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picture1_Language Pdf 102085 | Drc Covid 19 Language Brief Edocx


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File: Language Pdf 102085 | Drc Covid 19 Language Brief Edocx
language brief may 2020 covid 19 or konora communicating on the disease that strangles in the eastern democratic republic of congo people need information on covid 19 transmission and prevention ...

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          L​ANGUAGE​ B​RIEF                                                                         M​AY​ 2020 
           
                                                                                                                
          C​OVID​-19 ​OR​ ​KONORA​?  
          Communicating on the “disease that strangles” in the 
          eastern Democratic Republic of Congo  
          People need information on COVID-19 transmission and prevention in clear, accurate, and 
          accessible language.  
                                                                previous disease outbreaks, in particular the 
          In crises like the COVID-19 pandemic it is 
                                                                current outbreak of Ebola virus disease.  
          essential to communicate in language that is 
                                                                When talking about viruses, speakers of 
          clear, accurate, and accessible. Only 
          information in a language that people                 Congolese Swahili, Nande, and Lingala usually 
          understand can save lives.                            use a generic term that means virus, bacteria, 
                                                                germ, microbe, or any disease-causing 
          To guide that communication, TWB conducted 
                                                                organism. In Nande, the term used is ​ekihuka​, 
          a rapid focus group discussion with six 
                                                                meaning virus, bacteria, or insect. Lingala 
          linguists working in Congolese Swahili, Nande, 
                                                                speakers use the term ​nyama​, which 
          Lingala, and French in eastern DRC. The group 
                                                                translates to virus, parasite, or bacteria. The 
          discussed popular perceptions related to 
                                                                Lingala word ​bokono​, meaning illness, is also 
          COVID-19 terminology in these languages. 
                                                                used when talking about viruses. Urban 
          This brief provides an overview to inform 
                                                                Lingala speakers commonly use the word 
          humanitarian communication on COVID-19.  
                                                                microbi ​(microbes). Speakers of Congolese 
                                                                Swahili say ​kilulu ​to refer to viruses, bacteria, 
          Several words exist for “virus”  
                                                                or disease-causing insects. ​Virusi​, the Swahili 
                                                                translation of “virus”,​ ​is also used but not 
          Health literacy levels are low in eastern DRC, 
                                                                everyone understands it. 
          but most Congolese have a basic 
          understanding of the medical concept of a 
                                                                COVID-19 is not covered by these generic 
          virus and viral infections. This is due to 
                                                                terms. When talking of COVID-19, people in 
                                                
           eastern DRC refer specifically to the                   serious than others. This is the case for 
           coronavirus.                                            diseases that carry the word “virus” in their 
                                                                   name, like human immunodeficiency virus 
           COVID-19 terminology varies                             (HIV) or Ebola virus disease. Using the word 
                                                                   “virus” in relation to COVID-19, as in ​virusi ya 
           Speakers of Congolese Swahili, Nande, and 
                                                                   corona ​in Swahili or ​ekihuka kye korona​ in 
           Lingala commonly refer to COVID-19 as 
                                                                   Nande, can increase awareness of the severity 
           “corona” or “coronavirus”. They understand 
                                                                   of the disease. 
           the term “COVID-19” as well, but as a more 
           scientific word used mostly by health 
                                                                   The terms used to describe 
           professionals and in administrative 
                                                                   symptoms cause confusion  
           communication. Most people use “corona” to 
           refer to the virus as well as the disease, and 
                                                                   There is confusion about the differences 
           don’t use the name SARS-CoV-2. We can 
                                                                   between COVID-19 and other respiratory 
           prevent confusion by using the terms most 
                                                                   diseases like flu or asthma and how to 
           people will recognize. 
                                                                   distinguish between them.  
           The spelling of “corona” and “coronavirus” 
                                                                   The symptom “dry cough” is usually not 
           varies by language. Nande uses a “K” to 
                                                                   understood and people confuse it with other 
           produce the sound of a hard “C.” Nande 
                                                                   kinds of coughing. Descriptive translations 
           speakers commonly refer to both the virus 
                                                                   and explanations like “cough which doesn’t 
           and the disease as ​ekorona. ​Lingala and 
                                                                   produce liquids'' help people to better 
           Congolese Swahili speakers commonly say 
                                                                   understand and distinguish the symptoms 
           corona ​to refer to the virus and the disease.  
