Robert Kirby
CHANNELVISION
It is distressing to observe how effectively the SABC corrupts language. Reputable broadcasting of the bad old days – certainly by radio stations – not only fulfilled its myriad other functions but was presumed to be an example of the correct use of language. The BBC was the most obvious model, or at least it used to be. Nowadays even that doughty institution seems to have abandoned such obligations in favour of the barrage of slang, cant and catchphrases by means of which so many nowadays choose to communicate.
The SABC have not lagged behind, its prevailing motto: ”You talk the shit, minister. We’ll pump it into the homes of the people for you.” In a television interview the other day the questions and responses were little more than a slapdash assemblage of worn-out socio- political homilies. ”At the end of the day” and ”the bottom line” and the new favourite ”on a daily basis” sort of slumped out of the mouths of the participants. The interview was a totally dead and cold thing, a contradiction of communication.
If I had the power I would deem the use of these meaningless banalities punishable by law. Highest fines and public floggings for use of the single most obliterative qualifying subjunctive of the day: ”in terms of”. No one on television or radio these days seems capable of utterance without the continual wielding of this verbal cosh. ”The minister said that in terms of the trade unions and also in terms of the labour legislation there is no provision in terms of which appropriate action may be taken in terms of either the rights of the striking workers or in terms of what the minister can do in terms of his authority or in terms of the Constitution.”
I imagine that like many other linguistic monstrosities such phrases found their breedings on corporate tongues. Certainly ”bottom line” and ”at the end of the day” reek of the marketing manager. But this is no excuse for the continual violation of English which the SABC has chosen as its principal medium of expression. So, an encouraging moment this last Sunday was to hear the chairman-elect of the new SABC board, Vincent Maphai, explaining on television how he sees his new responsibilities and doing so in elegant English.
Whether such respect for the language will filter down to the grunts of the newsrooms is, of course, another question. There’s a lot of ancient bedrock below.
Recently e.tv has been broadcasting documentaries of the very first order. Their JG Strijdom Is Very Very Dead is a good example, as is An Act of Faith, which was broadcast on February 17. Here the production team spent three weeks riding along with Phelophepa: The Health Train, an initiative of the much-maligned health department, sponsored by that department and Transnet.
Phelophepa means good, clean health. Originally the train was only three coaches, visiting remote stretches of railway line and offering only eye care. Since its inception in l994 it has expanded to 16 coaches and has a dental clinic, extends general medical services, health, psychology and a basic health- care education – at each three-day stop 25 local people are trained in basic health care.
That’s the broad outline. What the programme revealed was the workings of the train team. Told with no sentimentality at all the programme was moving testimony to the optimism of the idea – even if the train’s staff cannot hope to serve all who would seek their help.
The registration lists are often filled within 10 minutes of opening. People sleep on the station platforms for several days so as to be among the first to get their chance.
Heading the train is a quite remarkable soul in Lilian Cingo, the manager of the train. She is a special being, exhibiting a relentless dedication to the idea in which she believes. Along with her doctors, nurses, dentists and medical students, she begins her day at 6am, going right on for 12 hours. The train travels for nine months of the year.
Production of the documentary is by Steven Markovitz with direction by Toni Strasberg: an essay in how the observant camera may be used.
No ”creative” visual trickery, no intrusive mood music, merely a record of something taking place and which, if you really want to have your faith restored in practical human compassion, is a definite remedy.
If it is not repeated here, the programme will be shown on BBC World in April.