ABSTRACT
It is natural for us to look upon language as a medium for communicating thoughts, that is, for effecting an understanding between men. Europe of the Middle Ages had a universal language, Latin, which for many people was a means of acquiring an education and exchanging knowledge, and which was also used, to a great extent, for purposes of general communication. The languages derived from Latin—Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Rumanian—have become distinct languages, because each is the expression of a distinct nationality. An international language is useful in many ways and for many purposes, but it should never presume to be a substitute for national languages. Among the older generation of educated Africans there is no doubt a growing appreciation of their national language. The spiritual heritage of the African is to a large extent preserved in and transmitted through the language, and is intimately bound up with it.