                                                                   specific to COVID-19. The term 
                                                                   “asymptomatic” has no direct translation and 
           The table below gives examples of several 
                                                                   needs to be explained. A helpful descriptive 
           terms from our COVID-19 glossary. 
                                                                   phrase is “someone who has the disease but 
           Humanitarians should use these terms to 
                                                                   doesn’t develop any symptoms”. 
           ensure clear and consistent communication 
           on COVID-19. 
                                                                   The technical term “severe acute respiratory 
                                                                   infection” also causes confusion. In Swahili 
           The word “virus” stresses the 
                                                                   “severe” and “acute” are translated using the 
           severity of a disease                                   same word. Congolese Swahili speakers say 
                                                                   maambukizi ya magumu ya sana ya kupuma, 
           In popular language use, several metaphorical 
                                                                   which translates as “serious infection of 
           terms that highlight the seriousness of 
                                                                   breathing”. In Lingala, the common translation 
           COVID-19 have evolved. Nande speakers use 
                                                                   of “severe acute respiratory infection” is 
           the terms ​enziwu​ or ​enzighu​, which translate 
                                                                   bokona ya kopema​, literally meaning 
           as “enemy” and “misfortune”, to talk about the 
                                                                   respiratory disease. Lingala speakers also say 
           virus. Kinyarwanda speakers in North Kivu 
                                                                   pema pasi​, meaning breathing difficulty. The 
           nicknamed the virus ​konora, ​literally meaning 
                                                                   Nande translation, ​obukoni bwa mahuha​, also 
           “to strangle”, in reference to the impact the 
                                                                   means respiratory disease. To stress the 
           virus has on both the respiratory system and 
                                                                   severity of COVID-19, Nande speakers 
           social and economic life. 
                                                                   sometimes use the word ​eribekúbéku​, which 
                                                                   signifies bronchitis. 
           People generally perceive the word “virus” to 
           indicate that a particular disease is more 
                                                                   These translations make it difficult to 
           2 
          distinguish COVID-19 from other respiratory 
          diseases and can cause confusion. This               People need information, not 
          creates a risk that COVID-19 is seen as just 
                                                               just instructions 
          one disease among many. To address this 
          confusion, people need detailed medical 
                                                               People understand basic information on the 
          information in clear and accessible language 
                                                               symptoms of COVID-19, handwashing, and 
          to understand COVID-19 specifically. 
                                                               keeping a physical distance. But they often 
          Explanations that lack detail risk downplaying 
                                                               lack the detail and practical guidance to 
          the severity of COVID-19 and can lead to 
                                                               understand why COVID-19 is different from 
          misconceptions. 
                                                               other respiratory diseases and from Ebola or 
                                                               how they can practice physical distancing.  
          “Social distancing” is not 
                                                               People need to know why and how they are 
          understood 
                                                               supposed to follow prevention guidance. 
                                                               Clear, accurate, and accessible information is 
          People don’t clearly understand the concept 
                                                               critical for effective health messaging. 
          of “​social distancing​” and literal translations of 
                                                               Detailed information in plain language will be 
          the term create confusion. People in the 
                                                               essential to control the transmission of 
          former hotspots of the tenth Ebola outbreak, 
                                                               COVID-19. 
          like Beni or Butembo, are familiar with keeping 
          a physical distance from others. But they are 
          unsure about the required distance to prevent        What we have learned from 
          transmission of COVID-19. In Goma many 
                                                               the Ebola outbreak 
          don’t support the idea of keeping a distance, 
                                                               People don’t understand disease-related key 
          feeling it’s impractical and not culturally 
                                                               concepts and seemingly simple terms in 
          acceptable. This suggests that the fact that 
                                                               French and standard Swahili. In ​Goma​, women 
          COVID-19 is an airborne disease, unlike Ebola, 
                                                               over the age of 35 and men over 51 had 
          is not yet widely understood. 
                                                               greatest difficulty understanding Ebola 
          It is important to use contextualized 
                                                               messaging in these languages. In ​Beni​, Swahili 
          translations of “social distancing” to ensure 
                                                               is best understood in the version local to Beni, 
          that the concept is conveyed correctly. The 
                                                               while women and older people in the Beni area 
          more accurate term “physical distancing” can 
                                                               need information in localized Nande. Military 
          help people better understand how to protect 
                                                               personnel and their families need information 
          themselves and others from COVID-19.  
                                                               in Lingala.  
