding. The translator is required to extract the essence of the text and the writer collectively. Then attempt to mirror that as far as possible.


Closing remarks

My view on all of this is that translation can be both. I consider it as both. Yes, I will admit I am tipped to art side. However, I do acknowledge it as a science too. The theories and views we learn in school are extensively researched and discussed. They are facts, and those that are flawed are constantly revisited and revised. Also, MAT is awesome! It might require perfect circumstances, however, it comes through an shines when needed. As an armature I will admit that machines do play a major role in my writing and editing. So perhaps machines will not take over my field, but they will help enhance it greatly. Which is their main purpose to begin with.


Saturday, 30 September 2023

Glimmering Memory


I cannot explain it, but there is something about it. I find it really masculine when I look over at him driving. Could it be his side profile? I do find it immaculate, especially when the sun hits his face. I sometimes catch the shy hints of hazel in his iris. Perhaps it is his singing. Driving brings out the karaoke-diva hidden deep within him. He sounds awful! However, I find that sound sweet. It means he is in a good mood. I love it when My Baby is happy. He would dance too, hands off the steering wheel and everything. My heart sinks a little because I dread the idea of dying in a car. He knows this. 


After his little performance, he'd always look over. I've never asked him why, but I think it's to see my smile. Whether I join in or not, in the end, I always look over and smile. Honestly, I'm smiling because of admiration. Sometimes I would join in, or even hype him up. We would sing louder than the radio. I can imagine the discomfort people feel at every stop. I love the car guards though. They often dance and sing along too. 

These are all memories though. Another person is living that life now. I wonder if they even catch that dimple at the corner of his smile. On the right side of his mouth. Is their height difference as perfect as our was? Do they know he dislikes alcohol but wouldn't say no when offered a glass? Do they force things on him? He hardly said no. Do they often hug his arm while walking together? He's quite shy, so walking with his partner in public is uncomfortable for him. I found that hugging his arm comforted him a bit. Especially in malls. I wonder if they secretly order his favorite meal on purpose. I used to enjoy giving him grief for snacking from my dish. He knew he'd get in trouble each time, but did it anyway. Honestly, I did it to keep from gaining too much weight. It's cute on social media when seeing foodie couples. It's not so cute when you start gaining weight.

I have nothing but love for him. Unfortunately, we had reached an inevitable point in our relationship. We grew up. We grew apart. We grew into different people. We mutually agreed to separate. A day I will never forget. He texted me asking to meet up. At this point we hadn't spoken for over a week, and I was neck deep in paperwork and deadlines. I felt a lump in my throat, I felt my stomach turn and I was livid. "Why did you text me!" I thought. I told him now was not a good time, and asked him to give me time. To which he agreed. About 3 weeks later I called him over for a meal, and I wanted to hear what he had to say. Oh boy! Little did I know. This is how it went:

Him: Thanks. The food was delicious.
Me:   Thank you.
. . .

Me:  So, you wanted to talk?

In all honesty and fairness I already knew where this was going. Besides, everyone knows it is never good when your partner says this. I felt weird, as if I was scared but also a little relived. Scared because at some point I loved this man so much I would have done illegal and shameful things, just to keep him happy and safe. Scared because I was about to be forced into admitting that I no longer see that man when I look at him. The relief probably came from the realisation that he would be responsible for ending it. All things considered, I still could not bear the thought of hurting him. I could not bear the though of disappointing and crushing him. 

Him: Yes, I want to talk about us. (A weird expression flashed across his face.)
Me:   What's up with the weird face? Are you ok?

He took my hand and pulled me closer without shifting his eyes from mine, he said:
 
Him:  I really cannot continue lying to you. I cannot carry on living like this! Baby      what we had was special. I will carry those memories with me always, and            when I look at the sky, memories of you will twinkle across it like a starry night. I really loved you. I loved everything about you. But over time those cute quirks    grew to annoy me. Over time I missed you less and less. I felt lonely at the thought of you. Today, your smile left me depressed and your smell broke my heart. I feel strongly for you still. I miss the you that blew up my phone and obsessed over our couple spar nights. I am deeply conflicted. I cannot give you the me that is not fully in. It turned into a speech, I am sorry. But please allow me to let you go. Allow me to rediscover you, to have us feel like the us we once were. Before the careers, the money, the constant work socials, and before the heavy ghosting. I need to remember that. I desperately do! (his eyes began to quiver and he let go of me) I know you feel it too. (his eyes dropped)
Me:    I don't know what to say. 
Him: Just be honest. That is all I want right now.
Me:  You are absolutely right. The feeling is somewhat mutual. We both neglected this relationship. Now it is fizzling out like an old flame, and the thick smoke is chocking us. I am glad I got to know the person behind my dopey admiration of his face. I would have done it had you not acted first. (Gently touching his face with a soft smile on my face) My shining and glimmering memory, I will never forget you. 

