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South Africa: Language Matters for Disaster Warnings - This Community Didn't Get Useful Flood Alerts [The Conversation Africa] In an age of instant communication, it is easy to assume that everyone receives disaster warnings. Smartphones buzz, sirens sound, alerts flash across screens. But for millions of people who speak minority or Indigenous languages, the message often stops short.

Language matters for disaster warnings – this community didn't ... Walmer Airport Valley informal settlement in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Anna Weekes In an age of instant communication, it is easy to assume that everyone receives disaster warnings. Smartphones buzz, sirens sound, alerts flash across screens. But for millions of people who speak minority or Indigenous languages, the message often stops short. South Africa has 12 official languages , but disaster warnings are still sent out almost entirely in English and Afrikaans. Emergency SMS alerts, radio broadcasts, and social media posts are issued regularly, but these are one way communications – the municipal (local government) disaster management centres sending the messages don’t check whether the people receiving them understand what they say. A warning that is sent is not necessarily a warning that is understood. Read more: El Niño disasters: governments know what’s coming, but are unprepared – what must change We study disaster management and languages, respectively. In our recent study , we wanted to understand whether people in an informal (shack) settlement in South Africa had received early warnings of d…

Language Matters For Disaster Warnings – This Community Didn't ... Language Matters For Disaster Warnings – This Community Didn’t Get Useful Flood Alerts Jun 17, 2026 | Climate Change Eastern Cape Human Settlements Press Releases In an age of instant communication, it is easy to assume that everyone receives disaster warnings. Smartphones buzz, sirens sound, alerts flash across screens. But for millions of people who speak minority or Indigenous languages, the message often stops short. South Africa has 12 official languages , but disaster warnings are still sent out almost entirely in English and Afrikaans. Emergency SMS alerts, radio broadcasts, and social media posts are issued regularly, but these are one way communications – the municipal (local government) disaster management centres sending the messages don’t check whether the people receiving them understand what they say. A warning that is sent is not necessarily a warning that is understood. We study disaster management and languages, respectively. In our recent study , we wanted to understand whether people in an informal (shack) settlement in South Africa had received early warnings of disaster, and how readable and un…

South Africa: Language Matters for Disaster Warnings - This Community ... In an age of instant communication, it is easy to assume that everyone receives disaster warnings. Smartphones buzz, sirens sound, alerts flash across screens. But for millions of people who speak minority or Indigenous languages, the message often stops short. South Africa has12 official languages, but disaster warnings are still sent out almost entirely in English and Afrikaans. Emergency SMS alerts, radio broadcasts, and social media posts are issued regularly, but these are one way communications - the municipal (local government) disaster management centres sending the messages don't check whether the people receiving them understand what they say. A warning that is sent is not necessarily a warning that is understood. Read more:El Niño disasters: governments know what's coming, but are unprepared - what must change We study disaster management and languages, respectively. In ourrecent study, we wanted to understand whether people in an informal (shack) settlement in South Africa had received early warnings of disaster, and how readable and understandable these messages were. Follow us onWhatsApp|Li…

Language matters for disaster warnings – this community didn't ... News World Language matters for disaster warnings – this community didn’t get useful flood alerts Language matters for disaster warnings – this community didn’t get useful flood alerts Published by mosekama osia mokhele lecturer nelson mandela university 16 June 2026, 14:18 published 5min, 24sc 13 Language matters for disaster warnings – this community didn’t get useful flood alerts In an age of instant communication, it is easy to assume that everyone receives disaster warnings. Smartphones buzz, sirens sound, alerts flash across screens. But for millions of people who speak minority or Indigenous languages, the message often stops short. South Africa has 12 official languages , but disaster warnings are still sent out almost entirely in English and Afrikaans. Emergency SMS alerts, radio broadcasts, and social media posts are issued regularly, but these are one way communications – the municipal (local government) disaster management centres sending the messages don’t check whether the people receiving them understand what they say. A warning that is sent is not necessarily a warning that is understood. Browse Pos…

Language matters for disaster warnings – this community didn't ... Language matters for disaster warnings – this community didn’t get useful flood alerts By Mosekama Osia Mokhele & Andiswa Mvanyashe - The Conversation Article TUE, 16 JUN 2026 - Source: In an age of instant communication, it is easy to assume that everyone receives disaster warnings. Smartphones buzz, sirens sound, alerts flash across screens. But for millions of people who speak minority or Indigenous languages, the message often stops short. South Africa has 12 official languages , but disaster warnings are still sent out almost entirely in English and Afrikaans. Emergency SMS alerts, radio broadcasts, and social media posts are issued regularly, but these are one way communications – the municipal (local government) disaster management centres sending the messages don't check whether the people receiving them understand what they say. A warning that is sent is not necessarily a warning that is understood. We study disaster management and languages, respectively. In our recent study , we wanted to understand whether people in an informal (shack) settlement in South Africa had received early warnings of disaster, …