          In Nande, “physical distancing” is explained as 
                                                               Some disease-related terms are socially and 
          ekika ky’eribya hali oko ghundi​, which literally 
                                                               culturally unacceptable. People consider 
          translates as “the required distance to stay a 
                                                               those words harsh and offensive, especially 
          little away from others.” In Swahili it is 
                                                               words they associate with death. Health 
          translated as ​tusi jongeleane​, meaning “let’s 
                                                               communicators replace these words with their 
          not be close to each other”. A more precise 
                                                               own euphemistic explanations. These 
          translation used in Swahili is ​kuwa ku metre 
                                                               alternatives can be inconsistent and vague, 
          moja namiye​, meaning keep one meter apart. 
                                                               potentially leading to misunderstandings. 
          In Lingala the precise translation is ​zala 
                                                               A term like ​cas suspect​ (“suspected case”) 
          musika​ ​tika distance ya un metre​, which 
                                                               refers to a person who has symptoms similar 
          translates as “keep one meter apart”.   
                                                               to the disease and whose diagnosis is not yet 
                                                                                                           3 
          confirmed. Lacking knowledge of French, 
                                                               program 
          people understand the French word ​cas ​as 
          the Nande diminutive ​ka​. The French word 
                                                               Organizations involved in the COVID-19 
          suspect ​is interpreted in the criminal sense as 
                                                               response can increase their impact with three 
          a bandit, thief or troublemaker. Instead of 
                                                               practical actions: 
          “suspected case”, people understand the 
                                                               Base risk communication on language 
          literal meaning of ​cas suspect​ to be “little 
                                                               data​. TWB has produced ​language maps​ for 
          criminal”. In the local understanding, response 
                                                               DRC, North Kivu and Ituri covering more than 
          teams thus verbally reduce someone to a bad 
                                                               30 languages. To identify the most effective 
          person with little worth. 
                                                               languages, formats, and channels for 
          People want complex and transparent 
                                                               communicating on COVID-19, organizations 
          information in a language and style that is 
                                                               should include ​four language questions​ in 
          familiar to them. They want in-depth 
                                                               needs assessments and surveys.   
          explanations that relate to the latest 
                                                               Use glossaries to ensure consistent and 
          developments. Yet health communicators 
                                                               accurate communication​.​ ​TWB has 
          often lack communication tools and training 
                                                               developed a ​COVID-19 glossary​. It includes 
          adapted to these developments, and struggle 
                                                               more than 150 terms related to COVID-19 in 
          to provide clear and consistent answers. The 
                                                               Congolese Swahili, Nande, French, and 
          resulting misunderstandings and 
                                                               English. We are regularly updating the glossary 
          contradictions confuse people, and the lack of 
                                                               and adding further languages.  
          detailed explanations creates further doubt 
          and frustration.  
                                                               Apply plain-language principles​. Plain 
                                                               language will enable people to better use the 
          People place more trust in information they 
                                                               information they receive. Information in plain 
          receive in face-to-face communication. These 
                                                               and accessible language reduces confusion 
          give people the possibility to ask questions. 
                                                               and has the potential to prevent rumors. TWB 
          Women in particular prefer to receive 
                                                               has produced ​plain-language guidance​ for 
          information from someone they know and 
                                                               humanitarian organizations working in the 
          trust. Local health communicators who are 
                                                               COVID-19 response. 
          aware of cultural sensitivities can relay 
          information more effectively. 
                                                               Do you speak COVID-19?  
          Language affects whether a message and the 
          messenger are trusted and believed. In 
                                                               For further information on the importance of 
          crisis-affected eastern DRC, risk 
                                                               language in the response to the pandemic see 
          communication in a language that is not              our ​policy brief​ and visit TWB’s ​COVID-19 
          accurately understood prompts immediate              webpage​. 
          distrust and fear. Women in particular 
                                                               TWB is developing a chatbot in local 
          described not seeking professional health care 
                                                               languages to disseminate information on 
          for Ebola, for fear of misunderstandings that 
                                                               COVID-19 from partners, answer frequently 
          could result in a false diagnosis. Yet women 
                                                               asked questions, and gather data to tailor 
          are the main caretakers when a family 
                                                               future communication.  
          member is sick, and usually accompany them 
          to the health center.  
                                                               For more information on TWB’s language 
                                                               support to the COVID-19 response, contact 
          What this means for your 
                                                               corona@translatorswithoutborders.org. 
          4 
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