Two years later, I still have nothing but love and respect for him. A glimmering memory that still twinkles, illuminating the sky so ever radiantly. 

Thursday, 28 September 2023

Remember, my heart.


By: Khauhelo Banyane


Unshackle thyself,
Unshackle thyself, dear child.
Pry yourself free,
Pry yourself free from bounding shackles.
For bondage is but a mere shard.
Blunt, yet sharp and fierce. 

Alas! 
Curses!
Solitude where art thou?
Ever so scarce,
Ever so shy.
Like a forbidden curse,
You hide in the tightest nooks and crannies of this earth.
Like the words of a tree,
You are draped in myth,
Disguised like an idea conjured by a mad man.

In the end,
In the ultimate end!
You are but a mortal's dream.
Peace in the world,
Peace for the living?
Gather thy treasures not on earth,
But in the Kingdom above.
For there 
Your house stands ready for your return,
For there 
Your life awaits.

Tuesday, 26 September 2023

Who wrote Sesotho first?

 Who wrote the first Sesotho text?

By: Khauhelo Banyane
<img src="your image.jpg" alt="a group of men and women wearing Basotho traditional hats and blankets"/>


Basotho have a very interesting history, mainly because they are part of an African group of people known as the Bantu group. This group is said to have originated in the West-Central parts of Africa, mainly Nigeria and Cameroon. They later migrated down south and settled in the southernmost region of the continent. Upon reaching the south, they branched out. The two most prominent groups today are the Nguni, which is the biggest group in South Africa. It mainly consists of the amaXhosa, amaZulu, and amaNdebele tribes. This is followed by the Sotho/Sotho-Tswana group, which is the second largest in the country. It consists of Basotho, Batswana, and Bapedi. Of all the Bantu groups in Africa, the Sotho-Tswana group is the most different. Unlike its brothers, Sesotho uses a disjunctive writing system and is vocally different from them, especially the Nguni who are found in Southern Africa alongside them. It is said that Basotho settled in the south and then forged a new way of speaking. These languages today are mainly known as Selozi, Sesotho, Setswana, and Sepedi.

This question has always plagued my mind: If we used drawings and symbols as writing, then that means someone introduced letters to us. Obviously, it was our colonizers, but how exactly? Teaching someone your language cannot be nearly as hard as trying to translate theirs into yours, especially if you do not understand it. So, how did they do it? Most importantly, how did they get them to accept it? Formally speaking, scholars and researchers have not found proof that before colonization Basotho had written texts. In fact, the language is believed to have been oral, which happens to prove the notion that African history is found in stories passed down from generation to generation. Basotho used proverbs, riddles, songs, clan names and praises, etc. to pass teachings and messages.  We have all heard the stories of grandparents sharing stories with the young over a meal at night by the fire, stories of warriors and hunters coming back and relaying their tales to a group of people gathered around them. Sometimes it would be a grand occasion, where the entire village is present and the biggest animals would be slaughtered. The people would enjoy a grand feast and amazing tales. This was language in Africa. People came together and spoke. However, now people gather in a building and sit in silence meters away from each other. The white man has a saying that goes "knowledge is hidden in books," while a black man understands knowledge to come from shared stories and experiences. With such contrasting views, how did the white man finally get a black man to sit down and write his stories instead of sharing them in a gathering of  people? He used a book, a robe and a building. Once he got the black man to listen to him, he introduced church and the bible. Thus beginning the process of winning over the black man. However, this is not a bad today. In fact, Basotho take pride in their individuality, including their way of writing. 



<image src="your image.jpg" alt="retro picture of Eugene Casalis"/>
Eugene Casalis

Above is a picture of a man who shaped the way we write Sesotho today. According to sesothoweb.com [n.d.] and Baystate Interpreters, INC [n.d.], Eugene Casalis was a French missionary stationed in Southern Africa, Lesotho. In 1833, he published a book called 'Etudes sur la Langua Sechuana'. This was the first text written in Sesotho. Apparently, he taught his daughter the language too, because she married a man called Reverend A. Mabille, whom she taught the language to while they were in Europe. When he arrived in Lesotho, the reverend carried on his father-in-law's work. He even established a printing press in Morija, Lesotho, known as Morija Printing Works, which is still famously present and operational to this day. At this point, the foundation had been set. This made it easier for other missionaries to work on the language and produce a Bible for its people. They used the Kwena dialect as it was spoken by the late King Moshoeshoe, which is now the standard for the language. In 1872, John Bunyan produced the Sesotho version of the book 'Pilgrim's Progress', marking the acceptance and prosperity of the written language by its people. However, linguists Doke and Ziervogel had their reservations about the language. They argued that since Sesotho is a Bantu language, it must be written conjunctively like its sister languages. It did not make sense to them that two sister groups could be so vastly different in writing. So, to ease tensions, E.B. van Vyk suggested that Sesotho now take a semi-conjunctive approach. However, their arguments and views could not win the argument because Sesotho is still a disjunctive language system.


Helahelele Mostho! 
 Hore na o moSotho wa Leboa kapa wa Aforika Borwa, ikgantshe ka Sesotho sa haeno. Sengolwa sena ha se kene botebong, empa bonyane boo ke o fileng bona bo a paka hore ka nnete o tlameha ho kgaba ka Sesotho sa haeno. Pula.


<img src="your image.jpg" alt="three man on horse back wearing their traditional basotho blanket and hats looking at the mountains and open field"/>

I would like to close by saying that Basotho are known as a peaceful nation. Their most renowned king, King Moshoeshoe, bestowed this attribute upon them through his actions. Though in South Africa today, there are a few people who taint this good name, the vast majority still uphold it. The Kingdom of Lesotho is a natural paradise. It has views that will take your breath away, from clear streams of water to high rolling mountains and fields of grass and flowers that stretch as far as the eye can see. Take a trip to Lesotho. Reconnect. Recharge.


Monday, 25 September 2023

South Africa and Translation: Introduction to discourse

 

<img src="your image.jpg" alt="background of fountain pen and a sheet of clean white paper. forth is the writing "South Africa and Translation. A young introduction to the discourse."


Written by: Khauhelo Banyane
Edited by: Kwanele Sicelo Kilani
 
I find it bizarre that translation is not praised in Africa. Nor is it the most profitable career. Simply because African countries, among other things, are known for having multiple official languages. The amount of spoken languages being even higher. South Africa has 12 official languages, and over 20 spoken languages in the country. However, we do not hold the title of the African country with the most official languages. Zimbabwe holds the title. They have 16 official languages in the country. We come second with 12. On 19 July 2023 President Ramaphosa recognised sign language as an official South African language. Shooting us up from 11 to 12.

So, what exactly is translation? My quick uneducated guess used to sound like this: Translation is changing one language into another. My understanding of the word basically came from church. I had always known interpretation and translation as interchangeable words. With no difference at all. I would hear the interpreter take the pastor’s words and change them into another language. I figured the people that could not understand the pastor needed help with hearing the sermon. Even though it turned out a bit chaotic at the pulpit. Therefore, translation was just about language. However, I now understand translation to be more than that. In fact, translation and interpreting, though similar, are different practices. Translation is the art of relaying a message from one language into another all while preserving the original meaning.

Jeremy Munday describes translation as a phenomenon. A phenomenon is an occurrence in nature that cannot be explained. To me, it sounds like he was trying to imply that translation may be as old as human existence. Dare I even say it existed before speech, or spoken words. Translation is more than just words. Behind each translated text there lies creed, tradition, sociology, societies, as well as different groups of people. All belonging to the same culture and language. As we go deeper into the series, I will explain why in Europe people used to be executed for mistranslation and misrepresentation in texts. The intricacies of translation lie deep within us. Simply because language usage is not the same for each person. That is because a person’s speech pattern is influenced by factors such as, jargon, jokes, sarcasm, foreign media, environment, society, etc. These mark our unique speech patterns, even if we belong to the same culture and language. For example, the interpreter in church made a mistake. Perhaps they pronounced a word wrong, or they could not think of a word and used a funny action. The congregants pick this up, and eventually it becomes an inside joke. Kutloano, a congregant, visits Sibo her cousin in another province. One is Xhosa the other one is Sotho. Kutloano explains the joke to Sibo. Then Sibo decides to start using the word or action in her community. Soon enough, the people in her section adopt it as a colloquial term. Turning it into a quirk that defines them. Setting them apart from the rest. That is how easy it is to mark individuality in speech. Message is deeply rooted in language. If you look at language and message, speech is a factor and not a determiner. “It is not what you have said, but rather how you said it.” Defines this. The words were not the communicated message.

I would like to close by saying that language is highly versatile and multifaceted. Studying language could never be boring. For example, while I talk about translation someone else chose sociology. Another chooses cultural studies. Not to mention the good old classics like, novels, poems, songs, praises, illustrative writing, grammar, etc.

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